Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthMay 24, 1890
Place of BirthWinnipeg, Manitoba
CountryCanada
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinJohn R. Bunn, father of 160 Spence St, Winnipeg Manitoba
Trade / CallingCivil Engineer
ReligionChurch of England
Service Details
Regimental NumberNA
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion2nd CE Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Engineers
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Address at Enlistment160 Spence St, Winnipeg, Man
Date of EnlistmentMay 15, 1916
Age at Enlistment26
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Decorations and MedalsMilitary Cross and Bar
Death Details
Date of Death19440311
Age at Death53
Buried AtSt. John's Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Bunn, Victor William

Victor William Bunn was born on 24 May 1890 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.   His parents were John Robert Bunn and Vashti Elizabeth Gunne.   Siblings included Charles (born 1886), Thomas (born 1892), Marguerite (born 1893) and John (born 1895).

Victor’s father, John, had just rejoined the Hudson Bay Company and was serving as a clerk in the Lac La Pluie District when Victor was born.   The family relocated to Rat Portage (Kenora) by 1891.   In 1893 John was in charge of the saleshop for the HBC, a position he held until 1901 when he went into business for himself. By 1906 the family had left Kenora and was living in Selkirk, Manitoba.

Victor attended St. John’s College in Winnipeg and became a civil engineer.   He was also in the active militia of the 99th Mounted Rifles.

On 15 May 1916, at age 26, Victor enlisted with the 107th Battalion in Winnipeg and was given the rank of Lieutenant.   The 107th set sail for England on 18 September 1916.   Victor’s service in France began in March of 1917.   In August of 1917 he was wounded but remained at duty. He was awarded the Military Cross on 18 February 1918 for ‘conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of a working party which was heavily shelled, he displayed exceptional skill and courage in maneuvering his men and keeping them together.   He personally took two men who had been wounded to a pill box and helped to dress their wounds.   His example greatly inspired his men and enabled them to finish their task under very heavy hostile shell fire.’ When engineer battalions were formed in 1918, Victor was appointed to the 3rd Battalion Canadian Engineers. In December of 1918 he was awarded a bar to his Military Cross and given the rank of Captain. He was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Canadian Engineers in early March 1919 and at the end of month he returned to England. At the investiture of King George in Buckingham Palace on 17 April 1919 Victor was decorated with the bar to his Military Cross.   He returned to Canada on 26 April 1919.

Upon his return from overseas service Victor worked as a mining engineer.   When World War II broke out he offered his services again and was officially posted to 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, Royal Canadian Engineers.   He went overseas again with the position of being second in command of this unit.   When he returned he worked for the U.S. Army on the construction of the Alaskan Highway.

Victor died suddenly at age 53 on 11 March 1944 in Winnipeg.   He is buried in St. John’s Cemetery, Winnipeg.

Two of his brothers,  Charles and Thomas, also served in WW1.

Bunn-Victor-William-2 Bunn-Victor-William-3 Bunn-Victor-William-4 Bunn-Victor-William-5 Bunn-Victor-William-6 Bunn-Victor-William-7

Photos of Victor: courtesy of his niece Barbara Hampson
Grave marker photos: courtesy of Bocephus on findagrave.com


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