Adopted 6 February 1917 as submitted by Paul Haworth (Ottawa file 0210); re-approved 1 October 1953 on 94F.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Named in 1916 by Paul Haworth: "....having named [the north fork Kwadacha River] Warneford River after a gallant Canadian aviator, I should like to have the biggest lake at its head named after an American aviator, Quentin Roosevelt, and for the culminating point of the range between the two forks, Mt. Luke, after the most brilliant of all our fliers, a man who lost his life, as did Roosevelt and Warneford." (February 1920 letter from Haworth, file 34275-S#1). Note: Reginald Alexander John Warneford, VC, Flight Sub-Lieutenant with the Royal Naval Air Service was not Canadian; he was from Comeytrowe, Taunton, Somerset. "...Victoria Cross awarded... for most conspicuous bravery on the 7th June 1915, when he attacked and, singlehanded, completely destroyed a Zeppelin in mid-air. This brilliant achievement was accomplished after chasing the Zeppelin from the coast of Flanders to Ghent, where he succeeded in dropping his bombs on to it from a height of only one or two hundred feet. One of these bombs caused a terrific explosion which set the Zeppelin on fire from end to end, but at the same time overturned his Aeroplane and stopped the engine. In spite of this he succeeded in landing safely in hostile country, and after 15 minutes started his engine and returned to his base without damage." (extract from The London Gazette, 11 June 1915).

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Headwaters at 57 59 - 124 56. After Flight Sub Lieutenant Reginald Alexander John Warneford, VC, who on June 7, 1915, ".... attacked and destroyed a zepplin in mid-air. The fame of his deed, which brought him the Victoria Cross and the Cross of the Legion of Honour, resounded to the ends of the earth." Exactly ten days later, the young hero (he was only 23) met his death at Buc aerodrome, in France, while testing a new bi-plane. Buried at Brampton cemetery, London, England, June 22, 1915. (Graphic (British Weekly) June 26, 1915 File 0521 and 94F).

Source: Canadian Geographical Names Database, Ottawa

The Sekani name for Warneford River is Nuwa Luwa Tuè, meaning "wolverine creek". (Guzagi K'úgé, published by Kaska Tribal Council, Watson Lake, 1997).

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office