We Will Remember Them – Surnames A-C

We Will Remember Them
The Men & Women of East Elgin
Who Served
in the First Great War
1914 – 1918

Surnames A to C

INTRODUCTION

Dr. Murray Clement Abell

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Murray Abell was born on December 15, 1891 in Malahide Township, the son of Gustin Abell (1855-1922) & Mary Margaret Bowen (1860-1916).  Gustin was born in Malahide, the son of Robert & Mary Ann Abell, and was farming there when he was married on January 17, 1883 to Mary M. Bowen, also of Malahide, daughter of William & Lydia Bowen.  Gustin & Mary are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Murray was a medical student when he enlisted for service on February 28, 1915 in Montreal. He was attached to No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, and served overseas.  He returned to Montreal in 1916, arriving in St. Johns, Newfoundland on January 30.  On July 28, 1916, he was married in Malahide to Alta Mae Richardson, of Aylmer, the daughter of John Richardson & Emily Court Rowe.

Murray then again went overseas and signed an Officer’s Declaration paper on October 5, 1916 in Liverpool.  He was a Captain in the 139th Battalion, and belonged to the A.M.C.  He had served nine months at No. 3 Canadian General Hospital. He names his next of kin as his wife, Alta M. Abell, of R.R. #1 Dunboyne.

Dr. Abell returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on May 27.  His address on the passenger list is given as Aylmer.  He died on March 5, 1920 in Montreal in his 29th year.  He is buried in Aylmer cemetery with his parents.  The inscription on the monument reads: “Capt. M. C. Abell, M.D.C.M., 1891-1920″

His wife Alta was expecting a child when Dr. Abell died, and a son, Murray Richardson Abell, was born on October 14, 1920.  Alta was married to John Wilson of Georgetown on September 1, 1926 in Aylmer.

A letter from Murray to his parents was printed in the Aylmer Express, August 26, 1915:

AYLMER BOY NOW IN FRANCE

Pte. Murray Abell, with Army Medical Corps, Writes Interesting Letter to His Parents,

Mr and Mrs Gustin Abell, Talbot St.

France, Sunday Night, July 25th

Dear Father and Mother:
Sunday night has come again, and I must follow my usual custom of writing letters.  Today has been an exceptional one to us.  In the first place it has been a magnificent day, just warm enough to be nice, for strange to say some days here are quite cool particularly the nights. Today was an exception in that we had no fatigue.  It was, as it were, a real holiday.  At 10:30 we had church parade.  We were inspected by the Colonel and then marched down to a huge tent in which we had benches placed in order. There officers, privates, nurses all were seated and listened to a splendid sermon on “prayer”.  Our chaplain is a splendid speaker. Many fellows here in our unit, who I know practically never go to church, admit they like him, and return again in the evening to hear him.  This evening he had church at 6 o’clock. He dealt with three questions:  “Where we came from”, “What are we here for”, “Where are we going”.  Of course the privates could very quickly answer these three questions.  We came from Canada, that we are here to heal, and that we are going to Berlin.  But somehow the preacher seemed to look at it differently. He answered the questions differently.

This morning seemed to be cleaning up day. As soon as breakfast was over and the floor swept out, we all were busy shining buttons, belts, brushing coats, polishing shoes, sewing on buttons. That only gets done every Sunday for church parade, for during the week we wear our fatigue suits. This afternoon we were ordered to be fully dressed, ready to fall in at any moment, for our company was expecting a visit from Sir John French.  Is pent the afternoon reading and writing, but failed to see his worship.  I suppose they will be looking for him any time now.  We were honored one day last week by a visit from Premier Borden.  He merely walked about our camp.  We did not have to parade for him.  They seem to be greatly interested in our unit.  Still we are erecting tents, but I believe all such work as that will soon be finished.

It takes some time to equip a hospital of the size ours will be, even with the most skilled work. Our canvas city is growing rapidly. When all is complete, and beds are filled, our population will be about three times the size of Aylmer. One who has not seen anything of the like before can scarcely imaging it.  But since we are on the direct line of communication when once we are ready, there will be no delay in filling it.

Our wards are going to be splendid. They have tents of various sizes. Some tents will hold 24 beds, others as high as 48 beds.  It will surprise you when I say we are going to have our tents (wards) lighted with electric lights. The electricity will be generated by a camp electric plant. Wooden floors are being made in all our tents.  First of August will make the change of our duties.  Patients, I believe, will be received then.  Our operating rooms are progressing rapidly. The equipment is quite elaborate for a military hospital, and some great work will be done.

I must tell you of the scheme the four fellows in our tent, called “Home” have adopted. Feeling that our army rations were a little plain, we decided to help our meals by buying something ourselves.  Each man each day gives 10c or what is equivalent to it in French money, 10 sous.  That gives us about 40 sous a day to buy things; 20 sous we spend daily in buns and the other 20 in such luxuries as pickles, canned pork and beans, canned fruits, such as apples, peaches and pears.  These groceries we get from the army canteen, which really is a little grocery store for the whole camp here.  I can tell you it makes the meals more palatable. This morning we capped ita ll by having each of us two eggs, which cost us about 4 cents a piece.  Believe me they were real good eggs.  The cooks were kind enough to fry them for us.  So you see we had a breakfast fit for a king. We have now made a law that every Sunday morning after this, we will have two eggs for breakfast.  I often think how little we appreciated the many eggs we always ate at home. But I tell you now we appreciate one.  So with our little mess fund as we call it, we are faring excellently.

We had a very beautiful sunset this evening. From where we are we could first see in the distance the western horizon of blue fringing the sand dunes of the shore.  Inch by inch the golden sun sphere sank into this ocean of blue, reflecting its golden beams across the sea and land.  It was a very quiet evening. Many remained in their tents reading and writing, while others strolled along the hillside.

Am glad father to hear the crops are looking so good.  Must close this long letter as it is getting late.  Don’t worry about me.
With love, MURRAY.

Dr. Abell’s obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, March 11, 1920:

It is with sadness we chronicle the death of one of our bright young men of this district, Dr. Murray C. Abell, youngest son of Gustin Abell, of Malahide, who passed away at Montreal hospital on Friday, March 5th, of pneumonia, in his 29th year.  He was ill but a few days and all that medical aid could do was of no avail.  His childhood was spent just a few miles east of Aylmer, and he passed through Aylmer High School, afterward attending McGill University, of Montreal. While at the University he heard his country’s call and answered.  After being overseas sometime he returned, finished his graduation course and was married to Miss Alta Richardson, of Luton. He again went overseas and remained until the close of the war, returning home last May.  He has since been making his home in Montreal, taking a higher degree at McGill. He was a very active and consistent member of the Baptist Church and the passing of this young and useful life is sad.  He leaves to mourn his loss, his surviving wife and his father Gustin Abell; one sister and one brother, Mrs. Mabel Crawford and Mr. Wm. Abell, of Malahide. The funeral service was held from the Malahide and Bayham Baptist cemetery, on March 8th, to the Aylmer cemetery, and much sympathy is expressed by the whole community.

Leland Cameron Adams

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Leland Adams was born on November 26, 1895 at Lakeview in Bayham Township, the son of Charles A. Adams (1864-1916) & Eleanor (Nora) E. Cameron (1874-1963).  Charles was born in Port Burwell, the son of Thomas Adams & Laura Foster, and was farming in Malahide when he was married on November 7, 1892 in Sparta to Nora Cameron, a native of Bayham living in Malahide, daughter of George & Adelia Cameron.  Charles was later a brakeman on the railway, and died following a fall from an engine in 1916.  Nora later married George Marr.  Charles & Nora are buried in St. Thomas Cemetery, West Avenue.  Nora & George moved to Detroit where they are found on the 1930 census.  Her son Leland, who emigrated to the US about 1919, is living with them, employed as an office clerk in marine engines.

Leland was a student living with his mother at 219 Ross Street, St. Thomas when he enlisted for service on April 15, 1916 in St. Thomas, with the 91st Battalion.

Leland moved to Detroit about 1919 where his mother and step-father were living.  He died in February 1968 at Algonac, St. Clair County, Michigan

Joseph Frederick Agar

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Joseph Agar was born on March 26, 1871 in North Norwich Township, Oxford County, the son of John T. Agar & Sarah Ann Heywood.  John was born in North Norwich, the son of Joseph & Margaret Agar and was married there on January 1, 1869 to Sarah Heywood, of South Norwich, the daughter of Joseph & Margaret Heywood.  

Joseph Agar was a sailor living in Port Burwell when he first enlisted for service on February 15, 1916 in Tillsonburg.  He had served four years on the Great Lakes.  He joined the 168th Battalion.  He was discharged due to being overage and because of weakness.  He enlisted again on May 17, 1917 in Toronto, while living at 102 Shaftsbury Ave., Toronto.  This attestation paper states he had served as a private in the 168th Battalion for 10 ½ months.

Joseph died on January 4, 1932 at Westminster Hospital in London at the age of 62.  He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London.  He was not married.

His obituary appeared in the London Free Press, January 5, 1932:

AGAR – At Westminster Hospital, on Monday, January 4, 1932, Joseph Frederick, oldest son of Mrs. Sarah Agar, of Norwich, Ont., and dear brother of Mrs. E. A. Webb, of Mount Brydges, Ont.; and H. T. Agar, of Winnipeg. Funeral service at the George E. Logan Funeral Home, on Tuesday, January 5 at 2:30 p.m. Interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Charles Airy

The name Charles Airy appears on the Springfield Honor roll. The only man found with this name is Frederick Charles Airey, #410232, who enlisted for service with the 88th Battalion on June 7, 1915 at Barriefield Camp.  He was born October 29, 1886 in London, England, and was an electrician.  He names his next of kin as his sister, Mrs. Edgar Lacey, of Cornwall, Ontario.  He had served one year as a bugler in the 59th S & C.

It is possible this man worked in the Springfield area prior to enlistment.

Carl James Allen

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Carl James Allen was born on June 14, 1898 in Aylmer, the son of George Andrew Allen (1871-1949) & Marguerite Hagar (1874-1915).  George was an upholsterer living in Aylmer when he was married on August 18, 1897 in Aylmer to “Maggie” Hagar, of Ingersoll, the daughter of Frederick & Margaret Hagar.  George Allen later operated the Allen Funeral Home in Aylmer. He and Marguerite are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Carl Allen was living in Aylmer, a furniture store clerk, when he enlisted for service on May 25, 1918 in London.

He was married on November 16, 1921 in Aylmer to Norma Violet Ballah (1902-1988), a native of South Dorchester township, and daughter of James Albert Ballah & Sarah Sherk. 

Carl died on October 27,  1946 and is buried in Aylmer cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, October 31, 1946:

FUNERAL HELD WEDNESDAY FOR CARL J. ALLEN

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon for Carl James Allen, prominent Aylmer business man and junior partner in the firm of Allen & Son, furniture dealers and funeral directors, who died in Victoria Hospital at London, on Sunday evening.

Rev. D. A. Cowan, pastor of St. Paul’s United Church, conducted the services and was assisted by Rev. W. D. Stenlake, of Niagara Falls, former pastor of St. Paul’s, who delivered the address, and by Rev. F. J. Helps, pastor of Aylmer Baptist church.

The remains rested at his home on Sydenham street east, until yesterday morning when removal was made to the Allen Funeral Home where the service took place at 2:30 o’clock.  Interment was made in Aylmer Cemetery.

