In 1918 Pte. Archibald (Archie) Killin C.M.C. BDE. (# 171143) returned to his family after WWI “The Great War For Civilization 1914-1918” (inscription on the back of one of the his two medals). Returning without the use of his left hand Archie was the only survivor of three brothers (of the 4th Canadian Machine Gun Regiment in 1916 - Royal Regiment of Canada, Toronto), and three brother-in-laws. 


Shortly after his return and among the many challenges facing him, Archie was faced with the need to find a final resting place for his sister Jessie Neil (DoD Oct 8th, 1918). In addition the family needed to arrange for some kind of marker of the various family members who did not return from war. Six family members went to war and only one (Archie) returned. 


At the time (Oct, 1918) Archie and family lived at 194 Emerson Ave. in Toronto, in what is now called the WALLACE EMERSON area. One of the documents attached is a photo / post card of the then family home at the time (1917). Toronto had a population of less than one million people and much like today (2020-21) the city was in the midst of a pandemic that was taking thousands of lives. Less than ½ a mile north of the Killin home, a new military/civilian cemetery had been developed / allocated called “Prospect Cemetery” located at 1450 St. Clair Avenue West. Archie purchased a Lot (# 95) in Section 16 for $ 75.00 on October 12th, 1918. This price included the cost of the interment of his sister Jessie. I have assumed that Jessie Neil was taken (at 29 years of age) by the global pandemic (Spanish Flu or Influenza). Jessie had lost her husband Pte. D. C. Neill one month earlier (Sept 27th, 1918 age 39) in the Great War and may not have even known this fact when she passed.


I have assumed that it was in 1919 that the first stone and base (Couper / Killin) was added to the plot, presumably at or around the time that Roger C. Couper was laid to rest. Corp. Roger Couper (DoD Dec 18th, 1919) the husband of Catherine Lillian (Killin) Couper (another of Archie’s sisters) was buried at the same time as a non-family member (Mary Wright Johnston, a still born infant DoD on or around Oct 31st, 1919). Apparently it was a custom and presumably authorized by Archie, for unclaimed deceased children to be buried in certain plots. There is a second unclaimed infant, Herbert Cowie (8 months old at time of death March 23rd, 1928) and neither of these children are listed on the family stone but are included in the documents of those whose remains are within the plot.


With the remains of many family members lost to The Great War For Civilization 1914-1918 (remains usually never fully accounted for and buried where they fell) it was decided that they should be listed on the stone. These included; L. Corp. J. Couper, Pte. John Killin, Pte. William Killin, Pte. D. C. Neill. There is at least one error that seems to have started with the cutting of the first stone and carried on through to the current stone. Pte. William Killin was killed in action on September 15th, 1916 rather than the 1917 listed on the stone. The correct date was confirmed with documents secured from the Canadian War Museum. Unfortunately the information and documentations of these family members is quite limited and it is hoped that through the launching of this site that other family members will be able to augment the information so that these family members can be better remembered.


With the passing of Archie in 1966 his wife Jean (1972) passed the administrative responsibilities for the family plot and stone to two of their sons; William (Bill) Killin and Donald (Don) Killin who undertook to maintain the plot, approve and facilitate interments and work with the family to commission a new and higher capacity stone.


In 2005 the administrative responsibilities were passed by Bill and Don to the next generation with one of each of their sons taking over joint responsibilities. Charlies (Charlie son of Don) and Kenneth (Menneth son of Bill) currently have responsibility supported by a legal title transfer.


In May of 2018 a Plinth was added between the stone and the base to allow for further capacity of names. This work was done in anticipation of a family interment service for four family members of which three had their remains interred during a joint family service held on Saturday October 13th, 2018 (100 years and 1 day after the plot was purchased by Archie). Quite possibly the largest family gathering in some time, we came together to celebrate the lives of all those that came before us with specific focus on the recent passing of; Nancy Killin, Joan (Killin) McKee, Dorothy (Christie) Killin and Ruth (Clancy) Killin.


To this date there is some capacity remaining on the plinth and room for four ground based plaques and it is hoped that through the launch (and future generational maintenance) of this family site, that there will be an infinite amount of room to provide a Virtual Family Stone listing of our family.