Sampson Comego

Sampson Comego

Dec 1866	Born at Alderville Ontario On attestation he gave his birth year as 1872, but the 1911 Census shows his birth year as 1866. Either he didn’t know when he was born or he lied about his age in order to be young enough to serve Was brother of Peter Comego
Nov 6, 1914	Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston Ontario Ø Number 59192 (temporary number 254) Ø No next of kin is listed Ø Previous occupation given as Musician o He was a former Chief of the Rice Lake Hiawathaw Indian Tribe Ø Previous military experience given as the 40^th Regiment Ø Religion given as Wesleyan Ø Promoted to rank of Sgt Ø Assigned to “A” Company o Later assigned to the Cook’s Staff o Later assigned as a “B” Company Sniper
May 6, 1915	Embarked the RMS Metagama
May 15, 1915	Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent
Sep 14, 1915	Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone
Sep 15, 1915	Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer
Nov 10, 1915	Killed in action by a Rifle Grenade Ridgewood Cemetery Voormezeele Belgium

Below is from the book A Rifleman Went to War, by HW McBride, a 21st Battalion machine gunner and sniper

Below is from the August 1938 Communiqué, the 21st Battalion Association post war newsletter

2008

During the Remembrance Day ceremonies in 2008, Veteran's Affairs Canada conducted a vigil each night for the week leading up to November 11. This vigil consisted of projecting the names of every Canadian soldier who is listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on various buildings and monuments across Canada, and in London England. The photo below shows Sgt Sampson Comego's name being projected on the outside wall of Canada House in London England.

2010

For the 7 nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers who died in the Great War were projected onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres. At the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across Belgium and Canada. The image above shows the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010.

Below on the left is the name of Sampson Comego being projected on that wall. Below right shows the name being broadcast to the schools. Each name appeared for 25 seconds and each night 9,700 names were shown.

Sampson Comego is honoured on the
Alderville, Ontario War Memorial