Vancouver Sun artilce Nov 9, 2004 Finding a nearly unknown soldier Dogged sleuthing by a student yielded little information on a fallen Canadian soldier St Thomas Aquinas student Jack Finn goes to Italy for Cobble Hill "unknown" soldier, John Howard MacLeod. Can the very knowledgeable researchers on the BC list help this student complete his task of identifying this soldier. What the article presents: John Harper MacLeod lived with his parents Alexander Harper and Alexandra MacLeod on a farm at Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island and had 1 brother. Jack went to Cobble Hill and to Duncan to ask local people and local historian for information. He was able to determine that the family was probably of German descent who changed their name to MacLeod and farmed near Aros Road, Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island. John Harper MacLeod died at Ortono, Italy, Dec 26, 1943 so he would have been born around 1923/24 place unknown. Jack tried to trace through the Regiment that he died with but was told he was probably from another Regiment that joined up with the Seaforth Highlanders for this attack.  So Regiment has not been confirmed. What resources would Mr. Finn not have thought of using. I can think of 1. 1931/1941 Census for Cobble Hill to see if family was there at that time      (who can he approach to have the census checked) 2. Voters list for Cobble Hill for possible elections Provincial and Federal from 1931-1943. Available at Provincial Archives, not sure of where else it is available 3. 1941 Peoples Registration  I just can't remember the proper name for this, where everyone 16 and over had to complete a questionnaire (how could he get around paying the fee for a search) 4. Service Records, unknown at this time if he had access to any or asked for any ( how can he obtain without paying for them) Commonwealth War Graves Commission site has Son of Alexander and Alexandra Harper MacLeod, of Cobble Hill, Victoria Island, British Columbia. 5.  Subsequent death of parents, the 2 boys births possibly under name of MacLeod (article says father died before WW2 and too recent for births) 6. Citizenship records if were German immigrants and changed name on entry to Canada, where to obtain.  Original name unknown 7.  Name of brother who enlisted in German Army, he died in service unknown if older or younger 8. Directories for Cobble Hill if any available 9.  Post Office records or, phone books for Cobble Hill if any 10.  Did father apply for homestead in Cobble Hill area 11. Obtain service records as he knows his enlistment number M101975, how to get records without paying fee. Any other suggestions, people to refer him to, places to research, ways to get around the fees for searches, (I think the rest of us should pay for services but Jack is a student and this is a good cause) that we could present to Jack Finn to help him identify his MacLeod Soldier. I'm not connected to Jack Finn or the mysterious MacLeod of Cobble Hill but thought Jack had gone to so much effort only to be stonewalled at every turn that there must be some information hiding out there that would give him the answers he needs to complete his project. Arlene

Extracted from Commonwealth War Graves Commision Website. Hope this helps, notice spelling of last name. http://www.cwgc.org/ Casualty Details Name: MacLEOD, JOHN H. Initials: J H Nationality: Canadian Rank: Private Regiment: Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Age: 19 Date of Death: 26/12/1943 Service No: M/101975 Additional information: Son of Alexander and Alexandra Harper MacLeod, of Cobble Hill, Victoria Island, British Columbia. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. G. 7. Cemetery: MORO RIVER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY ____________________________ These death registrations from the BC Archives site are interesting www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca The films are available at some libraries Vital Event Death Registration Name: Gladys Alexandra Macleod Event Date: 1972 6 5 (Yr/Mo/Day) Age: 70 Gender: female Event Place: Vancouver Reg. Number: 1972-09-007833 B.C. Archives Microfilm Number: B13317 GSU Microfilm Number: 2034300 Name: Alexander Macleod Place: Italy Reg. Number: 1943-09-702825 Date: 1943 10 6 (Yr/Mo/Day) Age: 43 Event:Death Microfilm #: B14425 (GSU # 2231495) Name: Alexander Harvey Macleod Place: Overseas Reg. Number:1944-09-702826 Date:1944 10 15 (Yr/Mo/Day) Age:22 Event:Death Microfilm #:B14425 (GSU # 2231495) Roberta & Terry [email protected]