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May 27, 1886
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Born in Poland, Russia
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Jul 7, 1915
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Attested into the 77th Battalion CEF
in Smiths Falls, Ontario
Ø Number 144430
Ø Next of kin given as Josephine Kaigul, wife, Opatow, Radom, Poland,
Russia
Ø Previous occupation given as Labourer
Ø Previous military experience given as Russian Soldier
Ø Religion given as Protestant
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Oct 23, 1915
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Embarked the SS California in Quebec City, Quebec as
part of the 77th Battalion’s 1st Draft
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Oct 31, 1915
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Disembarked in Plymouth, England and proceeded
to Shorncliffe where the draft was absorbed into the 12th Reserve Battalion for
training
Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal
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Mar 15, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st Battalion
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Mar 16, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 1,288 reinforcements from England and
TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
On arrival he reverted to the rank of Private
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Mar 21, 1916
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After leaving the base depot, he joined the 21st
Battalion in the front line N & O trenches near Voormezeele, Belgium
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Sep 15, 1916
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The 21st Battalion was given the
objective of capturing a sugar refinery that had been turned into a German strong point
near Courcelette, France, as part of the Battle of the Somme. Private Kaigul was killed during this action and
buried in a nearby field by his comrades. When
the war ended, his remains could not be located and consequently his name is recorded on
the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France for those WW1 Canadian soldiers
killed in France and have no known grave.
Following the war the British War Medal, Victory
Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were put into his “Russian
Estate”. It is unclear from the file if
they were ever sent to his widow
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