A large number of relatives, friends and business acquaintances were in attendance at the funeral, indicating the high esteem in which Mr. Allen was held. His death was most unexpected and was a shock to the entire community.  He had been ill for about a week.

The departed man was born in Aylmer on June 14, 1898, and after attending the Aylmer schools he entered the furniture and undertaking business with his father in 1916.  With the exception of two years overseas with the Canadian Engineers during the war of 1914-18, he had resided continuously in Aylmer.  Mr. Allen took a keen interest in this community and was a member of the Aylmer Kinsmen Club, being one of the charter members. He was a faithful attendant at St. Paul’s United Church and together with Mrs. Allen was a member of the Two-by-Two Young Married Couples’ Group.  For more than twenty-five years he had been a member of Aylmer Branch Canadian Legion, and was an enthusiastic 5-pin bowler.  His mother predeceased him in 1915.

Surviving are his wife, formerly Norma Ballah; his daughter Norma Jean Allen; his father, George A. Allen, and his sister, Rhea Allen, all of Aylmer. There are several cousins.

John Allison

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John Allison was born on March 5, 1897 in Kent, England.  He is found on the 1901 England census in Plumstead, London, the adopted son of John H. & Harriet Dennis.  The census states he was born in Bexley Heath, Kent.  John emigrated to Canada as a “Home Child” at the age of 13, leaving Liverpool on the ship “Canada” on March 3, 1910, and arriving in Halifax on March 11.  The party’s destination was Hamilton, but John cannot be found on the 1911 Canadian census.

John was a farmer living in the Springfield area when he enlisted for service on September 17, 1917 in London with the 7th Regiment O.S. Company.  He gives his address and next of kin as his friend, Joe Hewer of Springfield.  

John arrived home from overseas on February 5, 1919, landing in Halifax. He returned to Springfield where he farmed.  He was married on November 9, 1921 in Hensall to Verna Ina Ruth Whitlock (1897-1933). She was a pipe organist living in Springfield.  Verna was born in Hensall, the daughter of Peter Whitlock & Martha Williams.  On the marriage record, John gives his place of birth as Sidcup, England, and his parents’ names were unknown.   

Verna died on February 27, 1933 in Springfield and is buried in Exeter Cemetery.  John continued to live in Springfield until 1944, then moved to Toronto and Muskoka.  He returned to Aylmer in 1970.

John died on May 14, 1995 at the age of 98, and is buried in Aylmer cemetery with his second wife Meta A. L. Thompson (1908-1999).

An article was published in the Aylmer Express, July 4, 1989 on the occasion of Mr. Allison meeting the Queen Mother in Toronto:

WWI VET TALKS WITH QUEEN MOTHER

The following story was written by Mrs. John (Meta) Allison:

While spending the Dominion Day weekend in Toronto, a local resident, a World War I veteran, was fortunate enough to receive congratulations from Her Majesty the Queen Mother. John Allison of 152 Fourth Ave., Aylmer, who earned among others the King George V medal in 1935, was in the receiving line at Old Fort York on Sunday afternoon in Toronto. This setting seemed appropriate for both the WW I and WW II veterans as well as other regiments which Her Majesty was to inspect and later mingle among. She is truly very beautiful and very regal, yet she moved and spoke with many of the veterans, their wives and children, as easily as one would with a neighbour.

She was exceptionally gracious with one WW I veteran – 94 years old – who in those early years of aviation was associated with the R.A.F., and although this man was stone deaf she was still able to communicate with him.

Her Majesty the spoke with John Allison, taking particular note of the King George V medal and actually reached out to draw it closer as if to be certain it truly was King George V. In the conversation which followed, Her Majesty congratulated Mr. Allison both for the medal and his age. He then told the Queen Mother he had not seen her personally since he had been in the Guard of Honour in 1939 when she and King George VI first visited this country, now 40 years ago, to which she replied, “How wonderful to see you again”, he told the Queen Mother, “she was as beautiful as ever”.

The Queen Mother shook hands with Mrs. Meta Allison, greeting her with, “I am delighted to meet you”. After she had walked around among the veterans, she relaxed for a few moments for her usual cup of tea. Then all were given the pleasure again of that gracious smile and “I thank you: Good Bye”, as she left. So is it any wonder then John Allison felt he must be on hand on Monday a.m. at the International Airport to wave with many others his good bye to his “Queen Mum”.

He gained spotlight being interviewed by one of the C.F.R.B. “Good news reporters”, who was intrigued when she realized he indeed had a conversation with the “Queen Mum”. The reporter promptly recorded the story on her trusty tape recorder. So the resultant story and interview was later aired on the Good news report after the 8 p.m. newscast Monday.

So how much can one of our Senior Citizens pack into one weekend?  And how wonderful that one of our Senior Citizens received Royal recognition for his WW I service.

John’s obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, May 24, 1995:

John Allison

A funeral for John Allison, 98, of St. Thomas, last surviving Great War veteran from Springfield area, was held Wednesday, May 17.  He died at Continuing Care Centre of St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Sunday, May 14, 1995.  He was born in Kent, England on March 5, 1897.

He came to Canada in 1910 and lived in the Springfield area until 1944.  He was an active member of St. John’s United Church, was church treasurer of 17 years, served as elder, clerk of session, church school superintendent and a choir member.  Mr. Allison served overseas with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps in The Great War.  In May 1935, he received the George V Jubilee medal.  He lived in Toronto and Muskoka before moving to Aylmer in 1970.  He was a member of St. Paul’s United Church. For the past 10 years he was a resident of St. Thomas.

Giles Hume of Springfield first met Mr. Allison as a young boy and kept regular contact with him.  “He was very dedicated to whatever commitment he took on.  He was very committed to his church. I guess you could say he was a real gentleman”.  “John was a quiet, determined man and a real nice guy”.

Mr. Allison is survived by his wife of 60 years, Meta Alexandrina (Thompson) Allison, two sons and three daughters. He was predeceased by his first wife, Verna Allison in 1933 and a daughter, Margaret in 1944.

The Reverend Norman Jones conducted the service at H.A. Kebbel Funeral Home with burial in Aylmer cemetery.  Pallbearers were Ernest Lamb, Giles Hume, Ike Hewitt, Earl Denault, Mike Rokeby and Jack Carroll. Flowerbearers were David Summers and Joe Mennill.

Leslie Andrew Alton

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Leslie Alton was born on January 22, 1897 in Houghton Township, Norfolk County, the son of Albert Alfred Alton & Martha Jackson.  Albert was born in Houghton, the son of John Alton & Margaret Walker, and was farming there when he was married on November 29, 1892 at Kinglake to Martha Jackson, also of Houghton, the daughter of Samuel Jackson & Jane Wardop.

Leslie was farming at RR #2 Port Burwell when he enlisted for service on May 17, 1918 in Toronto.

He was married on September 27, 1922 in Aylmer to Beatrice Lillian Jackson, of Bayham, the daughter of John Jackson & Mary Shaw.

Leslie died on January 4, 1983 and is buried with his wife in Tillsonburg cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Tillsonburg News, January 5, 1983:

LESLIE ANDREW ALTON

Leslie Andrew Alton of 5 Devon Court, Tillsonburg, formerly of RR 2 Port Burwell, passed away at Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, January 4, 1983, in his 86th year.  Born in Houghton Township, January 22, 1897, he was a son of the late Albert Alton and the former Martha Jackson.  Surviving are his wife, the former Beatrice Jackson; and cousins Mrs. Mervin (Ferne) Howe of RR 5 Aylmer; Fred Alton of RR 2 Aylmer; and James Alton of RR 2 Port Burwell.

Resting at the Ostrander’s Funeral Home, Tillsonburg, where service will be held Friday, January 7 at 1:30 p.m. conducted by Canon Sidney Lupton of St. John’s Anglican Church.  Interment in Tillsonburg cemetery. Public visitation to commence at the Funeral Home on Thursday, January 6 at 2 p.m.

Theodore Arthur Ambridge

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Theodore Arthur Ambridge was born in Aylmer of July 23, 1883, the son of Henry Arthur Ambridge, an accountant, & Catharine Annie Brookman, who were married in St. Catharines on January 23, 1879.  Henry was born in Hamilton, the son of Theodore & Catherine, and was a bank clerk living in Aylmer at the time of his marriage.  Catherine Brookman was the daughter of William & Elizabeth, and was living in St. Catharines when she was married.  Henry & Catherine and family are found on the 1901 census in Aylmer, but by 1911 had moved to Toronto.

Theodore Arthur Ambridge was an accountant living in Toronto when he was married on February 8, 1918 in Toronto to Isabel Janet Cleal, also a resident of Toronto, but native of Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of Joseph Percy Cleal & Margaret Robinson MacDonald.

Theodore was living at 84 West Roxborough St., Toronto when he enlisted for service on June 6, 1918 at Niagara-on-the Lake.  His occupation was paymaster at the Cluff Ammunition Co. Ltd.

Theodore Arthur Ambridge died in 1926. A short death notice appeared in the Aylmer Express, May 27, 1926:

New was received here last week of the death of Arthur Ambridge, son of H. A. Ambridge, a former manager of the Molson’s Bank, Aylmer. Mr. Ambridge died following a short illness from pneumonia.

Francis Amoss

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Francis Amoss was born on April 22, 1887 at Corinth, the son of James Amoss (1843-1922) & Annie Hockey (1848-1940).  James was born in Markham, the son of Thomas Amoss & Frances Plaxton, and was a teacher living in Bayham when he was married on January 27, 1877 in Dereham to Annie Hockey, of Dereham, the daughter of John & Mary Hockey.  They are buried in Best Cemetery, Corinth.

Francis (Frank) was a civil engineer and enlisted for service on July 27, 1915 at Barriefield Camp.

In his mother’s obituary in 1940, Francis is described as Capt. F. Amoss, M.C., Ontario Manager of Arthur Balfour & Co., Hamilton.

Frank died in September 1977 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery, East Flamborough Township, Wentworth County.

Harold Edwin Amoss

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Harold Amoss was born on April 22, 1880 in Corinth,  the son of James Amoss (1843-1922) & Annie Hockey (1848-1940).  James was born in Markham, the son of Thomas Amoss & Frances Plaxton, and was a teacher living in Bayham when he was married on January 27, 1877 in Dereham to Annie Hockey, of Dereham, the daughter of John & Mary Hockey.  They are buried in Best Cemetery, Corinth.

Harold was a high school teacher living in Port Rowan when he was married on July 18, 1911 in Strathroy to Janet Mary Ellen Anderson, of Strathroy, the daughter of John B. Anderson & Elizabeth Gibson.

He was living at Corinth, a collegiate teacher, when he enlisted for service on July 20, 1916 at Barriefield Camp.  He initially listed his next of kin as his father, James, of Corinth, but was changed to his wife, of 113 Pembroke Street, Toronto.

