Homesteaders Become Soldiers
Like many regions across the prairies, there was a very active recruiting campaign in the Peace River country as the First World War began. The drive for recruits made many homesteaders soldiers.
An example of recruiter for the First World War was Captain Lucas who was a member of the 66th Battalion. In July 1915, Captain Lucas was at Peace River Crossing when he signed up for service the homesteader, C.S. Mead who was successful with about 400 acres of standing crops and sixty cattle. Mead left his wife and neighbours at Saskatoon Lake to take care of his homestead when he enlisted.
Many of those who were recruited from the Peace River country were distinguished in their service during the First World War. One example was Donald Roderick MacLaren who had been operating a fur trading post.
MacLaren joined the air services that became the Royal Air Force. In March 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross for his victories. In April 1918, Don MacLaren became the new captain of Number 46 Squadron. By May, MacLaren received a bar for the Military Cross. With large numbers of victories in July and August, MacLaren was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
September and the first week of October 1918 continued to be successful for MacLaren, as his total victories mounted to 48 aircraft and six balloons, which made him the highest scoring Sopwith Camel pilot and third best of all Canadian Aces.
MacLaren was given the Distinguished Service Order on 6 February 1919. Added to the honours he already received, MacLaren was awarded the Croix de Guerre and was made a Compangnon de la Légion d’Honneur by France.
Many of those who had entered the services during the First World War were lost in action or did not return. The loss of these men had to be made up after the war. This brought a period of promoting the region to attract new settlers to come to the Peace country that now had railroads and many other services. Those who arrived in the Peace River would find that it was no longer a frontier.