In 1911, the Cairns family travelled with their eleven children from England to settle in Caswell Hill. Hugh, their third child, grew up to work as an apprentice plumber and a highly regarded soccer player before being deployed into the first world war. He was awarded Great Britain’s highest award, the Victoria Cross for leading his platoon in an attack against the German army holding the french city of Valenciennes. Sadly, his act of bravery cost him his life. He died 32 days short of his 22nd birthday. Saskatoon honours Hugh with an armoury and school that bear his name. There is also a statue in Kinsmen Park dedicated to Hugh and the other 75 Saskatoon footballers who lost their lives in the great war.
Based on photo LH-3029 from the Local History Room at the Saskatoon Public Library