A letter from Harold was printed in the Aylmer Express, October 31, 1918:

A CORINTH ARTILLERYMAN GIVES DESCRIPTION OF ALLIED ADVANCE

Miss E. V. Amoss, of Corinth has received the following letter from her brother, Bombardier H. E. Amoss, who is with the 39th Battery:

Open warfare is indeed a new game, vastly more strenuous and fatiguing, but much more exciting than the old trench style. First you secretly concentrate masses of infantry, artillery, cavalry and tanks, not to mention airplanes. This entails long, tiresome marches of from twenty to thirty kilometres per day or night; a long, dusty march behind vehicles; war ration meals; little sleep; constant hustle and tending to horses during spare intervals, make a trout fishing day seem a heaven of leisure. You finally get to the end of your trip. The guns are pulled into position. But, alas! there are no fancy gunpits, nor comfortable dugouts. The guns are in the open, concealed from the enemy as much as possible by ridges, hedges or camouflage. Your quarters are anywhere you may flop – in a trench, if there is one handy, and pull a tarpaulin over yourself and the rest of the sub-section. However, Fritz generally shells and bombs the trenches, so the “E” sub crew, at any rate, have taken to a new method of digging a little grave-yard – that is openings 6 feet by 3 feet, near together, and putting your bed into them. If you have a tarpaulin, it may stretch over the whole bunch, but we generally spread a rubber sheet or a Fritzie ground cloth over the top. You are safe from splinters and only a direct hit will get you; or you may sleep under the gun.

The play opens with a heavy barrage as per usual. The infantry and tanks go over the top. The tanks crush a road through the barbed wire and the infantry follow. The little tanks – “whippets” – about the size of a Ford car, and nearly as speedy, run up and down the enemy’s trenches and shoot up the holders with machine gunfire, or charge machine gun nests and drive the machine gunners from their posts to surrender. Frequently they capture guns by similar methods.  Of course, all this is much as usual.

But here a new style comes in. The infantry and tanks do not stop and consolidate after a mile two advance, but keep on going. The guns keep moving up and covering them, until they come to something too stiff to rush over, or until they have made a bulge too deep into the enemy’s lines to be pursued farther with safety until the flanks come up. The infantry and artillery are arranged in deep echelon. As one wave of infantry becomes exhausted, a fresh command “leap-frogs” them, and as the rear artillery gets nearly out of range they hitch up and move forward. You watch the range go, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 yards, as you swing left and right, shelling out trench systems, machine-gun posts and strong points. Stop! Cease fire! Prepare to advance! Of course you are used to the game by this time and your kit is already packed. You put away your sights, fasten the Christmas tree equipment over the gun, camouflage screens, axes, spades, and so forth. The six horses and limber dash up and you limber up and away, followed by the firing battery wagons with ammunition. If possible, you go across country, avoiding the roads which Fritzie is sure to be shelling. If the country is very bad, that is, pitted with shell holes, you may have to take the road part of the way; at least. If so you can look out for a hot time. If the enemy is on high country you must skirt ridges and forest to keep out of view, and sometimes have to wind about for long distances to cover a short advance.  And it is some rush – horses galloping, gunners running, equipment bouncing loose, and shells banging about you.

It is some dash over shell holes and trenches. No one could possibly stick on the limber. You run along as fast as you can, taking short cuts when possible. No’s 1 to the front! You get an extra burst of speed on, because, being one of the rear guns, you have to run the entire length of the column. And if you are last – well, the major has a good vocabulary. Of course, you should have a horse, according to F.A.T., but according to conditions of real warfare you don’t. You are shown the location of your gun, and direct the gun teams in picking out a possible path among the shell holes. “Halt! Action right!” You used to do these stunts in Pettawawa, but thought you would never practice it here. The gun is unlimbered, uncoupled from the half-wagon drawing it, and swung in a quarter circle. The limber is then stripped of kit and gunstores and usually unloaded of the ammunition, and drives back to the horse lines, which by this time are moving up to about where your guns last were. The firing battery wagon drives up to the left of the gun and the horses are unhitched and away they gallop back, leaving the double wagon of ammunition behind. At least, that is the “correct” way but we are finding out that war has developed faster than the theory of war, and now we unload the wagon of ammunition and send it back after another load. It takes much more than one load to get the Fritzies going. By this time the limber gunner has the gun stripped and sights adjusted. The officer is plotting out angles and ranges and in no time you are banging away at a machine-gun nest or a wood or trench that has been holding up the infantry. The first line wagon dashes up and you unload it. Soon you get the order: “cease fire!” The infantry have got th rough the obstacle and for the minute you have no target. You are dying with curiosity to explore about you, but must not leave the guns for any length of time, nor for any distance.

First, you take a look at the trails criss-crossing the country like gigantic snowshoe trails in the snow. These are the paths of the tanks. Here they have flattened out a road through barbed wire entanglements like one would brush through cobwebs; there a “whippet!” has rushed a machine-gun nest and the gunners are lying about their gun, having it out until the last – a ghastly but, by this time, not a horrible spectacle. Another tank has run down the rear of a trench, firing into dugouts on the opposite side, and you see more Fritzies caught running into or out of their dugouts like rabbits from their burrows.

The next tank track leads to a different spectacle. Four shell holes appear on the near side. The caterpillar has been ripped into. You peer in through the hole next the pompom turret. The remains of three gunners strewn on a mass of wrecked machinery, and this does give you a start. Someone tells you how it happened. The tank had rounded the hillock and the crew of the 4.1 gun behind it surrendered or beat it as the tank was proceeding ahead, one German gunner, a mere lad, rushed back to the gun and pumped four shots into the tank. The gun still has the shell in it, but no cartridge where the kid was loading for another shot. He lies just across the trail with a bayonet stab in his throat, and the remainder of the crew are not far off.

You see a mound of dugouts not far off, but yet too far to visit. The fellows at the horse lines, which moved up there that afternoon, tell you it is a Fritzie quartermaster’s store. There are dozens of pairs of boots, suits of clothes, socks, and so forth. Then you go to look at some captured Fritzie guns. They are chalked with the names of their captors – battalion, tank or machine gun crew. You have learned to respect these machines, and indeed they are good pieces of work. Their instruments are more complex than ours; their barrels are longer and breeches heavier, though the whole gun is lighter and less sturdily built. You are also interested in the five-barrel pompom, anti-aircraft or anti-tank and another little trench mortar-like anti-tank gun.

Dr. Amoss became Director of Professional Training with the Department of Education in Toronto. He died on December 20, 1964 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery, East Flamborough Township, Wentworth County. His obituary appeared in the Hamilton Spectator, December 21, 1964:

AMOSS, Dr. Harry – At his residence, 46 Duke Street, Apt. 103, on Sunday, December 20, 1964, Dr. Harry Amoss, husband of the late Janet Anderson, and dear brother of Frank X. Amoss, of Hamilton. Dr. Amoss retired from the Board of Education in 1948. Resting at The Dodsworth and Brown Funeral Home, Main Street West at Bay Street. Service in the chapel on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Interment Woodland Cemetery. Flowers gratefully declined.

Clarence Holland Anderson

802811 / 3139676

Clarence Anderson was born on December 1, 1894 in Bayham, the son of Judson Jeremiah Anderson (1844-1905) & Flora Gillis (1855-1921). Judson was born in Bayham, the son of David & Jeanette Anderson, and was a farmer there when he was married on May 31, 1881 in Bayham to Flora Gills, also of Bayham, but a native of Grey, the daughter of Cornelius (or Angus) & Margaret Gillis.  Judson is buried in Otter Valley Cemetery, Bayham. Flora died in London in 1921 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery there.

Clarence was living with his mother at 365 Grey Street, London employed as a cooper when he enlisted for service on January 25, 1916 in London. He served with the 135th Battalion for two months in 1917, and was discharged.  On August 15, 1918 he enlisted for service in London.  He and his mother were living at 284 Simcoe Street, London. No further information is known.

Harley Burton Anderson

198579 / 1078826

Harley Anderson was born on September 16, 1898 in Straffordville, the son of Daniel Anderson & Lucinda A. Hilts (1877-1955).  Daniel was born in Bayham, the son of Judson Jeremiah Anderson & Flora Gillis, and was a farmer there when he was married on January 1, 1896 in Tillsonburg to Lucinda Hilts, also of Bayham, daughter of Wellington G. & Sarah A. Hilts.  Lucinda is buried in Smuck Cemetery.

Harley was an engine trimmer living at 1317 Donald Street, Fort William when he enlisted for service on December 27, 1915 at Fort William. He names his father as next of kin, at the same address. He enlisted with the 94th Battalion.  Another attestation paper exists for Harley, bearing the service number 1078826, dated November 15, 1916 at Fort William.  He enlisted with the 5th Pioneer Battalion.

Following the war, Harley was married in Headington, Oxford, England in early 1919 to Louie Ward.  He returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on September 14.  His address is given as Fort William, and a wife is indicated as a dependent. Harley made a return trip to England, and returned to Canada on July 29, 1928, arriving in Quebec.  No information on his wife emigrating to Canada can be found.  Harley went to the United States in 1928, and is found on the 1930 census in Redford Township, Wayne County, living with his sister Elva and her husband John Brimmell.  No further information can be found.

Peter Anderson

400593 

The St. Thomas Times-Journal, March 31, 1919 reported the return of local soldiers in “The News of Aylmer”: “Pte. Peter Anderson has returned to his home in Aylmer. He left with the 33rd Battalion and has spent over three years in the service”.

Peter Anderson was living in Aylmer when he enlisted for service with the 33rd Battalion in St. Thomas on January 14, 1915.  He had served eleven years in the Black Watch.  He states he was born on January 28, 1870 [his actual date of birth was May 20, 1867]  in Dunblane, Scotland.  He names his next of kin as his wife, Mrs. Mary Anderson, of Talbot Street, Aylmer.  He was a labourer with two children.

Peter was the son of David Anderson & Margaret Eadie, and was living at 95 Duke Street, Toronto when he was married there on May 24, 1905 to Mary Murray (1880-1944), also a native of Scotland living at 32 Walter Street, Toronto, the daughter of James & Marjory Murray.  Two children were born to them while in Toronto: Andrew Russell (1906; died at age 5 months) and Allan Gordon (1909-1971).  The family moved to Aylmer where a daughter Margaret Jean was born in 1913 and died in May 1917, aged 3 years, 9 months.  The two children referred to on Peter’s attestation paper would be Allan and Margaret.

The following caption, accompanied by a photo, was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Pte. Peter Anderson, a South African veteran enlisted with the 33rd Batt., and is now in France. He has had considerable military experience, having served 12 years with the Black Watch Volunteer Batt.  He was born in bonnie Scotland and came to Canada 13 years ago. Mrs. Anderson and children are living on Sydenham street”

A photograph, with the following article, appeared in the Aylmer Express, April 3, 1919:

“Sapper Peter Anderson has returned to his home here after many months of service overseas. His family has remained in Aylmer, during his absence, and needless to say it was a happy reunion. Sapper Anderson had quite a career in military life, and feels that he has now done his bit for the empire. He first joined the 4th Battalion of the 42nd Black Watch, then the Imperial Yeomanry and went through the Boer War, for which hd wears a medal and five bars. At the close of this war he came to Canada, married and settled down. At the outbreak of the present war he joined the 33rd Battalion and went to England in March 1916. He spent some sixteen months in France and has remained to the finish. He was in the Rhyl riot and claims the soldiers had ample reason to act as they did. One of the principle causes of the trouble was the fact that the authorities were sending home conscript men before those who had volunteered and had been fighting for months. Food was also scarce, as well as tobacco. He says that after the riot these things were plentiful.”

