George Henry Friend, CEF: Notre Dame Cemetery

There are 42 First World War soldiers commemorated by Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorials at Ottawa's Notre Dame Cemetery. George Henry Friend who died on 31 July 1917 is one.

He was the son of George and Louise Friend, of 95, Friel St. in Ottawa husband of Mary Ellen Friend, his second wife, of Overton St., Eastview (Vanier), Ont.
Born 8 August 1882 in West Stretham, Lewisham, England, he travelled to Canada at age 5 with his parents and two siblings settling in Ottawa. He married Mary Ann Kelly in 1902 by whom he had four daughters.

Despite previous medical issues Private Friend served from 22 September 1914 and joined the 17th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry at Salisbury Plain. He fell ill in England, was returned to Canada in February 1915 and discharged from service on 19 March 1915.

Cause of death was pyelonephritis, inflammation of the kidneys.