The PM's entourage landed in Lille, France about an hour ago. Our itinerary
here had us going to the Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge.
We took a surprise detour, though, heading to the out-of-the-way Barlin
Community Cemetery in Barlin.
A group of about 100 local veterans, dignitaries and students were there to
greet us.
The cemetery contains the graves of 118 Canadians who died in World War I
battles in the area.
One of those who perished was 19-year-old Pte. James Edward Teskey of
Okotoks, Alta., the great-uncle of the wife of the Prime Minster, Laureen
Harper Teskey.
At the cemetery, Mr. Harper laid a wreath to honour all those in the
cemetery and then the he and Mrs Harper moved to her great-uncle's cemetery.
Both were clearly moved by the moment. They spent a few minutes kneeling in
front of Pte. Teskey's grave and Mrs. Harper took a rubbing of the
headstone.
Pics later as I'm pecking this out from the BlackBerry on the way to Vimy.
One would think that with all the cameras around, someone would bother to submit a photograph of the PM's wife at her/her children's relative's CWGC gravesite to his file on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In memory of
Private
JAMES EDWARD TESKEY
who died on June 5, 1917
Military Service:
Service Number: 808791
Age: 19
Force: Army
Unit: Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
Division: 50th Battalion
Additional Information:
Date of Birth: December 9, 1897
Deloraine, Manitoba, Canada
Son of Benjamin and Christian Teskey, of Okotoks, Alberta.
..
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Then [CLICK HERE TO SEND US YOUR PHOTOS]
Burial Information:
Cemetery:
BARLIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Pas de Calais,France