Leonard Keith

Leonard “Len” Keith was born in 1891 in Butternut Ridge, New Brunswick (a community now known as Havelock). He worked as a driver before joining the military in April 1918.

At 26, Len sailed overseas in June. He served with the Canadian Engineers until the First World War came to an end in November 1918.

Sapper Keith returned to Canada in mid-1919 and was released from the military in September. A car enthusiast, Len opened a garage after his return to New Brunswick.

Joseph Coates

Joseph “Cub” Coates was born in 1899, also in Butternut Ridge. He was a mechanic before enlisting in May 1918 at just 19 years of age.

Cub served with the Canadian Engineers and arrived in England in August 1918. He was sent to France just before the war ended.

Sapper Coates sailed home in mid-1919 and was officially released from military service shortly after his return.

He would volunteer to serve again during the Second World War.

Friends from the start

Len and Cub were neighbours growing up and developed a close relationship. Len was an amateur photographer with his own camera which was a rarity in those days.

Many of their pictures captured their close bond and their love for each other. As it was dangerous to be openly members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, they kept their decades-long relationship discrete.

The relationship ends

Sometime in the 1920s, Len and Cub would end their romantic relationship. Attitudes towards the pair in their home community had also harshened.

Len eventually emigrated to the United States and died in 1950.

Cub would go on to marry a woman. He was a butcher, a contractor and was active in harness racing before he died in 1965.

Related information

Len and Cub: A secret love – Maclean’s

Hidden love of Havelock men documented in early 20th-century photographs – CBC News

The Untold Queer History of WWI