| Personal Details | |
| Date of Birth | April 15, 1896 |
| Place of Birth | White Dog, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Next of Kin | Andrew Land, father, Grassy Narrows, Ontario |
| Trade / Calling | Trapper and Hunter |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Service Details | |
| Regimental Number | 820826 |
| Service Record | Link to Service Record |
| Battalion | 44th Battalion |
| Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Branch | Canadian Infantry |
| Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
| Address at Enlistment | Grassy Narrows, Ontario |
| Date of Enlistment | June 17, 1916 |
| Age at Enlistment | 20 |
| Theatre of Service | Europe |
| Prisoner of War | No |
| Survived War | No |
| Death Details | |
| Date of Death | November 3, 1917 |
| Age at Death | 21 |
| Buried At | Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium |
| Plot | VII. C. 7. |
Land, Moses
According to his attestation papers, Moses Land was born on 15 April 1896 in White Dog, Ontario. Presently called Wabaseemong, White Dog is/was an Ojibwa reserve located 120 km northwest of Kenora, Ontario. His parents were Andrew and Nancy Land.
The 1891 Canada census found the family listed in the district of Algoma, Keewatin North. Household members were father Andrew, age 29, mother Nancy, age 28, and children Elizabeth, age 8, Jane, age 5, and Nancy, age 2. Andrew’s occupation was given as hunter and trapper. For the 1901 Canada census, the family was listed in the District of Algoma, Subdistrict of Rat Portage and Savanne (Agency) and members of the Islington Band. Andrew’s age was given as 45, Nancy’s as 35, and the only children with the family were Jane, age 14, and Moses, age 4. By the 1911 Canada census the family was found in the District of Thunder Bay and Rainy River, Subdistrict of Wabigoon, Reserve. It appears that Moses’ mother Nancy had died as household members were father Andrew (hunter), Moses (hunter), Osneckanen, age 13 (hunter), daughter Wawenpanaiceck, age 12, and Mary age 7.
Moses Land enlisted in Kenora, Ontario on 17 June 1916, address given as Grassy Narrows, another reserve located about 80 km northeast of Kenora. Standing 5 feet, 11 inches, he was a big lad for the usual size of the day. His occupation was given as trapper and hunter.
According to a Miner and News article dated 2 August 1916, Moses had left Kenora with the 141st Bull Moose Battalion for the headquarters of the battalion in Port Arthur by train the previous day. Training into the following spring, the 141st left Port Arthur for the east on 20 April 1917. Aboard the Olympic, the battalion left Halifax for overseas on 29 April.
Upon arriving in England Moses was transferred to the 18th Reserve Battalion. On 8 September 1917 he was taken on strength with the 44th Battalion (New Brunswick) in the field.
Just short of two months later, Private Moses Land was admitted to the 44 Casualty Clearing Station with shrapnel wounds to the abdomen on 23 October 1917. He later died on 3 November 1917.
From the CEF burial register for Moses: ‘Died of Wounds’ While proceeding to the front line trenches at Passchendaele, he was severely wounded in the abdomen by splinters from an enemy shell. His wounds were dressed and he was taken to No. 44 Casualty Clearing Station where he died.
Private Moses Land is interred in the Nine Elms British Cemetery in Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. The cemetery was begun and used by the 3rd Australian and 44th Casualty Clearing Station starting in September 1917. It contains 1 556 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
Moses is commemorated on page 271 of the First World War Book of Remembrance in Ottawa, on the Kenora Cenotaph, on the Kenora Legion War Memorial, on the Anishinaabe WW1&2 plaque housed in the Ne-Chee Friendship Centre in Kenora, and on the Aboriginal Veterans Tribute Honour List.
by Judy Stockham
photograph of grave marker: International Wargraves Photography Project as found on findagrave.com
