Private John Henry Hastie
Private John Henry Hastie (Uncle Jack to family) was born April 30, 1890 in Molesworth, Wellington, Ontario.​
Private Hastie married Adela Goetsch on November 8, 1913. Adela Goetsch was from Estevan, Saskatchewan. They had one daughter named Jacquelin (Jackie). They lived at 195 Waterloo Street in Stratford, ON. Private John Henry Hastie was an insurance agent.
​
During the war, Adela went back to Saskatchewan, with Jackie who was 19 months old.
110th Battalion CEF at London, June 1916.” Warmuseum.ca, Canadian War Museum, 2026, www.warmuseum.ca/collections/archive/3125081. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
With the Outbreak of the Great War, Private Hastie enlisted February 29, 1916 in Stratford, ON. He became a member of the 110th Battalion. Private Hastie received a number of leaves initially for farm work and harvest. He sailed to Europe aboard the S.S. Caronia on October 31, 1916. Private Hastie arrived in England November 11, 1916.
​​
Wikipedia Contributors. “RMS Caronia (1904).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Mar. 2026.
Private Hastie was taken on strength by the First Machine Gun Brigade.
​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Private Hastie faught in the battle of Passchendaele, where he was gassed and piled with the dead. Someone saw his pinkie finger move and pulled him from the pile, saving his life. He was hospitalized. He later returned to fight and was part of the final 100 days of the war.
Private Hastie is seated at the head of bed with his arm behind the soldier lying in the bed.
Click to view Private Hastie's service file
All WWI service records can be found at Library and Archives Canada.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​March 21, 1919 - Private Hastie's unit was demobilized.
​
Private Hastie returned home to Canada, where he returned to his wife and daughter.
​
They lived in Vancouver, BC. His family does not recall him ever talking about the war. They do recall that he was always happy and had candy in his pockets for the kids.
​
~BCI teacher Mrs. Karin McKerlich's husband's great great uncle
Adela, Jackie, Jack
Jack and Adela
Jackie and her father on his 80th bithday!