Howard Grestock (1879 – 1917)
Howard Grestock was born in London, England. He joined Lord Strathcona’s Horse in Brandon, Manitoba and fought in the Boer War.1) He saw active service with the Canadian troops in South Africa on two occasions, first with the Strathcona Horse of Western Canada, and second with the Canadian Mounted Rifles of Vancouver. He was a member of the Fifth Regiment of Canadian Artillery in Victoria until he came to the Yukon in 1903.2) In April 1915 he owned hill claims Nos 26 and 27 on the right limit of Eldorado Creek.3)
The beginning of the First World War was announced by Dr. Alfred Thompson at a Grand Ball held in the Arctic Brotherhood Hall. Within days Grestock was on the sternwheeler Dawson, headed outside the territory to enlist.4) He travelled to Valcartier, Quebec where he enlisted in September 1914, and went to the front lines in Belgium with the Strathconas in May 1915.5) The Dawson Daily News published his letters from the front for years.6) In March 1917, the upper 200 feet of his claim No 25 and the lower 300 feet of his claim No 26 on Eldorado Creek were held free of cancellation for the duration of the war.7) He also had a pending application for a dredging lease on the Sixtymile River. It was awaiting a survey by Dickson, the Dominion Land Surveyor.8)
In February 1917, Lieutenant Grestock was wounded at Vimy Ridge and taken prisoner. He was evacuated to the Bavarian Field Hospital at Henin Lietard, France where he died. He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal. He is buried in the Cabaret-Rough British Cemetery in Pas de Calais, France.9)