Angus Lorne Bonnycastle

A member of one of Canada's most prominent military families, Judge Angus Lorne Bonnycastle, 68, died this morning at his home in Dauphin, following a long illness. He had served as county court judge in Dauphin judicial district since it was organized in 1917.

Judge Bonnycastle had resigned his position, effective Aug 31 last, due to ill health.

During the Great War, while serving as provincial police magistrate in Winnipeg, Judge Bonnycastle, who had reach [sic] the rank of lieutenant colonel in the army, organized his famous 200th "Double Century" battalion, C.E.F. He made two trips abroad during the Great War.


Born near Campbellford, Ont., in November 1873, Judge Bonnycastle was the son of the late Major R H Bonnycastle, of the 40th Battalion, who served through the Fenian Raid and Northwest Rebellion. His great-grandfather, Lt-Col Sir R H Bonnycastle, of the Royal Engineers, was sent to Canada by the Imperial government for the purpose of superintending the building of fortifications. He built old Fort Henry at Kingston and the Martello Towers in New Brunswick.

Judge Bonnycastle's grandmother was a niece of Capt. Rowed, one of Nelson's famous captains. His mother was a daughter of Capt. M S Cassan, of Queen's county, Ireland, and a granddaughter of Capt Yellow, who lost a brother at Waterloo and a son at Sebastopol.


Judge Bonnycastle was educated at Russell, Man., studied law and returned to Russell to practice. He was admitted to the Manitoba Bar on June 28, 1905, after being articled to G R Howard, then to A R Tingley, KC, and to George W Baker, KC.

In 1911 he was appointed deputy provincial secretary and in 1913, provincial police magistrate. He relinquished these duties in 1916 on receiving authority to raise the 200th Battalion.

In 1907 Judge Bonnycastle was elected Conservative member for Birtle in the provincial house in the constituency of Russell.

Judge Bonnycastle was a member of the Anglican church.

In 1902 he married the eldest daughter of the late Lieut-Col the Hon. C A Boulton.


Besides his widow, Judge Bonnycastle is survived by four sons and two daughters: Richard H G Bonnycastle, Winnipeg, Charles Humphrey, lieut-commander with the headquarters staff of the RCNVR at Ottawa; Lawrence, London, Ont; and Geoffrey, Guelph, Ont; Mrs H Rodney de B Greenwood, of Natthiaghali, Northwest Frontier province, India, and Mrs Anthony P Adamson, Port Credit, Ont; also nine grandchildren.

His son, Richard, left Winnipeg for Dauphin this morning and it is expected the body will be brought to Winnipeg for burial.

Judge Frank E Simpson, of Minnedosa, will take over the late judge's work at Dauphin until a permanent appointment is made.


His Honor H W Whitla, senior county court judge for the eastern judicial district, as chairman of the board of county court judges of Manitoba said this morning: "It is with a deep sense of loss that I received the news of Judge Bonnycastle's death. He was an old friend of mine, and, although we all knew he had been ailing for some time, we expected he would be spared for many years of usefulness."

"The county court bench and the citizens of his district will feel the loss keenly. He was greatly respected wherever he was known. My colleagues and I express our deep sympathy with his family in their bereavement."¹²