Victoria Freemasons Who Died In The First World War

George Samuel Ager was a member of Victoria-Columbia Lodge No. 1 in Victoria. He was Secretary and Managing Director of the Canada Mosaic Tile Company, located at 721 Courtney Street in downtown Victoria.

The 1914 Victoria City Directory shows his home address as 516 Trutch Street and his occupation as Managing Director of the Canada Mosaic Tile Company, which the same edition shows as being located at 721 Courtney Street in downtown Victoria.

516 Trutch Street (since renamed Su'it Street) was built in 1910 and was the home of George Samuel Ager, who died in the service of Canada near Ypres, Belgium in 1915 [photo: Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 Historian]
516 Trutch Street (since renamed Su’it Street) was built in 1910 and was the home of George Samuel Ager, who died in the service of Canada near Ypres, Belgium in 1915 [photo: Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 Historian]
He was killed in action on 22 April 1915 while serving as a Lieutenant with the 16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, near Ypres, Belgium.

Here are some local newspaper reports of the death of George Samuel AGER:

“”Lieut. George Samuel Ager is a well known businessman of this city, in his capacity as Secretary of the Canada Mosaic Tile Company, with which he has been associated ever since its formation.

He was amongst the first to join the 16th Highlanders in November 1913. He left with No. 2 Company for Valcartier last August [1914].

He has had an interesting career. One of his first ventures in this country was the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, from which force he enlisted for service in South Africa as a member of Stathcona Horse. That was in 1900 when he was about 30 years of age. In that campaign he earned the right to wear the Queen V medal with three bars. On his return to Canada he was employed in a clerical capacity at Slocan, B.C., later coming to Victoria to assist in the formation of the Canada Mosaic Tile Company.”

[Source: Daily Colonist, 27 April 1915, page 3]

“MISSING VICTORIAN IS BELIEVED DEAD

Lieut. G.S. Ager’s Name Is Again On The Casualty List – Left Here With First Infantry To Go

Previously reported as wounded and missing on April 27 and now reported missing and believed to be dead, Lieut. George Samuel Ager, another Victorian, must be added to the lengthening list of those who figure on the Roll of Honor from this city. Lieut. Ager was among the first to join the newly organized 50th Gordon Highlanders when that corps was organized in November, 1913. He left with No. 2 Company for Valcartier in August 1914, and saw almost constant active service since the first Canadian division went to the front.

Prior to serving in this war he had an interesting career. One of his first ventures in this country was the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, from which force he enlisted for service in South Africa as a member of Stathcona Horse. That was in 1900 when he was about 30 years of age. In that campaign he earned the right to wear the Queen V medal with three bars. On his return to Canada at the termination of the struggle he was employed in a clerical capacity at Slocan, B.C., later coming to Victoria to assist in the formation of the Canada Mosaic Tile Company, for which he acted as secretary up to the time he left for overseas service.”

[Source: Daily Colonist, 8 September 1916]

George Samuel Ager has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 26 of the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium

Here are some links to more information of George Samuel Ager:

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