Thomas Andrew Arthurs
MINISTER TO CHINESE
Captain the Rev. T.A. Arthurs B.A., of the Chinese Labor Corps, died on Friday Nov 6th, in Havre, France of pneumonia. His home was in Acton, Ont. (address unknown). Captain Arthurs was a graduate of Toronto University and of Knox College. He went overseas as a foreign missionary with one of the Chinese labor units. He had numerous duties to fulfill, but most important of all was that of acting interpreter for Chinese and British. Writing early in the year, Capt. Arthurs stated, “Certainly the British Government cannot be criticized for treating the Chinese shabbily, and the Chinese are happy and contented, true, there are occasional troubles among themselves, due largely to gambling, but they are soon settled and all goes on as before”. (Toronto Telegram Dec 1918)
Thomas was son to Thomas and Agnes Atkins, who immigrated to Canada in 1849 and 1858 respectively. He was born on May 1 1882, in Grey County but by 1891 the family had settled in Esquesing. Thomas attended Georgetown High School. Thomas married Hilda Scott in 1912 and by 1917, the couple had two children (Doris age 2 and Helen age 4).
Captain Thomas Andrew Arthurs was buried at Sainte Marie Cemetery, LeHavre, Normandy France. His mother, wife and two little ones left to mourn.
Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on.
*Information taken from Newspapers.com, Findagrave.com and Ancestry.ca