Mr and Mrs Anderson’s 25th anniversary was reported in the Aylmer Express, May 29, 1930:

AND MRS. PETER ANDERSON CELEBRATE SILVER WEDDING

Mr and Mrs Peter Anderson, well-known and highly respected residents of Aylmer, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary at their home on Victoria Street South, on Saturday, May 24th. Out of town guests were their son, Allan Anderson, of Toronto; M and Mrs Brydon and family, Mr and Mrs Christie, Mr John Christie and Miss Burke and Miss Isabel Brydon, all of Toronto; and Mr and Mrs Alex Laing, of St. Thomas. Mr and Mrs Anderson were married in Toronto twenty-five years ago and seventeen years of their married life have been spent in Aylmer, where their many friends will join with this paper in wishing them many more happy anniversaries. For the past ten years, Mr. Anderson has been night policeman of the Aylmer Police Force. He is also a veteran of the Great War.

Peter died on November 10, 1958 at the age of 91, and is buried with his wife in Aylmer Cemetery.  His obituary, from an undated clipping, is as follows:

PETER ANDERSON, 91, WAS FORMER CHIEF OF AYLMER POLICE

AYLMER – Peter Anderson, formerly of Aylmer, died on Monday in Westminster Hospital, London, Ont., where he had been a patient the past six years.

Born in Dunblane, Scotland in 1867, Mr. Anderson came to Canada in 1903 and settled in Toronto. He came on to Aylmer in 1914. He was a veteran of the South African War and of World War I.  He served with the 33rd Battalion C.E.F. in World War I, transferring to the 10th Railway Troops in which he served as quartermaster.

On returning to Aylmer after the war, he was police chief for 15 years. He was a charter member of the G.W.V.A., and was also a member of St. Paul’s United Church.

Mr. Anderson is survived by one son, Allan G. Anderson, of Aylmer; a daughter, Mrs. Jean Fortin of Quebec City; and by five grandchildren.

The remains are resting at the Jas. H. Barnum Funeral Home here, the funeral service to be held there at two p.m. Thursday with Rev. Ronald Matthewman, rector of Trinity Anglican Church and chaplain of Col. Talbot Branch No. 81, Canadian Legion, officiating. Interment will be made in Aylmer Cemetery.

Marshall John Andrew

Marshall John Andrew was born on June 22, 1895, the son of Rev. J. W. J. Andrew (ca1864-1939) & Pollie Codd (ca 1867-1930).  Rev. Andrew was rector at Trinity Anglican Church in Aylmer from 1894-1902.  He was born at Kingston, the son of James William John & Amelia Andrew, and was living in Aylmer when he was married on August 15, 1893 in Stratford to Pollie Codd, of Stratford, daughter of John Codd.  Rev. & Mrs. Andrew later lived in St. Thomas, where he was rector at Trinity Anglican Church from 1915 until his death in 1939.  They are buried in Avondale Cemetery, Stratford. 

Marshall J. Andrew was a student at the University of Toronto when he enlisted as a Lieutenant in the Forestry Depot, M.D. #1 on April 18, 1917 in London.  He belonged to the 108th Regiment.  He names his next of kin as his father, of 81 Wellington Street, St. Thomas.

Marshall was married to Nora A. Young (1897-1951).  He died on October 16, 1985 and is buried with his wife in White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Hamilton. His obituary appeared in the Hamilton Spectator, October 17, 1985:

ANDREW, Marshall J. – On Wednesday, October 16, 1985, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, in his 91st year, beloved husband of Agnes. Dear father of Donald and wife Shirley and Maurice and wife Willa. Survived by sisters, Mrs. A. T. Lawson (Allene) and Mrs. B. A. MacDonald (Betty). Also survived by four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Mr. Andrew was a mentor of the Granite Club Bible Class for 40 years. The family will receive friends at the M. A. Clark Funeral Home, 567 Upper Wellington Street, Hamilton, Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held in the chapel on Friday, October 18 at 2 p.m., with cremation to follow. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.

William Antill

42785

William Ewart C. Antill was born on June 23, 1897 Broughton Astley in Leicester, England, the son of (Henry) Harry Swain Antill and his wife Ada Scott. His father was employed as a grocer’s warehouseman, and the family was living in the Parish of St. Mark’s, Leicester on the 1901 England census. 

William was a brother of Wallace Antill, of Aylmer,  who was killed in action on November 18, 1916 in France.

William emigrated to Canada in 1913 at the age of 16,  leaving Liverpool on the ship Empress of Britain, and arriving at Quebec on September 26.  The passenger list states his destination was to his brother’s in Aylmer, to be a farm labourer.

William enlisted for service on September 24, 1914 at Valcartier.  His address was not given on the attestation paper.  He names his next of kin as H. S. Antill, 97 St. Mitchell’s Avenue, Belgrave, Leciester.  He was a farmer and had served in the 3rd Brigade, C.F.A.

William returned from overseas in 1918 after being discharged, arriving in Halifax on May 20.  His residence is given as Aylmer.

William moved to St. Catharines where he was living at 91 Queen Street, when he enlisted again for service in Toronto on January 9, 1920.  He was a bookkeeper and names his next of kin as his sister-in-law, Mrs. W. Antill, of Aylmer.  He had served four years and seven months with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces.  He again went overseas, and returned to Canada on July 17, 1925, arriving in Quebec on the ship Montcalm. The passenger list states he had been in Canada from September 1913 to November 1922, at Aylmer.  

No further information is known.

Harold Archer

189378

photo courtesy of Elgin County Archives 

Harold Archer’s name is found in a list of recruits for the 91st Battalion, printed in the Aylmer Express, December 2, 1915.  He is described as a farmer, single, of Belmont. 

Harold was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire (Hants) on April 21, 1893, the son of Harry & Ellen Archer.  Harold’s parents are found on the 1891 census on Osborn Road in Heston, Middlesex, England.  Harry is a Staff Sergeant in the Army Service Corps and was born in Clerkenwell, England.  His wife Ellen was born in Ibberton, Dorset.  On the 1901 census, Ellen is a widow, receiving an army widow pension, with several children including Harold, age 7.  They are living in Ashford, Middlesex. 

Harold emigrated to Canada at the age of 18 as a “home child”, leaving Liverpool on April 28, 1911 on the ship Virginian, and arriving in Quebec on May 6, 1911.  He is found on the 1911 census in Adelaide Township, Middlesex County working as a servant.

He later moved to the Belmont area where he was living when he enlisted for service with the 91st Battalion on November 13, 1915 in St. Thomas.  He names his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. Ellen Archer of Ashford, Middlesex, England. The photo shown here, in the collection of the Elgin County Archives, is identified only by the surname “Archer”, and is presumed to be Harold.

Following the war, passenger lists indicate Harold returned to Canada, arriving in Halifax on April 21, 1919.  His residence is given as Belmont.

Harold was married to Lillian Betterley (1903-1955).  He died on December 5, 1970 and is buried with his wife in Dorchester Union Cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the London Free Press, December 5, 1970:

ARCHER – Harold of 192 Main Street, Belmont.  Passed away at St. Thomas General Hospital on Saturday, December 5th 1970 after a lengthy illness.  Predeceased by his wife, Lillian Betterly (1955). Dear father of Gordon, Norman, and Ellen, all of Belmont. Also survived by three grandchildren and three sisters in England. Resting at the L. Laird Logan Funeral Home, Dorchester, where funeral service will be held in the chapel on Monday, December 7 at 2 p.m. Rev. Elder of Belmont Presbyterian Church officiating.  Interment in Dorchester Union Cemetery. Mr. Archer was a member of the 91st Battalion and retired Postmaster at Belmont.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cancer Society would be appreciated.

Charles Henry Armstrong

642616

Charles Henry Armstrong was born in July 1879 at Port Rowan in Walsingham Township, Norfolk County, the son of Charles Armstrong.  He was married to Marion Miller and was a carpenter living in Collingwood when he enlisted there for service with the 157th Battalion on January 7, 1916.  

Charles & Marion moved to Aylmer about 1940.  He died on April 12, 1963 and is buried in Aylmer Cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, April 12, 1963:

H. ARMSTRONG IN HOSPITAL 4 YEARS

AYLMER – Charles Henry Armstrong, 69 Fourth Avenue, died Friday morning at Westminster Hospital, London. He had been in hospital for the last four years.  Born in Walsingham Township 85 years ago, he was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Charles Armstrong. A retired carpenter, he had lived in Aylmer for the past 23 years. Prior to that he had lived 11 years in Collingwood. He was a member of Colonel Talbot Branch 81, the Royal Canadian Legion, and was an adherent of St. Paul’s United Church.

He is survived by his wife, the former Marion Miller; five sons, Harvey, Dunnville; Wesley, Kingston; Roy, London; Frederick, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Irwin, Port Huron; eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Resting at the James H. Barnum Funeral Home, where service will be held at 2 o’clock, Monday afternoon. Rev. J. Allan Logan of St. Paul’s United Church will officiate and interment will be made in Aylmer Cemetery.

Charles Wesley Armstrong

739335

Charles Wesley Armstrong was born on December 23, 1898, the son of Charles Henry& Effie Armstrong (1874-1908). Effie died in Yarmouth Township and is buried in West Ave Cemetery, St. Thomas.  Charles birth registration is recorded in Norfolk County, but he states on his attestation paper that he was born in Springfield.  The family is found on the 1901 census in Houghton Township, Norfolk County, but Charles Sr. was living in Port Stanley by 1916.

Charles was a farmer living at Dunnville in Haldimand County when he enlisted for service on March 27, 1916 at Dunnville.  He names his next of kin as his father, Charles of Port Stanley . He joined the 114th Battalion.

He returned from overseas on April 10, 1919, arriving in Halifax.

No further information can be found.

Samuel Harvey Armstrong

189940 

Samuel Armstrong was born on March 7, 1897 in Houghton Township,  Norfolk County, the son of John Archibald Armstrong (1856-1936) & Sarah Catherine Brandow (1857-1948).  They are buried in Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Port Burwell.

Samuel was a fisherman living in Port Burwell when he was married on September 23, 1914 in Bayham to Edith May Walker (1898-1978), of Port Burwell, the daughter of Charles Henry Walker & Amelia Hall.

Samuel’s brother John died on October 13, 1918 at the age of 36, while serving with the 58th Battalion of Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment).  He is buried in Etaples Military cemetery in France.  

Samuel enlisted for service on February 1, 1916 in St. Thomas with the 91st Battalion. He had served one year in the 39th Regiment.

He died on September 20, 1972 in Tillsonburg and is buried with his wife in St. Luke’s cemetery, Vienna.  His obituary appeared in the Tillsonburg News, September 22, 1972:

SAMUEL H. ARMSTRONG

A postal worker at Port Burwell from 1921 to 1959, and retired post master, Samuel H. Armstrong of 23 North St. W., Tillsonburg, formerly of Port Burwell, passed away at Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, September 20, 1972, in his 76th year.

He was a member of Oriental Lodge No. 181, A.F. & A.M., Port Burwell for the past 50years; a member of Port Burwell Baptist Church; and a veteran of World War I, serving in the 91st regiment, 2nd battalion.

He was a son of the late John Armstrong and the late former Sarah Brandow, and was born in Houghton township, March 7, 1897.  Surviving are his wife, the former Edith Walker; one daughter, Mrs. Winnifred Osier of Hallandale, Fla.; one son, Ronald Armstrong of London; four grandchildren and four great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Williams of St. Thomas, and Mrs. Hattie Temple of St. Clair, Mich.; and one brother, Arthur Armstrong of Pontiac, Mich.

Resting at the H. A. Ostrander and Son Funeral Home where service will be held Saturday, September 23, at 2 p.m. conducted by Rev. James Taylor of First Baptist church, Tillsonburg. Interment in St. Luke’s Cemetery, Vienna. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be gratefully appreciated.

