Image: St. Andrews-by-the-Lake Anglican Church, built in 1908, overlooking Lake Saskatoon, ca. 1940 (SPRA 032.08.08.0985)
Frederick Frewer
Regimental Number: P8/1287
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Branch: 16th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment; Loyal Edmonton Regiment; Royal Sussex Regiment
Frederick was born in England in 1885. He came to Canada in 1910 and journeyed over the old Athabasca Trail, eventually settling on the SE 28-72-8-W6 in the Lake Saskatoon district. At the beginning of World War I, Fred walked to Edmonton to enlist, arriving in France in November of 1915. He was a corporal in the Middlesex Regiment at the time. In May of 1917, Fred was discharged on appointment to a commission; he was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regiment. He served in France and Flanders and was wounded three times in the course of the war.
In 1918, Fred married Winifred Fishbourne, a VAD nurse. Winnie was born in England around 1892. She served as a VAD Nurse from June 1, 1915 until July 2, 1918, working at Queen Mary’s Military Hospital in Whalley, Lancashire and on board the Aquitania.
Fred and Winnie returned to Canada in 1919 and resumed farming. Fred was instrumental in planning and building St. Andrew’s Anglican Church at Lake Saskatoon. In 1948, the Frewers retired to Vancouver. Fred died on November 13, 1966 and Winnie on January 18, 1968.
Sources: Grande Prairie Capitol of the Peace p. 77; Pioneers of the Peace p. 5; Lake Saskatoon Reflections p. 18, 104, 117, 131, 137, 142-143, 200, 250