An interest of mine is to research the lives of soldiers killed in World War One. They made the ultimate sacrifice to give us the freedom we have today. As a tribute to them, and to keep their memories alive, I uncover what I can of their story and write about them.

Recently on a visit to Stirling Cemetery, in Mar Place, I came upon a headstone with twenty soldiers’ names on it which is unusual in itself. With the soldiers being of different regiments I concluded that they must have been patients in the military hospital at Argyll’s Lodgings, just across the road.

One name in particular caught my attention, that of 2487985 Private Nona Chakasuam, Canadian Forestry Corps. Why was he buried in Stirling Cemetery? What was the Canadian Forestry Corps? There is very little written about their role.

After some research I found the answer to the second question. The British Army and its allies needed wood and plenty of it. They needed duckboards and shoring in the trenches, crates, huts and billets. Wood was also used in building aerodromes in France. Sadly, with so many soldiers being killed they required thousands of coffins.

The British government turned to Canada with its lumberjacks and large forests. Rather than cut and ship the timber from Canada an agreement was signed between the UK and Canadian governments to deploy military lumberjacks to the UK and France. So the Canadian Forestry Corps was formed consisting of 35,000 men to cut down trees in England, Scotland and France. This I thought was how Nona came to be in Scotland and maybe he got injured and died here. After more research I found this was not the end of Nona’s story.

In the latter stages of the war there was a shortage of front line troops; the CFC were given front line duties including evacuating the wounded. Documents I have obtained tell me that Nona Chakasuam was born a Cree Indian in Attawapiskat, James Bay, Ontario. He was the son of Joannes Jacozom and his wife Anna Kostachin and he had a sister Christina.

Aged 18 he signed an Attestation Paper on July 3rd 1917. He was 5 feet 8 inches tall, of dark complexion, brown eyes and had black hair. He was drafted into the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force and posted to France. There he was wounded in battle – how or where I have yet to research. I do know he was evacuated to Stirling Military Hospital, Mar Place, then transferred to Stirling Royal Infirmary where he died of pneumonia on July 7th 1918. He was 19. My research continues into the life of Private Nona Chakasuam.

By Jim Statter, a former army medic who served at Argyll’s Lodging.

• Argyll’s Lodgings is a superb townhouse which has now been returned to how it may have looked in the 17th century. Entry to Stirling Castle includes a free guided tour of Argyll’s Lodgings.
• From Friday, 19 November to January there will be a photographic exhibition honouring the role of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the history of the castle. Entitled ‘Left, Right, Left, Right. Swing Those Arms!’ it offers an insight into the lives of soldiers in the 19th and 20th centuries. The exhibition is a joint project with the regimental museum, which is based at the castle, and is included in the standard entry price.