Uncovering the Story of Private Hasan Amat

Warrant Officer Daniyal Elahi of the 337 Queen’s York Rangers Royal Canadian Army Cadets led the research that uncovered the remarkable story of Private Hasan Amat as part of his youth-led public history project Our Shared Sacrifice.

Born in Singapore in 1894, Hasan Amat worked as a seaman, part of a vast maritime workforce connecting ports across Southeast Asia and the British Empire. He first enlisted in Canada with the Royal Canadian Regiment in Halifax on January 14, 1916 at the age of 21. His attestation form lists his religion as “Mohamedan,” making him one of the earliest clearly identified Muslim soldiers to serve Canada.

Discharged for medical reasons after five months, Amat re-enlisted just two weeks later with the 4th Overseas Pioneer Battalion in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, noting under previous military service: “Five minutes in R.C.R. at Halifax.” He traveled to England aboard the S.S. Metagama, trained at Bramshott Camp, and returned to duty after several bouts of illness.

By early 1917, Amat was transferred to the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion, a front-line unit with experience at Ypres, the Somme, and Vimy Ridge. In August 1917, the Canadian Corps prepared for the assault on Hill 70 near Lens, France. On August 20, 1917, amid heavy counterattacks, Private Hasan Amat was killed in action, he was only 23 years old.

His body was never recovered, and his name is engraved on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

To learn more about the individuals behind the names commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, use Vimy: A Living Memorial. The app allows users to scan names on the memorial or search from anywhere in the world, with access to biographies, photographs, and additional records.https://vimyfoundation.ca/livingmemorialvivant

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