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Vernon Military Camp

A herd of horses are in a row eating hay in an open field. The horses are tethered to a fence with rope rails. The horses are surrounded by canvas tents.

Lumby Historical Society Collection

Lumby’s Canadian Mounted Rifles initially trained at the Vernon Military Camp.  Lumby, along with Kelowna became “B” Squadron under the leadership of Major J.T. Bardolph.

On Dec. 4, 1914, Squadron “B” was ordered to Victoria for continuous mounted and dismounted training.

On June 1st, 1915 orders were received for the squadron to proceed overseas immediately.  The Lumby soldiers, along with the rest of the squadron embarked on the Princess Alice.  The squadron’s horses and saddlery were taken away just prior to the soldier’s departure from Canada.

Lumby’s Private Clarence Bessette was a member of the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles.  He died in battle on June 5, 1916 and is buried at the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery in France.