Frederick McLeod Pt. 2: Service

Frederick McLeod, son of 1905 Moose Factory Métis petitioner George McLeod, left his community in Moose Factory to enlist in the First World War in January 1916.

After a year of training, Frederick sailed for overseas service with his unit on February 16, 1917. Upon arrival in England, the battalion was reorganized, and Frederick was reassigned to the 6th Railway Battalion, where he continued his training in preparation for entering active duty in France in April 1917.

Unlike other Canadian battalions serving at the time, the 6th Railway Battalion was responsible for constructing light rail lines used to transport materials and personnel to the front. As a sapper, Frederick’s primary responsibility was contributing to this construction work.

Between April 20 and 26, 1917, after a period marked by unclear truck and transfer issues, Frederick was one of three members of the battalion found guilty of an unspecified offence and given disciplinary sentences. Of the group, Frederick received the longest and harshest punishment: forty-two days of Field Punishment Number Two, which involved strict supervision, physically demanding labour, and at times shackles or restraints during the day.

The remainder of Frederick’s service in the field was spent performing his regular sapper duties, with a short two-week leave from June to July 1918.

By January 1919, following the signing of the armistice agreement ending the war, Frederick was being processed for demobilization. He finally returned home to his family in James Bay in May 1919.

After returning to civilian life, Frederick McLeod resumed his career with the Hudson’s Bay Company as a post manager and continued growing his Métis family, welcoming two more children into the world, before his eventual passing in 1963.

See Our Sources

• Frederick McLeod CGWP

• Frederick McLeod Service File

• McLeod-Turner VMFL

• 6th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops' diary entry for April 1917

• Moccasin Telegraph, Spring 1963

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