Alfred Styres

Styres was one of the early enlisters from Six Nations, serving in the 4th Battalion with Cameron Brant and Frank Montour. He was regularly heralded for his enlistment story, although it’s unclear how much was exaggerated for publicity purposes. According to F. Douglas Reville in his History of the County of Brant, Styres, a farmer, heard of the recruitment drive while he was halfway through harvesting his oat field. Nevertheless, he “decided his duty was elsewhere, so he turned about, called on a neighbor, arranged for the harvesting of his crops and care of his stock, walked to Hagersville and enlisted.” He arrived at Plymouth in October 1914 with the Canadian First Contingent and left for the front a few months later. Dangerously ill with a gunshot wound to his hip, wounded at Ypres, during the Battle of the Somme. Transferred to Northumberland War Hospital and was treated there until 29 November 1916, when he was transferred to the convalescent hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom. He was discharged as permanently unfit as a result of his injuries. According to letters received by the Indian agent at Six Nations, Mr Hill, by September Styres was “quite a bit better” and was enjoying visits from people in the neighbourhood who were bringing him fruit and cake. He “also told of having been visited by Mrs. Aird, wife of Rev. Mr. Aird of the Reserve, who cheered him considerably with her tales of home.”

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