The Only Known Gay Man on the Vimy Memorial
Queer Legends: An Oral History Podcast · Shawn Dearn
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Show Notes
This Queer Legends Quickie introduces you to Sarah Worthman, founder of the Newfoundland and Labrador Queer Research Initiative. Worthman is investigating the persecution of 2SLGBTQ soldiers during the First World War by the Government of Canada and she has uncovered some amazing things.
This story is the about a young, queer Canadian hero from Brandon, Manitoba - Private Frederick Lea Hardy. He enlisted as a teenager, was imprisoned for being caught with another soldier and later made the ultimate sacrifice for Canada at Vimy Ridge. Private Hardy is the only known gay or bisexual soldier to have their name on the Canadian Vimy Memorial.
Hardy wasn't the only queer Canadian soldier in the First World War. However, we only know of the heroic sacrifices of Canada's queer soldiers from instances when Canada turned on its own soldiers for simply being themselves.
You'll also hear more from Sarah in Season 2 of Queer Legends: An Oral History Podcast.
Cover photo: Todd Ross