Lost soldier, son of former B.C. premier recognized by university
VICTORIA — A cherished son of a former British Columbia lieutenant governor was on his way to battle in Europe in 1915 when the ocean liner RMS Lusitania was sunk in the Atlantic by two German torpedoes.
James (Boy) Dunsmuir was among a group of Victoria residents and 1,193 men, women and children who died in the historic attack that factored into the United States’ declaration of war.
Organizers say a ceremony was held Friday to unveil a plaque commemorating Dunsmuir at Hatley Castle, where he spent his school holidays and stabled his horse and kept his dogs.
The 21-year-old soldier has no grave and his name doesn’t appear on any war memorials, his great nephew said in a speech written for the unveiling at Royal Roads University.