William Cameron Armstrong

189478

William Armstrong was born on June 26, 1899 in Huron County, the son of Lewis Armstrong & Emma J. Carter.  Lewis was born in Fordwich, the son of William Armstrong & Mary Hammond, and was a farmer living in Howick township when he was married on November 16, 1898 in Fordwich, Huron County, to Emma J. Carter, also a native of Fordwich living in Howick, the daughter of William Carter & Mary Wiggins.  The family is found on the 1901 census in Howick, but by 1911 had moved to Blair Township, Parry Sound District.

William moved to the Port Burwell area where he was farming when he enlisted with the 91st Battalion in St. Thomas on November 26, 1915.  He gives his address as “care of Ney Chute, R.R.# 1, Port Burwell”.  He names his next of kin as his father, Louis Armstrong, of Gormley, Ontario. (Gormley is in Whitchurch Township, York County).

Overseas, William joined the 38th Battalion in France in August 1916, and was wounded on November 18 or 19, 1916.  He rejoined his battalion on November 11, 1917, and was again wounded on March 16 or 17, 1918.  He invalided to England on March 26, 1918.  He was awarded the Military Medal as a result of a recommendation dated March 19, 1918 stating that “during  enemy raid March 16, 1918 this man displayed exceptional pluck and devotion to duty. After having his right arm broken and six other wounds, he continued to hand up bombs to those who were able to throw them”.

William was married in 1919 in Sussex, England to Elsie M. Coote.  He returned to Canada with his wife in 1920, arriving in Montreal on May 15. Their destination was Gourmley, Ontario.

Adrien Clare Ashton

3133927

Adrien Clare Ashton was born on June 20, 1897 in Aylmer, the son of Silas Albert Ashton (1868-1949) & Anna Eva Jay (1868-1939), who were living on Sydenham street.  Silas Ashton was the son of Marwood Ashton & Mary Grace Hancock and was married on May 3, 1893 in Copenhagen to Anna Eva Jay, the daughter of Austin & Susie Lee Jay.  Silas later moved to R.R. #3 Belmont, and was living in London in 1945.  He and Anna are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Adrien was a farmer living at home at R. R. #3 Belmont when he enlisted for service on May 13, 1918 in London.

He was living in Aylmer working as a mechanic when he was married on May 24, 1922 in Aylmer to Lila Maria Mills, also of Aylmer, but a native of Simcoe, the daughter of William Mills & Mary Bloomfield. 

Adrien died on March 24, 1975 in Ingersoll and is buried in Aylmer cemetery with his wife Lila M. (1903-2001).

Junius James Ashton

A/3928 & 603143

Junius (June) James Ashton was born on April 24, 1900 in Aylmer, the son of Frederick Ashton & Sarah Harding.   Frederick was born about 1861 in England, the son of Henry & Sarah Ashton, and was living in Biddulph Township, Middlesex Co., when he was married on July 1, 1884 in London to Sarah Harding (born about 1864), of Lucan, daughter of John & Mary Harding.

They lived in Aylmer and Malahide before moving to 492 Ridout Street, London where they are found on the 1911 census.

Junius appears to have enlisted underage, as he gives his date of birth as October 7, 1897.  He enlisted for service on August 27, 1915 in London.  He gives his occupation as a groom, and had served one year in the 6th Field Battery in London. He enlisted with the 34th Battalion.  Both of the above service numbers appear on his attestation paper.

He returned from overseas in 1917, arriving in Quebec on October 28. He later moved to the United States and was living in Florida when his social security number was issued.  He died in September 1975.

William Martin Ashton

2204891

William Martin Ashton was born on January 28, 1884 in Aylmer, the son of Richard Ashton & Anastasia Welsh.  Richard Ashton (1850-1932) was born in Devonshire, England but was living in Glencoe when he was married in Bothwell on July 9, 1881 to Anastasia (Annie) Welsh, a resident and native of Newbury.

The family moved from Aylmer to St. Thomas where they appear on the 1901 census.  They moved to Detroit about 1903, where Anastasia and her son William and other children are found on the 1910 census.  

William Ashton was living in Portland, Oregon when he enlisted for service on June 14, 1918.  He was a labourer in railway construction.  He was not married, and lists his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. Annie Ashton, c/o Mrs. H. Wellman, 1236 Trumbull Avenue, Detroit.  He had served nine months during 1902 in the 3rd R.C.R.

When his father died in 1932, William was living in Vancouver.  William was married in Vancouver on June 29, 1929 to Iva Smith Conaboy, who died in January 2003 at the age of 98.  William died on November 9, 1952 in Vancouver at the age of 65.

Arthur Leslie Astor / Acton

190169 

Arthur Astor enlisted with the 91st Battalion in St. Thomas on March 27, 1916.  He was living in Aylmer and was a mason. He names his next of kin as wife Mable, of Aylmer. He gives his date of birth as February 16, 1896 in Toronto.

A marriage record was found for an Arthur Leslie Astor, age 21, son of Christian Astor & Christina Stofffer. He was born and living in Toronto, a shoemaker, and was married to Mabel Viola Hilliker, also of Toronto, but a native of Aylmer, the daughter of Benjamin Hilliker & Mary Jane Schram. They were married on December 4, 1914.

There are several discrepancies that occur with regards to Arthur’s last name and parents’ names.  Family tree submissions on several genealogical websites on the Internet give his name as “Arthur Raye Acton”.  Both Mr. & Mrs. Hilliker’s obituaries name a daughter Mabel Acton as a survivor.

A birth registration was found for Arthur Raye Acton on February 16, 1898 in Uxbridge, Ontario, son of Arthur Acton & Lillian Belle Welch.  On Arthur’s attestation paper and marriage record, he clearly signs his name “Astor”.  Arthur & Mabel moved to Michigan, and on the 1920 census, he is enumerated as “Leslie A. Astor”.  On the 1930 census, he is listed as “Arthur R. Acton”.

He signed a US Draft Registration card for the war under the name Leslie Arthur Astor.  He states he was born in Toronto on February 16, 1897.  He names his wife as Mabel, and they are living in Holly, Michigan.

Records of United States border crossings to Canada show a Mabel Astor and son Harold, of 301 Cogshall St., Holly, Michigan, returning to Canada to live with her mother, Mrs. B. Hilliker of RR 2 Aylmer, in December 1921. It is not known how long she remained with her mother, but did return to Michigan where she died in Royal Oak on April 5, 1976.

United States death records show that Leslie Acton died on September 3, 1965 in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Isaac Cubit Raymond Atkin

Isaac Atkin was born on January 2, 1892 at Springfield in Malahide, the son of William Isaac Atkin (1853-1937) & Martha Louisa Colk (1848-1940).  William was born in South Dorchester, the son of Isaac Atkin & Jane Leeson, and was farming there when he was married on July 11, 1876 in Aylmer to Martha Colk, a native of Darlington living in Malahide, the daughter of Thomas & Caroline Colk.  They are buried in Springfield cemetery.

Isaac was a banker living at 406 3rd Avenue, New Westminster, British Columbia when he enlisted for service on May 24, 1916 at New Westminster.  He had belonged to the 104th Regiment for four months, and enlisted as a lieutenant in the 131st Westminster Battalion.  He names his next of kin as his father William, of Springfield. No service number is given on his Attestation paper.

Isaac was awarded the Military Cross, as reported in the Aylmer Express, November 1, 1917:

SPRINGFIELD BOY WINS MILITARY CROSS

Lieut. Atkin, son of Mr and Mrs W. I. Atkin is Awarded Medal for Valor in Action

Mr and Mrs W. I. Atkin have received the pleasant news that their son, Lieut. I. C. Atkin, formerly of the Royal Bank staff here had won the Military Cross. Lieut. Atkin enlisted at New Westminster when he was cashier in the Royal Bank and from the first was unusually successful in his military work, having been employed as instructor of his division. He left for overseas a year ago and occasional reports from his comrades showed that he was making a creditable showing. His parents and sister here are being showered with congratulations. The people of the village feel proud of the young man who has not only won honors for himself, but brought credit to his home village.

His actions leading to the above award were reported in the London Gazette, October 27, 1917, as follows:  

Capt. Isaac Cubit Raymond Atkin, M.C., 102nd Bn., Can. Inf. 2nd Central Ontario Regiment – For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership. This officer in command of a company had to clear a wood very strongly held by machine-gun posts. Moving by section rushes, he got within 50 yards of the wood, and then himself led a charge, capturing many prisoners, four trench mortars and seven machine guns. The capture of the wood was the key of the attack, and it was due to his fine effort that the operation was successful.”.

Isaac’s promotion to Captain is reported in an article in the Aylmer Express, April 18, 1918 in Springfield news:

News has been received by W. I. Atkin, of this place, that his son Lieut. Isaac H. R. Atkin, who some time ago won the Military Cross for bravery, has been gazetted to the rank of captain for services rendered while on the battlefield. Captain Atkin, whose home is in Springfield, went overseas with the 131st British Columbia battalion, and was later transferred to another unit before going to France.

An article about Isaac was printed in the Aylmer Express, December 26, 1918:

DECORATED BY KING GEORGE V.

Capt. Atkin, of Springfield, Ont., Gets M.C. with Bar

Among the many officers recently decorated by King George was Capt. Isaac Atkin, son of Mr and Mrs W. I. Atkin, of Springfield, Ont. Capt. Atkin was awarded the Military Cross with bar.  Captain Atkin was accountant at the New Westminster, B.C. branch of the Royal Bank of Canada when the war broke out. He enlisted in the 131st New Westminster and went overseas as lieutenant.

In England he was attached to the 102nd Batt. and went to France on December 1, 1916. He won his M.C. at Vimy and was promoted to captain in 1917.  At Capal du Nord he again won the M.C., adding the bar.  He was wounded on September 29th, 1918, and has been in England in the hospital since.  Last spring he was made senior company commander.

Captain Atkin took his full public and high school courses at Springfield and was a bright student. He joined the staff of the Traders Bank and spent about two years in the bank at that place. He was about two years on the cash at the Tillsonburg branch. He was transferred to the Vernon, B.C. branch, where he acted as accountant, being later transferred to the New Westminster branch.

He moved to the United States where he was living at 84 Knollwood Road, Short Hills, Essex, New Jersey when he filled out a United States Draft Registration Card for World War 2.  He was 50 years of age, and was employed by J. P. Morgan & Co. Inc., 23 Wall Street, New York.  His next of kin was his wife Winnifred.

When his mother died in 1940, Isaac was employed by the J. P. Morgan Co. Inc., of New York. In a newspaper account of his sister Jacqueline Appleford’s 50th wedding anniversary in 1948, Isaac is living in New York City. He is not listed as a survivor when his sister died in 1959.  No further information is known.

Merton William Atkin

The name “Merton W. Atkin” is found in a list of names being prepared for the Elgin County Book of Remembrance, which was printed in the St. Thomas Times-Journal in 1927, under Springfield.

Merton was born on July 14, 1889 (according to the 1901 Springfield census), the son of William Isaac Atkin (1853-1937) & Martha Louisa Colk (1848-1940).  William was born in South Dorchester, the son of Isaac Atkin & Jane Leeson, and was farming there when he was married on July 11, 1876 in Aylmer to Martha Colk, a native of Darlington living in Malahide, the daughter of Thomas & Caroline Colk.  They are buried in Springfield cemetery.

No attestation paper can be found, but the Book of Remembrance states Merton was a Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, and enlisted in July 1917. He was discharged in February 1919. He was the son of William & Martha Atkin.

