CEF Soldier Detail

Lieutenant Alexis Hannum Helmer
Died: May 2, 1915

Regimental Number:
NA
Survived War:
 No
Force:
 Army
Regiment:
 Canadian Artillery
Battalion:
 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery
Company:
Place of Birth:
Hull, Quebec
Country:
 Canada
Next of Kin:
Lieut. Col. R. A. Helmer, 122 Gilmour St., Ottawa
Address at Enlistment:
Date of Birth:
June 29, 1892
Trade or Calling:
Engineer
Marital Status:
 Single
Prior Military Experience:
Yes
Place of Enlistment:
 Valcartier, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
August 27, 1914
Age at enlistment:
22
Height:
 5 Feet 7 Inches
Chest:
 37 1/2 Inches
Expansion:
 3 1/2 Inches
Religion:
 Methodist
Enlisted or Conscripted:
 Enlisted
Saw service in:
Europe    
Cause of Death:
Killed in Action
Battle Died/Wounded:
2nd Ypres
Date of Death:
May 2, 1915
Age at Death:
22
Buried at:
 Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Belgium
Plot:
 Panel 10
Commemorated:
 
Prisoner of war:
No
Interned:
Gender:
  
Ethnic Origin:
Caucasian
LAC Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 4240 - 3
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Rank Regiment Unit Company
Lieutenant Canadian Artillery 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery
Son of Elizabeth I. Helmer, of 122, Gilmour St., Ottawa, and the late Brig. Gen. R. A. Helmer. The following circumstances of his death have been compiled from letters received by Lieut Owen Carsley Frederic Hague's father, Frederic Hague from officers in the area at the time. Early on Sunday morning, May 2, 1915 Lieutenants' Hague and Helmer left their position to check on a Canadian Battery who had positioned themselves on the bank of the Yser Canal near St. Julien close to the France-Belgium border. They had only gone a few yards when a six inch, high explosive canon shell burst. Lieut. Helmer was killed instantly. Lieut. Helmer was a close friend of Capt. John McCrae and was the inspiration for "In Flanders Fields".