Campbell River Genealogy Society
~ LOST FAMILIES FOUND ~
DAVID WILLIAM VANSTONE
Service Personnel Information 1939–1945
| Address on Enrollment: | Campbell River, British Columbia |
| Birthplace: | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Date of Birth: | 13 Jan 1910 |
| Next of Kin: | David and Elizabeth (Thorne) Vanstone, Parents |
| Evelyn Mary (Wickstrom) Vanstone, Wife | |
| Racial Origin: | English |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Trade or Calling: | Logger |
| Previous Service in a Military Force: | No |
| Date of Enlistment: | 13 July 1940 |
| City and Province of Enlistment: | Vancouver, British Columbia |
Military Service Record 1914–1918
| Force: | Canadian Army |
| Unit (battalion or company): | Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (Infantry) |
| Rank: | Private |
| Service/Regimental Number: | K62814 |
| Posted Overseas: | 17 March 1943 |
| Honours and Awards: | 1939 – 45 Star; Atlantic Star; C.V.S.M. Medal & Clasp; War Medal |
| Mount Vanstone in Clendenning Range of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia is named for him. | |
| Date of Death: | 22 January 1944 |
| Age (at death): | 34 |
| Country of Burial: | Italy |
| Cemetery: | Bari War Cemetery |
| Grave Reference: | III. C. 38. |
| Location: | The Bari War Cemetery lies south of Bari, in the rural locality of Carbonara in the Commune and Province of Bari, Italy |
| Book of Remembrance: | David W. Vanstone’s name can be found on page 468 of the 1944 Second World War Book of Remembrance |
His Story
David William Vanstone was born on January 13, 1910 at Vancouver, British Columbia, although he spent most of his life in Campbell River. He was the son of David and Eliza Vanstone and had seven brothers – James, George Thomas, Edward Richard, John, Alfred, Fredrick John, and Harry Thorne Vanstone. David married Evelyn Mary Wickstrom of Courtenay, BC at Campbell River on June 3, 1933. His children were Elsie Harriet and David Glen who were age 7 and 5 at the time of his death.
David enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, 16th Canadian Scottish Regiment CASF (Canadian Active Service Force) on July 13, 1940 and was assigned Regimental No. K62814. His occupation at the time of his enlistment was logger, rigging slinger, with B.S. & W Logging Co. He was married, age 30 with a wife and two children ages 4 and 2.
Following basic military training and specialist trades training as a bricklayer in BC, he disembarked in the UK on March 31, 1943 and was transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada on June 5th. He sailed with his new unit June 29th and took part in the historic Sicily Landing on July 10th 1943.
Private Vanstone fought with the 4th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada having landed in Sicily with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. The Regiment stayed with the division all through this arduous campaign, winning a total of ten Battle Honours. These include such well known names as: Agira, Ortona, Hitler Line, Gothic Line, and Savio Bridgehead. The Italian government surrendered on September 3, 1943 and it was German troops that the Allies faced in their advance up the Italian peninsula. Taking advantage of the mountain peaks and swift rivers, the Germans made every Allied advance both difficult and costly. Total Canadian casualties in the 20-month Mediterranean campaign numbered 25,264 of which more than 5,900 were fatal. David Vanstone was wounded at the Battle for Ortona on December 27, 1943 and was evacuated to “9 Mob. C.C.S. (Casualty Clearing Station) North Africa” on January 18, 1944. He died of his wounds on January 22nd. David was buried at the Bari Military Cemetery, Grave 38, Row C, Plot 3, at Bari, Apulia Region, Italy. Honours and Awards: 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; C.V.S.M. & Clasp