The December 17, 1918 issue of the London Gazette reports that William Merton Atkin, a cadet, was granted a temporary commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on October 17, 1918.

Merton later moved to Edmonton, Alberta, and died there on May 30, 1968, at the age of 77.  He is buried in Beechmount Cemetery, Edmonton.  His obituary appeared in the Edmonton Journal, May 31, 1968:

ATKIN – On May 30, 1968, Mr. William Merton Atkin of 11725 97 Street, passed away. He leaves to mourn his loss, his loving wife, Elsie; and one son, M. G. (Bud) of Red Deer. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, at 3:30 p.m. at the Foster & McGarvey Funeral Chapel. Dr. E. J. Thompson will officiate and interment will take place in the Beechmount Cemetery. Mr. Atkin was a member of Ivanhoe Lodge No. 142 A.F. and A.M., and the Past Grand Patron of the O.E.S. for Alberta. Foster & McGarvey Limited, Funeral Directors.

Dr. Charles Francis Atkinson

Charles Atkinson was born on February 18, 1884 in Vienna, the son of John Atkinson & Marion Hooper.  John was born in King Township, the son of Charles Atkinson & Margaret Briggs, and was a carriage maker living in Straffordville when he was married on January 29, 1883 in St. Thomas to Marion Hooper, of St. Thomas, but born in Fingal, the daughter of Francis & Martha Hooper.

Charles was a physician and was living in Tillsonburg when he was married on November 2, 1910 in Toronto to Violet Ethyl Coates, of Toronto, the daughter of Marshall Coates & Sarah E. Hooper.

Charles & Violet moved to Edmonton where they were living at 9921 35th Ave when he enlisted for service in the C.A.M.C. on April 11, 1916 in Calgary. His Officer’s Declaration paper states he was a captain in the 202nd Battalion.

Captain Charles Francis Atkinson returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on June 13.  The passenger list records a wife as next of kin, living at 126 Barton Ave., Toronto.

Charles returned to Tillsonburg after the war and resumed his practice in there, moving to Marine City, Michigan in 1928.  He was later married to Lela Caswell (1892-1976). He died on March 10, 1962 in Tillsonburg and is buried with is wife in Tillsonburg cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Tillsonburg News, March 13, 1962:

CHARLES F. ATKINSON

A retired general practitioner, Dr. Charles F. Atkinson of Straffordville passed away Saturday in Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, in his 79th year.  Born at Vienna on February 18, 1884, deceased was the son of the late John Atkinson and Marion Hooper.  He practised medicine in Tillsonburg from 1909-1919 and enlisted in World War I.  After his discharge, he practised medicine here until 1928 when he moved to Marine City, Mich., where he practised his profession until his retirement in 1957, when he moved to Straffordville. He was a life member of Masonic Ward Lodge, No. 62, Marine City, Mich.

Survivors are his wife, the former Lela Caswell; one daughter, Mrs. Harold (Helen) Roy of Winnipeg, Man.; and one son, John M. Atkinson of Toronto. One sister, Mrs. Clara Hunt of Chicago, Ill., predeceased him.

Resting at the H. A. Ostrander and Son Funeral Home for service today (Tuesday) at 2 p.m., conducted by Rev. Albert Cook of the United Church, Straffordville.  Interment in Tillsonburg Cemetery.

Mahlon Matthew Atkinson

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Mahlon Atkinson was born on July 24, 1885 in Springfield, the son of Silas Atkinson (1865-1889) & Eliza Brown.  He had a twin brother Milon Mark. Silas was born in South Dorchester, the son of Nelson Atkinson & Mary Murdough and was farming there when he was married on September 23, 1884 in Springfield to Eliza Brown, of Middleton Township, Norfolk Co., the daughter of William Brown & Sarah Caswell.  Silas died on January 2, 1889 in Malahide at the age of 24 from consumption.  He was a railway labourer at the time of his death.  His widow Eliza was remarried on July 3, 1889 in Springfield to Edward Waite, also of Springfield.  The family moved to Sault Ste. Marie where they are found on the 1901 census, and on the 1911 census they are living in Steelton, Algoma.

Mahlon was employed as an iron worker when he enlisted for service on November 11, 1914 in Toronto with the 19th Battalion. He names his mother, Eliza Waite, of Steelton, Ontario, as next of kin. He had served three years with the 97th Rifles.  

A marriage registration for Mahlon Matthew Atkinson was found, dated February 1, 1908 in Steelton, District of Algoma.  His occupation is given as furnace man, and he was married to Rebecca Gollinger, age 19, a native of Quebec, the daughter of Reuben Gollinger & Jessie Carr.  On his attestation paper, Mahlon states he is single.  It is possible that Rebecca died prior to 1914.

No further information is known.

Milon Mark Atkinson

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Milon Mark Atkinson was born on July 24, 1885  in Springfield, the son of Silas Atkinson (1865-1889) & Eliza Brown.  He had a twin brother Mahlon Matthew. Silas was born in South Dorchester, the son of Nelson Atkinson & Mary Murdough and was farming there when he was married on September 23, 1884 in Springfield to Eliza Brown, of Middleton Township, Norfolk Co., the daughter of William Brown & Sarah Caswell.  Silas died on January 2, 1889 in Malahide at the age of 24 from consumption.  He was a railway labourer at the time of his death.  His widow Eliza was remarried on July 3, 1889 in Springfield to Edward Waite, also of Springfield.  The family moved to Sault Ste. Marie where they are found on the 1901 census, and on the 1911 census they are living in Steelton, Algoma.

Milon Atkinson was employed as a pipe fitter and living with his mother at 434 Hudson Street, Steelton, Ontario when he enlisted for service on March 11, 1916 at Sault Ste. Marie with the 119 Battalion.  He had served one year in the 97th Regiment. Milon’s name is found in a list of War Veterans of North Bay and area. No further information is known.

Orvel Roy Axford

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Orvel Roy Axford was born on November 19, 1895 at Avon in South Dorchester Township, the son of James Edgar Axford (1853-1909) & Laura Elma Axford.  James Axford was born in Windham Township, Norfolk Co., the son of Elanson Axford & Elizabeth Boughner.  He was living in North Walsingham Township when he was married on July 13, 1895 in Corinth to Laura Axford, also of Walsingham, the daughter of John W. Axford & Etta Boughner.  She was living in Tillsonburg.  Following James’ death in 1909 in Bayham Township, Laura was married to a Mr. Napp, and was living at 320 McFarlane Ave., Peterborough in 1918.

Orvel was a farmer, not married,  living at R.R. #1 Dunboyne in Malahide when he enlisted for service on May 13, 1918 in London.  He returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on July 28.

He died on April 10, 1952 and is buried in Ingersoll Rural Cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Ingersoll Tribune, April 17, 1952:

ORVEL ROY AXFORD 

The death of Orvel Roy Axford occurred at the Bellvedere Nursing Home on April 10th. Mr. Axford who was in his 55th year, was born at Richmond, son of Mrs. Axford and the late Mr. Edgar Axford. He had been in failing health for six years, but previous to that time had been an employee of the Slawson-Riley Cheese Co. He was a member of Trinity United Church. Left to mourn his passing are his mother, South Monaghan; two brothers, Emerson, Novar; and Verne, Buffalo; two sisters, Mrs. Harold Farnel [Pearl], Perth; and Mrs. Basil Nurfiom [Jessie], London. The funeral was held from the Walker and Clifton Funeral Home, 88 King St. W., on Saturday with interment at Ingersoll Rural Cemetery. Rev. C. D. Daniel was in charge of the service and pallbearers were Charles Guilford, Hugh Bowman, Dan McGinnis and Roy McMillan

Oveit Roy Babcock

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Oveit Roy Babcock was born on November 6, 1895 in South Dorchester, the son of Silas George Babcock (1855-1939) & Martha Irish (1865-1947).  Silas was the son of Abram Babcock & Martha Lee, and was a farmer in South Dorchester when he was married there on September 23, 1884 to Martha Irish, also of South Dorchester, the daughter of Stafford Irish & Susan Hegler.  They are buried in Springfield cemetery.

Oveit Roy Babcock was a farmer living at Springfield when he enlisted for service on January 4, 1918 in London. He returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on March 1.

He died on February 4, 1969 and is buried with his parents in Springfield cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, February 5, 1969:

OVIET R. BABCOCK

A native of South Dorchester, Oviet Roy Babcock, 74, of Springfield, died in Westminster Hospital at London Tuesday.  He suffered a long illness.  Mr. Babcock’s parents were the late Silas George Babcock and Martha Irish.  He was born on Nov. 7, 1895. A laborer, Mr. Babcock was a bachelor and had served in World War I.  He spent most of his life in South Dorchester and Springfield. Surviving are a number of nieces and nephews. Service will be held at the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home in Aylmer at 3 p.m.  Thursday, with the Rev. Charles Forrest of the Malahide United Church officiating.  Interment in Springfield cemetery.

William Cecil Bain

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William Bain was born on July 24, 1894 in Hagersville, the son of James Edmund Bain (1862-1936) & Harriet Ann Winkworth (1867-1897).  James was born Malahide, the son of William & Maria Bain, and was farming in Walsingham township when he was married on July 15, 1886 in Hagersville to Harriet Winkworth, of Hagersville, the daughter of Richard & Sarah Winkworth.  James was a railway employee in Hagersville when his son William was born.  They later lived in Port Burwell.  James & Harriet are buried in St. Luke’s cemetery, Vienna.

William was employed as a locomotive fireman on a steam boat when he enlisted for service on September 23, 1914 at Valcartier.  He names his next of kin as his father, James, of Port Burwell. He enlisted with the 4th Battalion.

William died on July 21, 1965 and is buried in Aylmer cemetery.  A military monument with the following inscription marks his resting place:

“William C. Bain Private 4 Battn C.E.F.  21 July 1965 age 71″

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, July 28, 1965:

WILLIAM BAIN

The funeral service for William Bain, whose death occurred on Wednesday, July 21, was held on Saturday afternoon at the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home, Aylmer. Rev. Wm. Harkins of Lakeview Baptist Church conducted the service.  Interment was in the Aylmer cemetery. The pallbearers were Leslie Jones, Norman Jones, Gordon Jones, Harold Baughman, Chester Baughman and Alex Ingram.  Friends and relatives were in attendance from Langton, Putnam, Aylmer and surrounding district.

Mr. Bain died in Westminster Hospital, London, after a lengthy illness. He was 69.  He was born in Hagersville, July 23, 1895, the son of the late Mr and Mrs James Bain. He lived in Aylmer for the last life years, and prior to that time resided in Port Arthur.  He was a retired laborer, and served in the 48th Regiment during World War I.  

Two sisters, Mrs. Clayton (Mary) McKibbon, RR 2 Aylmer, and Mrs. Forest (Maud) Moore, Aylmer, along with a number of nieces and nephews, survive.

Edward William Frank Baker

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 (photo courtesy of Elgin County Archives)

Edward Baker’s name is found in a list of recruits for the 91st Battalion, printed in the Aylmer Express, December 2, 1915.  He is described as a farmer, single, of Aylmer.  He belonged to the 30th Battery, C. F. A.  

Edward Baker was born in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland on August 13, 1893.  He was living in Aylmer by 1914 when he joined the 30th Battery C.F.A.  He enlisted for service with the 91st Battalion on November 7, 1915 in Aylmer.  He was living in Aylmer, working as a farmer, and was not married.  He lists his next of kin as his guardian, Amos Auger (or Anger) of Amherstburg, Ontario.  

