Private David William Stranger was born May 20, 1874, in St. Peter's, Manitoba, and was from the St. Peter's Reserve, and Peguis First Nation. He is the son of Levi and Anne Stranger, and husband to Margaret Harper, they were married in the St. Clements Parish on January 20th, 1898. David and Margaret had 7 children; Eliza Ann, Solomon George, Robert William, Thomas Charles, Walter Gordon, Joseph Rowland and Earl Victor.

David was a farmer prior to enlisting on September 22, 1915, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he was 41 years old. He became a Private in the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, and would serve with the infantry (on foot) unit in the First World War. His Service number was 150627.

On December 23, 1916, he was admitted to hospital for an infected jaw, and was discharged 8 days later. His next record shows a Report from Base on March 29, 1917: Killed in Action.

Private David William Stranger died in combat, just a few shy days before the famous Battle of Vimy Ridge. His body was never recovered, and is currently resting among the many at the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France.
 

His last will in testiment was

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Last will...
In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my wife and family; Mrs. Margaret Stranger, Eliza A, Solomon G, Robert W, Thomas C, Walter G, and Joseph R.
~8th Brigade
1st C.M.R.
3rd Division

 

~Written and submitted by Ashley Wolfe

Ashley Wolfe is the daughter of Denise Evans, born in Selkirk, Manitoba and William Evans, St. Johns, New Brunswick, paternal roots link to County Cork, Ireland. Her maternal grandparents are Arlene Jean Jensen, Selkirk, Manitoba, and Guenther Buergel, Dittersbach, Germany, they had 3 daughters together; Denise, Audra and Tracy. Jean is the daughter of Walter Gordon Stranger and Victoria Kipling, together they had 6 daughters. Walter is the son of Private David William Stranger and Margaret Harper. Ashley Wolfe is a wife and mother currently living in the Brokenhead Municipality, in Manitoba, very close to her ancestral home in St. Peter's, Manitoba. She is currently working towards her Major in Native Studies, and Minor in Canadian History at the University of Manitoba, including learning the Ojibwe language.