Remembering WW I Icelandic-Canadian Veterans

Blair Swanson
9 hours ago
6 min read

By Blair Swanson and Becky Byerly-Adams

During November Icelandic Roots pays tribute to our ancestors who arrived in North America from Iceland just years before the call came to support World War One. We honor the dedication and commitment these soldiers gave, some paying the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget.

Many people of Icelandic descent have served in the military of Canada and the United States. Respect is paid annually in honour of our militaries on Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the United States. A moment of silence is conducted at precisely the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, which marks the end of World War I in 1918.

Iceland does not maintain an army, navy, or air force; but rather, the Coast Guard is militarized, charged with defending the country. Many Icelandic immigrants and their descendants, however, have enlisted in the American forces or enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces. Many of these soldiers are profiled in books, recording their history.

Today, we present stories of a few Icelandic immigrants, two that were first-generation Icelandic-Canadians, who served Canada during World War One.

Jörundur Sigurbjörnsson/Eyford (I166166) was born May 1866 on Hrísey in Eyjafjarðarsýsla, Iceland. He emigrated with his family in 1893 and homesteaded Siglunes farm on Lake Manitoba. In 1916, then living in Alberta, he lied about his age, claiming to be born in 1872 so he could enrol; at 50, he was considered too old. Jörundur joined the 218th regiment and went to France. He was in the trenches for a year, then was gassed and blinded. He was sent to England, returning home in 1918 in poor health. In 1919, Jörundur received a Soldier’s Grant for a homestead in Alberta, eventually regaining most of his vision.

Thordur Anderson ( I183133) was born in Iceland, emigrated in 1903 and joined the 223rd (Scandinavian) Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in Winnipeg, Manitoba on April 6, 1916 and sailed to England on April 23, 1917. He joined and sailed the same day as his younger brother Helgi. He served for 3 years; 1 year with the 223rd Canadian Scandinavian Battalion as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. While in England, they were integrated with the 11th and 18th Reserve Battalions. From November 1918 to March 1919 he was transferred to the Manitoba Regimental Depot, a facility behind the front lines used to assemble men and to store and administer equipment and materials as well as to the 3rd Canadian Convalescent Depot, where soldiers could recover from their wounds. Thordur returned to Canada on May 30, 1919.

Helgi Anderson (I183136) was born in Iceland. He arrived in North America as a young boy and lived with his family in the Geysir, Manitoba district until he joined the Armed Forces during the time of the First World War. Helgi joined the 223rd (Scandinavian) Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in Winnipeg on April 6, 1916. He sailed to England on April 23, 1917. He was part of the 11th Canadian Reserve Battalion and then in September 1917 he was transferred to the 107th Overseas Battalion in France. In June 1918, he was transferred to the first Battalion, Canadian Engineers. He fought in a variety of battles including the Third Battle of Ypres (July-November 1917) also known as the Battle of Passchendaele; the Battle of the Somme (March-April, 1918);and the Battle of the Lys (April 1918) also known as the Fourth Battle of Ypres. He was never wounded and achieved the rank of Sapper. He was gas poisoned in World War I but it didn't show up on his service record. Helgi returned to Canada on August 10, 1919.

Sigurgeir Gudnason (I507942) joined the 100th Battalion on 22 Feb 1916, serving until 1919. He served in France, taking part in battles at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Passchendale, Cambrai, and Lens, being wounded twice. He went on to Germany after the war, where he was on sentry duty for three months. Sigurgeir received a badge of honor for good service. Demobilized upon arrival in Canada after the war he returned to farming and other work.

Unnsteinn Jakobson (I574789) of the Bjarnastaðir homestead in Geysir, Manitoba joined the Canadian armed forces in WW I on Sept. 2, 1916 as part of the 223rd (Scandinavian) Battalion. He departed overseas on April 23, 1917. Upon arriving in England in May 1917, he was first transferred to the 11th Canadian Reserve Battalion and then to the 107th Overseas Battalion in September 1917. In June 1918 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, Canadian Engineers. He fought in several battles: Arras, Third Battle of Ypres/Passchendaele (June-December 1917), Cambrai (Nov. 20-Dec 8, 1917), Amiens (Aug 8-11, 1918) and Valenciennes (Nov 1-2, 1918).

He was ranked as a Sapper Canadian Military Engineer. A Sapper is devoted to tasks that facilitate movement of allied forces or impede those of enemies. One of the most important tasks of Sappers was to dig tunnels under enemy trenches and plant explosives during WWI. Steini was promoted to Lance Corporal in January 1919. A Lance Corporal designation was appointed to a fully trained private who was second-in-command of an infantry section. Steini lost that distinction a few days later when he traded an army blanket for food for his men. He was demoted “at his own request” back to the rank of Sapper. Steini returned from the war on May 9, 1919.

The cap badge of the 223rd Scandinavian Battalion. Photo courtesy of eMedals.com.

Icelandic Roots honors all veterans with an event called Military Service on their personal page. This includes persons who are Icelandic as well as those who are not of Icelandic descent, but are spouses of someone who is Icelandic. The service will be for times served during peace or wartime, including domestic support operations.

Finding Veterans in the Database

To find the database records of Military Service personnel in the Icelandic Roots database begin by logging into the database. On the left of the main page is a blue column. In this menu list, click on People(+), then in the drop-down options, choose the link to Military Service. This opens a current list of over 4,700 veterans. This list continues to grow as each month, our volunteers enter more people with Military Service. This is a work in progress.

How can you help in honoring our veterans?

If you have any military information, service documents, medals, or photos of the veteran (and the photos could include family members), please send the information to support@icelandicroots.com. Make sure to include the veteran’s name, their and their IR number. Other information such as birth and death dates, as well as military service number, is also very helpful.

The Red Poppy

A red poppy is a symbol of Remembrance Day and comes from the poem “In Flanders Fields” written by Canadian physician and poet Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. He was inspired to write it after presiding over the funeral of friend and fellow soldier Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who died in the Second Battle of Ypres on May 2, 1915.