The above photo was found in the collection at the Elgin County Archives, labelled “E. W. Baker”.  It cannot be determined which man is Edward Baker, although since he was 21 when he enlisted, the soldier on the left looks to be younger.

Pte. Baker served in England with the 36th Reserve, and in France in the 38th Battalion. He fought in battles at Ypres and the Somme.  He was wounded and discharged in December 1916, as reported in the following undated newspaper clipping:

AYLMER MAN IS INVALIDED

Pte. E. W. F. Baker Left With 91st Battalion and Was Injured in France

“Pte. E. W. F. Baker arrived in St. Thomas last night unannounced after having seen several months of warfare with part of the 91st Battalion. Pte. Baker was wounded in the back by being struck with a sandbag and has been invalided home. He arrived in London about a week ago and has been visiting in other Western Ontario cities since.”

Little more is known about him, but a marriage record was found for an Edward William Baker, (born about 1893), of St. Thomas, born in Co. Kerry, Ireland, a constable, the son of Edward Baker & Mollie O’Brien, to Olive Boyd, 19, of St. Thomas, the daughter of Addison Boyd & Cora Ella Learn on November 11, 1918 in St. Thomas. The marriage record has an annotation that a divorce was granted on November 14, 1931 at St. Thomas.  

It is possible this is the same Edward Baker.

Edward & Olive moved to Clute in the Cochrane District where a daughter Ina Ellen Baker was born in 1919.  A son, Addison Leslie Baker, was born there in 1922, and another son in 1929.

In his father-in-law’s (Addison Boyd) obituary in 1937, it states he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. D. A. Lalonde of Cochrane.  It is believed this refers to Olive, who had probably remarried.

Edward Alvah Balcom

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Edward Alvah Balcom was born on June 11, 1896 in Vienna, the son of Robert Alvah Balcom & Mary Jane Lucas. Robert was the son of Hiram & Emeline Balcom, and was a machinist living in Vienna when he was married on February 5, 1896 in Belmont to Mary Lucas, of Kingsmill, the daughter of Dancy & Sarah Lucas.

Alvah was living in Vienna employed as a gas foreman when he enlisted for service on June 6, 1918 in London. He returned from overseas on December 14, 1918, arriving in St. John, New Brunswick.

He was married on April 16, 1919 in Port Burwell to Rose Annie Adlington (1898-1996), a native of England, the daughter of Thomas Adlington & Rosa Mole.  She was living at North Hall in Bayham.

Alvah died on January 15, 1950 and is buried with his wife  in Aylmer cemetery.  Alvah’s obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, January 16, 1950:

A. BALCOM DIES SUDDENLY SUNDAY

Prominent Aylmer Man, 54, Stricken at Home There

AYLMER, Jan. 16 – One of Aylmer district’s best-known citizens, Edward Alvah Balcom, superintendent of the Central Pipe Line Co. Ltd., and treasurer of Branch 81 of the Canadian Legion, died suddenly at his home, 31 St. George Street, on Sunday, about 2 p.m. He had suffered a heart ailment for a long time, but had been about his business as usual in recent months and his death was unexpected.

In his 54th year, Mr. Balcom was born in Vienna, Ont., and served overseas in World War I. He had been employed by the Central Pipe Line Co. for 32 years, eight of which were in various parts of the United States. He returned to live in Vienna until 1939 when he and his family moved into Aylmer.

Interested in his adopted community, Mr. Balcom served as a member of the Aylmer Town Council several years ago. He had been treasurer of Branch 81 for some years and always performed his duties with the branch in a most capable manner, keeping the interests of the returned men and their families foremost. His sympathies were always with the widows and dependents of those servicemen who did not return, and his friendships throughout the rank and file of the Canadian Legion were numerous. Mr. Balcom was honored last August when he was elected one of the branch’s delegates to the convention of the Ontario Provincial Command at Ottawa. He was an adherent of the United Church of Canada.

Besides his wife, the former Rosa Adlington, there are two sons, Vane, of Aylmer; and Fred, of London; a daughter, Mrs. Frank Coderre, of Ottawa; four sisters, Mrs. Peter Underhill, Mrs. Shirley Peters and Mrs. Thomas Terry, of Vienna; and Mrs. Dwight Wagoner of Detroit.

The remains are resting at the George A. Allen Funeral Home where the funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday. Rev. D. A. Cowan, of St. Paul’s United Church, will officiate, assisted by Rev. F. C. McRitchie, of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, chaplain of Branch 81 of the Canadian Legion. Interment will be made in Aylmer Cemetery. It will be a Canadian Legion funeral.

Charles Edward Baldwin

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Charles Baldwin was born on November 15, 1897 in Vienna, the son of Edward Bridgeman Baldwin (1866-1944) & Annie Melissa South (1876-1944).  Edward was born in Vienna, the son of Levi Baldwin & Susan Jane Merritt, and was farming there when he was married on May 31, 1894 in Houghton Township to Annie M. South, of Houghton, the daughter of George South & Mary Strowbridge.  They are buried in Union Cemetery, Yarmouth Township.

Charles was a painter living with his parents at 26 Queen Street, St. Thomas when he enlisted for service there on April 10, 1916 with the 91st Battalion.  

Charles left for England on June 28, 1916 and was transferred to the 36th Battalion on July 15, 1916. He proceeded to France for service with the 38th Battalion on August 20, 1916.  He was wounded in action on April 9, 1917; Oct. 30, 1917 and Sept. 27, 1918.  He returned from overseas and was discharged on May 18, 1919.  He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

A letter from Charles was printed in the St. Thomas Daily Times, May 7, 1917:

REPORTED WOUNDED

St. Thomas Soldier Sees Bad Sights in England, But Also Finds a Lot of Smiles

Pte. Charles Baldwin, 91st Battalion, who was recently reported wounded, has written to his parents, Mr and Mrs E. B. Baldwin, Queen street, from the hospital at Epsom, England.  He says:

“Just a few lines to let you know I am still kicking and getting along fine. I am still in the hospital but expect to get thrown out at any time now. If it hadn’t been for inoculation I would have been gone before this.  I haven’t had any mail for a long time now and expect it will be quite a while before I do get any, but am patiently waiting for word from Duke or Grant and you, as I am quite anxious about the boys, as I know they were in that scrap on the ridge, although I have only seen a few 38th fellows.  I had the pleasure of meeting a lot of old 91st fellows coming from France, among them Lieut. Kirkland, from Dutton. He used to be our platoon officer.  This is the first rest I have had since I left England before and believe me I will make it last as long as possible. I have a little growth on my forehead. I am going to have it cut off some of these days before I leave if I can. It may delay things some. This hospital used to be an asylum and sure is some size. Just like a small city. They have their own bakery and laundry and everything that is necessary and a recreation room, nearly as big as the Star Theatre, where they have concerts nearly every night.  You see some bad sights around here, but to take it on the whole you see more smiles in one day here than you see in France in a month, but you can’t wonder at that, considering four meals a day and a place to wash whenever you want to (I was 15 days without a good wash when I came in), and nothing to do but sleep and read”.

Notice of his wounds in October 1917 were reported in the St. Thomas Daily Times, Nov. 17, 1917:

WOUNDED SECOND TIME

Corp. Chas. E. Baldwin, son of Mr and Mrs E. B. Baldwin, 26 Queen St., was admitted to the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, Nov. 2nd, suffering from gunshot wound in left leg. Pte. Baldwin, who went overseas with the 91st Battalion, was wounded at Vimy Ridge, and has been back in France since June.

The following is an undated article from the St. Thomas Times-Journal,  with Charles’ reminiscences of the war:

WORLD WAR VETERANS REMEMBER THE 91ST

Few still remember the old 91st Elgin Battalion.  “There were thirty-six 91st men killed at Vimy” Charlie Baldwin said, sitting at a table in the Legion Hall canteen on John Street in St. Thomas.  He pauses.  “One hundred and sixty-three 91st men didn’t come back from the war.  Nine hundred and forty went overseas”.

Charlie Baldwin remembers the 91st Battalion because he was in it, joining April 10, 1916 at the age of 18. Charlie left St. Thomas June 24 on his way overseas. He didn’t come back until March, 1919.

Charlie Baldwin remembers the 91st – Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, the Somme. For him, those aren’t just names of places that surface on Remembrance Day. They’re places he’s been to. They’re places where he fought and was wounded, three times.  “More than 2 ½ years,” Charlie remembers of his time overseas.

Two more First World War veterans of the Elgin Regiment join Charlie at the table. Charlie says they too fought at Vimy. “Talk about Vimy…….but Passchendaele was worse”, said Max Morriss. “Shot a lot of them up there, just their heads sticking out”. This sparks Ernie Mitchell’s memory too. “The sky opened up, I’m telling you”, he recalled. “It was red”.

There’s more talk of the war. They talk about gas masks that pinched the nose so hard a man couldn’t breathe. Max wore one for 45 minutes once. Max and Ernie recall when they were both hit…….then all three remember days in hospitals.  Nineteen men died of flu in the hospital Max was at near London, England.  “They didn’t have the vaccine for it then”, he explained.

The remaining 91st men are scattered all over the world now, the men say. Australia, United States, all over. Charlie said there are 50 of them left.  

Talk turns to the Elgin Regiment today. They discuss the decline in numbers of the militia.  “All these young people can get big jobs – big money”, Charlie said, remembering he started in the Regiment at $1.10 a day.  They all laugh when told a recruit today starts at $19.50 a day. That’s a lot more than they made.

Ernie can’t understand the drop in the number of militia men with all the unemployment today.  “I can’t understand young people today”, he said shaking his head.  Max talks of work too. He had a contract building business in St. Thomas for 37 years after the war. He glanced over at one wall of the canteen and looked up at the ceiling. “I built this place you know”, he said proudly, hitting the nearby wall with his hand. “In ‘41 and ‘42″.

Max explains that he had a good business going in St. Thomas at one time. People around town will remember him for that, he says.  

But few still remember the 91st Elgin Battalion.

Charles died on May 17, 1982 and is buried in Union cemetery with his wife Verna Hammond (1904 -1999).  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, May 18, 1982:

CHARLES BALDWIN

Charles E. Baldwin of 3 Pine Street, St. Thomas, a veteran of the First World War who served with the 91st Battalion in France and was a 30-year employee of the railroad, passed away Monday, May 17, 1982, in the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital after ailing health. He was 84.

Mr. Baldwin, born in Vienna, Ont., Nov. 15, 1897, son of the late Edward and Annie (South) Baldwin, was among the 100,000 Canadians who advanced on Vimy Ridge in Western France on April 9, 1917, a battle which still stands as the most important battle in Canadian military history. Mr. Baldwin was also active in the Elgin Regiment Veterans’ Association and was a life member of Branch 41, Royal Canadian Legion. He was the 91st Battalion Association secretary-treasurer.  He was a member of Grace United Church. He was an employee of the New York Central Railroad and the London and Port Stanley Railway for more than 30 years.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Verna (Hammond) Baldwin; two sons, Alan, of 7 Marlene Street, St. Thomas; and Paul of Aylmer; one daughter, Mrs. Neil (Nancy Marie) Stafford of 280 Chestnut Street, St. Tomas; one sister, Mrs. Edith Denby of 180 Highview Drive, St. Thomas; six grandchildren, Mrs. Cindy Hornby, Mrs. Luanne Rutter, Alana, Andrea, Katie and Betsy Baldwin and several nieces and nephews.

