August Sangret - August Sangret

August Sangret

Sangret was born on 28 August 1913 in Battleford, Saskatchewan. He was of mixed race, called in French Bois-Brûlés ("burnt wood"), part French Canadian and part Cree. Little is known of Sangret's early life, but his family was poor and Sangret received little education – he was illiterate, but intelligent. As well as English, he spoke the Cree language and learned some of the traditional skills of his ancestors, including the construction of sturdy shelters or wigwams made from long poles covered by sheets of birch bark; the tools for this task include a small crooked knife that is unique to the Cree.

He was unable to find work in the 1930s, but from 1935 to 1939 he served in the Battleford Light Infantry, a militia regiment which trained for two weeks each year. On 19 June 1940, Sangret enlisted as a full-time soldier in The Regina Rifle Regiment. He had a criminal record, including six months in gaol for a violent assault in 1932. He was not a model soldier; he was repeatedly punished for minor infractions of military discipline and had repeated spells on the sick list and he was at least twice treated for venereal disease requiring five admissions to hospital. He arrived in Britain on 24 March 1940 and was initially stationed in Fleet in Hampshire. He was then sent to Aldershot and in July he was posted to a newly formed Educational Company which ran a course for men lacking elementary education. It was at this time that Sangret met Joan Wolfe.

When Wolfe was released from hospital, the couple spent a great deal of time together. Sangret made a shack or wigwam in woodland behind the officers' lines. Here Wolfe would stay most of the time and Sangret would visit whenever he could, including many nights when he should have been in camp. The couple talked about their future plans, including marriage. When they could not meet, Wolfe sent letters to Sangret that would be read out by Sergeant Hicks. Wolfe got work, but she was unreliable and her various employments only lasted a few days. Wolfe drifted away for a few days to London and soon after she returned she was again picked up by the police and spent a few more days in hospital — not because she was ill, but simply so that she would be looked after.

When Wolfe returned, the couple were discovered in a wigwam by Private Donald Brett, a soldier attached to the military police. Brett told them to disassemble the wigwam and move away. Wolfe was once again taken to a hospital by the police. By the time she returned, Sangret had built a second wigwam made waterproof with his rain cape and gas cape. When Wolfe returned, the couple walked into town to try to find a room in town without success. That evening, Wolfe was detained by the military police who questioned her; she was sent to a hospital again and Sangret was arrested for "keeping a girl in camp".

The couple had to explain themselves to the authorities, they explained that their plans included getting married and they were treated sympathetically. On leaving hospital, Wolfe again returned to Sangret. They tried again to find a room in town, but ended up sleeping together in an unlocked cricket pavilion. Over the next two weeks, they spent a number of nights at the old pavilion and then, on 14 September, Wolfe disappeared. The affair between Sangret and Wolfe had lasted 81 days.