Field of Crosses

1 week ago

Today, April 10th, we celebrate National Siblings Day. This year we commemorate 140 siblings in the Field of Crosses, this includes 2 sets of a brother and sister, and 4 sets of 3 brothers.

On this National Siblings Day, we would like to take the opportunity to share the stories of Private David T Stark and Private Joseph G Stark, brothers who are honoured each November in the Field of Crosses.

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐓
Age 33 – Pte. 10th Bn
Date of Death: 26/04/1917

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐡 𝐆
Age 30 – Pte. 10th Bn
Date of Death 28/04/1917

They were indeed true brothers and were inseparable from early childhood. Both were born in New South Wales, Australia, the sons of James and Jessie Stark (née Hamilton). David Taylor Stark was born in Sydney on March 29, 1886, and Joseph Gillespie Stark was born in Enfield on September 1, 1888. The family later moved to Scotland, and both brothers served 4 and 5 years, respectively, with the Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Regiment).

The family moved again, settling in Calgary, Alberta. Both David’s and Joseph’s occupations were as Railway Brakemen with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).

Both boys enlisted in Calgary with the 10th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment), Joseph on January 21, 1915 (service number A/34354 or 434354), and David on June 25, 1915 (service number 435470).

Sadly, after 22 months in the trenches, the brothers were killed in action 2 days apart.

Private David T Stark died on April 26, 1917, at the age of 33. He is buried at Bois-Carre British Cemetery at Pas de Calais, France.

Private Joseph G. Stark died on April 28, 1917, at the age of 30. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial at Pas de Calais, France.

Both brothers are also commemorated at the Union Cemetery in Calgary, Alberta.

Each November, the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta, commemorates these two brothers: Private David Taylor Stark and Private Joseph Gillespie Stark.

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Field of Crosses

2 weeks ago

On April 1, 1924, the Royal Canadian Air Force (R.C.A.F.) was created to defend Canada’s sovereignty and contribute to global peace and security. It has a long and distinguished history with proud traditions with generations of personnel having served through peace and war.

The R.C.A.F. provides air defence, maritime patrol, national search and rescue, air mobility, space capabilities, and aircraft to support the missions of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army at home and abroad.

The R.C.A.F. is a military partner worldwide, providing security at home through North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and working with our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to maintain peace and stability across the globe.

Congratulations to the Royal Canadian Air Force as we celebrate your 100 Anniversary.

Each November the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta commemorates the 1,078 servicemen and women of Southern Alberta who served with Royal Flying Corps (4), Royal Canadian Air Force (1010), Royal Air Force (61) and the RCAF Women’s Division (3).

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Field of Crosses

3 weeks ago

🌷 Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter Day from all of us at The Field of Crosses. May this day be filled with renewal, hope, and cherished moments with loved ones. ... See MoreSee Less

Field of Crosses

4 weeks ago

In 2024, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the legendary Great Escape—an extraordinary tale of courage and camaraderie among a diverse group determined to break free from the confines of the Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp.

Today, we share the story of Flight Lieutenant Henry Birkland. For the Great Escape operation, Birkland who was at one time a gold miner, became one of the leading and most energetic of the many prisoners who were involved in the tunnelling of three tunnels code named Tom, Dick and Harry.

𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐲
Age 26 – F/L (P) RCAF
Date of Death: 31/03/1944

Henry Birkland was born 16 August 1917 in Caldwell, Manitoba. Birkland was educated in Calgary, Alberta and worked for the Burns Co. Birkland enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in July 1940 as an aircrew candidate. Following his basic training, he was promoted to leading aircraftman and was posted to elementary flying school RCAF. He graduated in January 1941 and was transferred to No. 9 Service Flight Training School. Now as a qualified pilot he was promoted om April 1941 as a commissioned Pilot Officer. Shortly after, he sailed for England to fly operationally with the Royal Air Force Fighter Command. After six weeks of operational training, Birkland joined No. 122 RAF Command and assigned to Spitfire aircraft. He was later transferred to No. 72 Squadron RAF where he continued to fly Spitfires.

On the afternoon of 7 November 1941, he was on a mission over occupied Europe when he was shot down. After bailing out, he was captured becoming a prisoner of war. Following German interrogation, he was sent to Stalag Luft 1, and later to Stalag Luft 3 which is near Sagan, now in Poland.

The escape plan, conceived by RAF Roger Bushnell, a South African lawyer who also volunteered for the RAF, was for three tunnels and the escape of 200 prisoners in one night. On the night of March 24/25 1944, Birkland was in the first group to go through the tunnel with 75 others, now famously known as ‘The Great Escape’. Most of the escapees did not get very far, when the alarm was raised and most caught in a massive manhunt. Birkland was recaptured and taken with other prisoners to Gorlitz Prison 36 miles from the camp. In March 1944, Birkland was among the taken from the prison by the Gestapo and were never seen again. As a result, he became one of the 50 who were selected from the 76 escapees and were murdered by the Gestapo on direct orders of Adolf Hitler.

Henry Birkland was just 26 years old. He is buried at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery in Poland and honored each November in the Field of Crosses.

www.fieldofcrosses.com/

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Field of Crosses

1 month ago

A St. Patrick’s Day blessing from one of our favourite Irishmen . . . . . .

“𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩,

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩.

𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦,

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

J. Murray McCann
Chairman Emeritus
Field of Crosses ... See MoreSee Less