Lieutenant Colonel George Addison Inksetter (1874-1916)

WEFHS August 16, 2024

Originally Published in Heritage Happenings, October 2008
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George Addison Inksetter, the son of Robert Inksetter (1815-1898) and Sarah Ann Cope (1827-1914) of Copetown, Beverly Township, Wentworth County, Ontario.
Born 5 November 1874 in Copetown, Beverly Township.
Ontario Birth Registration # 025684

Early Life:

A graduate of the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario.
He moved to Costa Rica where he settled and started a sugar plantation and an export business of lumber and sugar cane to the U.S.A.
Returned to Canada in 1909 and opened an ice and coal business in Hamilton, Ontario.

Military Information:

Prior to the start of World War I, he became a member of a local militia.
On 4 November 1910, he organized a mounted unit, the First Field Troop Brigade of the Royal Engineers.

When war was declared, he enlisted as an officer with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force, with his Attestation Paper signed on 21 January 1915 in Ottawa and filed in the Pay & Records Office in Ottawa on 8 May 1915.

George Addison Inksetter’s Officer’s Declaration form states that he was living at 10 First Street, Waterdown at time of enlistment.
(This house later became the home of the John Connon family and is presently the home of the Hawkrigg family).
The enlistment document confirms he was born on 5 November 1874 in Beverly Township.
Next of Kin is given as Marion Gibson Inksetter.
Occupation & Status at enlistment as a Farmer and married.

Additional Information:

He married Marion Gibson (1887-1919), daughter of Thomas and Isabella Gibson of Beverly Township on 18 March 1911 in West Flamborough Township.
Ontario Marriage Registration # 017807
The License listed the groom as 36 years old, bachelor and merchant in Hamilton since 1910, and his bride as 23 years old and a Spinster.

Two children born to George Addison Inksetter and Marion Gibson.
James Gibson Inksetter 28 Jul 1912 – 25 October 1963.
Georgie Ann Inksetter 3 May 1915 – 1957.

Death & Burial Record:

Lt. Col. Inksetter died on 15 October 1916 from wounds received during the Battle of the Somme.
At the time of his death he was the Commanding Officer of the 4th Division of the Royal Canadian Engineers. An entry in the war diary held at the Headquarters, Divisional Engineers, 4th Canadian Division records his death as “a result of wounds occurred at Tara Hill on 13 October 1916.”

He is buried in the Contay British Cemetery, Contay, Department of the Somme, France.

Commemoration of Lt. Col. George Addison Inksetter:

Page 108 First World War Book of Remembrance, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Ontario.
Memorial Plaque on the Stone Cairn, Memorial Hall, 317 Dundas Street East, Waterdown.
Tablet and stained glass window in West Flamboro’ Presbyterian Church, Christie Corners.
Monument in the Pineview Section of Grove Cemetery, Dundas.

‘Lieut. Col. George Addison Inksetter Born Nov. 5 1874. Died Oct. 15 1916 from wounds received Oct. 13 in Battle of Somme, France.’

Cemetery – A view of the Contay Commonwealth cemetery. Taken June 2000. Sourced from the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Grave marker – G.A. Inksetter marker. Contay Cemetery, France. Taken June 2000. Sourced from the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Commemorative Plaque – Details of names on the Waterdown Ontario WWI Memorial Plaque. The central column represents the war dead and the other names are from the Roll of Service. Sourced from the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Memorial Stained Glass – 325 Lt Col George Addison Inksetter (RMC 1825). Sourced from the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.