Image: The Pellerin garden covered in snow in August 1935. (SPRA 116.09.01.01.164)
Soldier Spotlight highlights veterans from the Archives’ online Soldiers’ Memorial. Each week, our volunteers select a remarkable individual to showcase in this new blog series. The Soldiers’ Memorial commemorates more than 1,100 WWI veterans and 2,300 WWII veterans from our region. Three dedicated volunteers have contributed over 1,200 hours to this project by researching and writing biographies. Our goal is to have all South Peace soldiers acknowledged for their service. If you know of someone who lived in the South Peace and should be listed on the Memorial, or would like to get involved by researching a local veteran, please contact the Archives.
Regimental Number: 154954
Rank: Private
Branch: 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion; 16th Battalion; Canadian Forestry Corps
Ray was born in Leroy, North Dakota on January 9, 1896. He came to the Peace Country with his parents, Napoleon and Lucy, in 1913. Ray filed on homesteads at the following locations: 19-75-2-W6; 36-73-2-W6; 24-75-3-W6; 22-71-5-W6. In 1915, he and a friend built a raft to go down the river to Watino, at that point the end of the railroad, to get the train to Edmonton where they could enlist. The raft was upset in the river and they lost their belongings, so they had to continue on foot. Ray received a gunshot wound to his left hand at Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917. After the war, he returned to his land in the South Peace. Ray married Jean Floener on November 22, 1922. The couple had three sons. Ray died on December 26, 1972 and was buried in the Grande Prairie cemetery.
Sources: Centennial Celebration Edson Trail p. 97, 119; Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 231; Across the Smoky p. 159; Pioneers of the Peace p. 312
- Attestation Paper
- Lives of the First World War profile
- Canadian Great War Project profile
- Reported wounded (May 29, 1917)
- Mention in Tommy Watson’s letter (Dec. 12, 1916)
- Ray Pellerin & sons (ca. 1935)
- Grande Prairie Honour Roll
