Educator.
Born at Crandall on 5 April 1893, the third son of Reverend Samuel Orchard Irvine (1853-1930) and Mary Jane Cross (1861-1926), he earned a BA (1914) from the University of Manitoba and became an teacher. His career included tenure as Principal of Glenboro School (1915).
In February 1916, he enlisted for military service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. He was deployed overseas to England aboard the SS Olympic in December 1916 and landed in France in May 1917, rising through the ranks to become a Lieutentant with the 43rd Battalion. He was killed in action at Cambrai on 28 September 1918 and was buried at Crest Cemetery, Fontaine-Notre Dame, France. Within Manitoba, he is commemorated on the Hartney War Memorial, Wesley College War Memorial, Maryland Methodist Church, Wawanesa War Memorial, Wawanesa War Memorial, and Brandon College War Memorial.
Birth registrations [Wesley William Irvine], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registrations [Mary Jane Irvine, Samuel Irvine], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.
“Results of Manitoba University examinations [Degrees Awarded - Bachelor of Arts],” Manitoba Free Press, 15 May 1914, page 21.
Attestation papers [Wesley William Irvine], Canadian Expeditionary Force, Library and Archives Canada.
“Young Winnipeg officer killed,” Manitoba Free Press, 9 October 1918, page 15.
Find War Dead & Cemeteries, [Wesley Williams Irvine], Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Elmwood Cemetery burial transcriptions, FindAGrave.
Brandon estate files (ATG 0064A), #5643 - Samuel Orchard Irvine, GR0394, Archives of Manitoba.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 4 November 2025
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