Resting at Williams Funeral Home, 45 Elgin Street, St. Thomas for service Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. John L. Petrie, Padre of Branch 41 Royal Canadian Legion officiating. Interment in Union Cemetery with committal at the funeral home by family request.

Merrill Eakins Baldwin

190241 

Merrill Baldwin was born on July 7, 1893 in Vienna, the son of George Chisholm Baldwin & Inez Merrill.  George was born in Vienna, the son of Levi Baldwin & Susan Jane Merritt, and was farming there when he was married on October 5, 1887 in Vienna to Inez Merrill, of Vienna, the daughter of Joseph & Rosamond Merrill.  They moved to St. Thomas and later Windsor, where Inez died in 1930.  She is buried in Green Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Windsor.

Merrill was a salesman living at 14 Metcalfe Street, St. Thomas when he enlisted for service there on April 3, 1916 with the 91st Battalion. He names his mother of the same address as his next of kin.

Merrill sailed for England on June 29, 1916, and was transferred to the 39th Battalion on July 15, 1916 and to the 18th Battalion on August 27, 1916.  He proceeded to France on August 27, 1916 and appointed Corporal on September 1, 1918.  He returned from overseas and was discharged on May 24, 1919.  He was awarded the Military Medal on August 15, 1917; and also the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.  The citation for the Military Medal reads as follows:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. During the attack on the 15th August 1917, the Company to which this Stretcher Bearer belonged suffered heavy casualties. He unceasingly rendered first aid to numerous cases and by his cheerful behaviour and untiring energy did much to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded”.

Following the war, Merrill moved to Windsor where he was employed as a stock room hand when he was married there on June 8, 1921 to Evelyn Glennie Fathers, a native of England living in Windsor, the daughter of Charles W. Fathers & Cora Hoggins.   They were living at 621 Glengarry Ave., Windsor when Merrill’s mother died at their home in 1930.

He later moved to Vancouver where he died on April 28, 1977 at the age of 83. His obituary, from an undated clipping, follows:

BALDWIN – On April 28, 1877, Merrill Eakins Baldwin, 83 years, of 5287 Carleton Court, Burnaby, B.C. Born in St. Thomas, veteran of World War I; served with 18th Battalion; member Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 83, Burnaby. Survived by loving wife Evelyn; two sons, Cliff of Burnaby and Clare of Abbotsford; two grandchildren Mitchell and Janet.  Funeral service on Monday, May 2 at 1 p.m. in the Royal Oak Funeral Chapel, 5100 Kingsway, South Burnaby. Rev. G. Fee officiating. Cremation.

William Verne Baldwin

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William Baldwin was born on May 13, 1897 in Bayham, the son of Warren Baldwin (1865-1939) & Priscilla Abbott (1861-1935).  Warren was born in Elgin County, the son of Samuel Baldwin & Abigail Ketchabaw, and was farming in Dorchester township when he was married on September 28, 1886 in London to Priscilla Abbott, a native of Devonshire, England living in Middlesex County, the daughter of William Abbott & Lydia Lethbridge. They are buried in Eden cemetery.

William was a farmer living at RR #1 Eden when he enlisted for service on May 13, 1918.

He was farming at Eden when he was married there on October 18, 1922 to Rebecca Faye Wilson (1903-1978) , also of Eden, the daughter of Clayton & Ina Wilson.

William died in 1974 and is buried with his wife in Eden cemetery.

Charles Frederick Ball

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Charles Ball was born on April 25, 1894 in Bayham, the son of William Charles Ball & Alvaretta Lorena Payne.  William was born in Houghton township, the son of Frederick & Elizabeth Ball, and was farming there when he was married on February 26, 1893 in Tillsonburg to Alvaretta Payne, also of Houghton, the daughter of Ephraim & Euphemia Payne.

Charles was a farmer living at Clear Creek when he enlisted for service on May 13, 1918 in Brantford.

He was farming at Clear Creek when he was married on November 10, 1920 at Courtice, Darlington Township, Durham County to Alma Pearl Aldworth (1900-1972), of Darlington, the daughter of John Aldworth & Belinda Boshier.

Charles died on August 8, 1971 and is buried in Cultus Cemetery, Norfolk County. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, August 11, 1971:

CHARLES F. BALL

SPRINGFIELD – Charles Fred Ball of Clear Creek, son of the late Alva Payne and the late William Ball died Sunday in Tillsonburg Memorial Hospital in his 77th year.  He is survived by his wife, Pearl Aldworth and four daughters, Mrs. Dave (Amy) Ellis, Peterborough; Mrs. Duncan (Beatrice) McIlraith of Ottawa; Mrs. Frank (Nellie) Carson of Glenmeyer; Mrs. Hugh (Florence) Ferris, Vienna; also four sister and one brother, Mrs. Harry (Erie) Crawford, Hamilton; Mrs. Mary Newell, Windsor; Mrs. Florence Mouland, Springfield; Mrs. Ernest (Betty) Mitchell, Dundas; and Earl Ball of Clear Creek. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren.

The funeral was held from Clarks Funeral Home, Port Rowan on Wednesday afternoon. Interment in Cultus Cemetery.

Colonel Wilbur Ball

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Colonel Wilbur  Ball was born on September 4, 1892 at Courtland in Middleton Township, Norfolk County, the son of Charles Henry Ball (1863-1945) & Ellen Jane Pressey (1873-1958).  Note that “Colonel” was a given name, not a military rank.  Charles was born in Houghton Township, the son of George & Frances Ball, and was a carpenter there when he was married on September 9, 1889 in Malahide to Ellen Pressey, of Malahide, the daughter of George & Elizabeth Pressey.  Charles & Ellen are found on the 1901 and 1911 census in Malahide, and lived in the Mount Salem area at lot 25, concession 3.  They are buried in Luton cemetery.

Wilbur Ball was employed as a lineman when he enlisted for service on December 1, 1914 at Brandon, Manitoba. He names his next of kin as his father, Charles, of R.R. #1 Dunboyne.

An article about C. W. Ball receiving a medal was printed in the Aylmer Express, November 30, 1916:

D.C.M. FOR ELGIN MAN

Signaller C. W. Ball, son of Mr & Mrs C. W. Ball, Mt. Salem, has won the coveted distinguished conduct medal.  It was awarded him for keeping up communication under heavy fire near Ypres, in June 1916, when the Canadian boys were proving their gallantry and courage against a superior and resourceful force. The attacks were so continuous and violent that he has not yet ceased to wonder how he escaped death. He joined the First Canadian Mounted Rifles at Roblin, Manitoba, two years ago, training at Brandon.  He went overseas in June 1915 and into camp at Shorncliffe.  There being no demand for mounted men at that stage of the war, he transferred to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade on Sept. 4, 1915, going to France a month later. Early this year he was transferred to the Signalling Corps. In a recent letter home he reported himself well, and expressed his great sorrow when he heard of the death of Private Harley Burnham.  We have reason to be very proud of Signaller Ball and hope we may personally congratulate him here when the war is over.

A photograph of Wilbur appeared in the Aylmer Express, July 19, 1917, with the following story:

Pte. Colonel Wilbur Ball, son of Mr and Mrs. C. H. Ball, of Mt. Salem, who is June 1916 was presented with the Distinguished Conduct Medal, by King George, for conspicuous bravery on the field. For this occasion he was given 10 days’ leave of absence, the only holiday he has ever had in two years of service in the trenches. Pte. Ball enlisted on Nov. 17th 1914, at Roblin, Manitoba, with the Canadian Mounted Rifles. He was transferred to Brandon to train in June, 1915, and went overseas shortly after. Here he was transferred to the First Can. Mounted Rifles and later trained at Shorcliffe with the 2nd Can. Contingent Infantry Brigade. On Sept. 18, 1915, he was on the firing line on the western front, where he has been continuously in the fight, with the exception of the 10 days’ leave mentioned above. He has never been wounded nor sick a day, and has been through all of the big battles engaged in by the Canadians, the latest being at Vimy Ridge. Pte. Ball drilled with 2,000 men, and in his last letter home he stated that only 7 men were left out of the 2,000, and he is one of the seven. He was presented with the Distinguished Conduct Medal by King George on Christmas Day, 1916, for bravery at the battle of Ypres. He is at present with the Canadian Signalling Corps on the western front.

Wilbur Ball’s war records show that he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Military Medal with Bar and British War & Victory Medals. He returned from overseas in 1919 and was demobilized at London on May 11.  He had served in France for 42 months, and fought in the battles of Ypres, Mount Sorrel, Somme, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Paschendaele, Amiens, Aras, Drocount, Cambrai, Valeciennes and Mons.

Following the war, Wilbur Ball was married in September 1919 to Sylvia Crossett (1892-1975) of Niagara Falls, New York.  They lived first in Canada, where a daughter Minnie E. Ball was born about 1921, then moved to Niagara Falls, New York, where another daughter, Edna M., was born about 1926.  They are found on the 1930 census in Niagara Falls, NY, where Colonel Ball is a carpenter.

Colonel Wilbur Ball died on January 22, 1970 in Albion, Orleans County, New York. He is buried with his wife in Ridge Road Cemetery, Town of Gaines, Orleans County.

Frederick St. Clair Widmer Ball

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Frederick Ball was born on January 9, 1892 in Port Burwell, the son of Rev. Clarence Widmer Ball & Frances Shore.  Clarence was the son of Frederick Augustus & Mary Eleanor Ball, and was living at Glanworth when he was married there on June 27, 1888 to Frances Shore, of Westminster Township, the daughter of Frederick & Emma Shore.  Clarence was rector at Trinity Church, Port Burwell from 1889 to 1893.  They are buried in Glanworth Anglican cemetery.

Frederick was living with his parents at 24 Edward Street, London, employed as an electrical engineer when he enlisted for service on June 22, 1918 in London.  He had served one year and eleven months in the Canadian Officer’s Training Corps at the University of Toronto, Service Company Canadian Engineers, M.D. No. 1.

Frederick was living in Toronto, employed as an electrical engineer when he was married on July 24, 1919 in Aylmer to Frances Hazel Winnington-Ingram (1893 – 1930), of Aylmer, the daughter of Frank Winnington-Ingram & Jane Hankinson.

Gordon Stanley Ball

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Gordon Ball was born on February 12, 1891 in Bayham (Vienna), the son of Richard Henry Ball (1853-1905) & Hannah Jane (Jennie) Mansell (1864-1934).  Richard was born in Houghton township, the son of William & Jane Ball, and was a music teacher living in Walsingham when he was married on June 3, 1885 in Tillsonburg to Hannah Mansell, of Walsingham, the daughter of Nathan & Eliza Jane Mansell.  Richard moved to Malahide township, where he died at lot 11, concession 8 in 1905.  His wife Jennie was living in Sault Ste. Marie in 1916.

Gordon was a carpenter and farm labourer living at Glenmeyer when he enlisted for service on March 4, 1916 in Simcoe. He belonged to the 39th Regiment. 

Following the war, he was farming in North Walsingham when he was married in Elgin County in 1921 to Iola May Chute (1894-1968), a native of Bayham township, the daughter of Harvey Chute & Minnie Magee.

Gordon & Iola farmed for a number of years on the Jamestown Road in Malahide township near Copenhagen before retiring to Simcoe.

Gordon died on July 21, 1980 in Simcoe and is buried in Glenmeyer Baptist cemetery with his wife.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, July 23, 1980:

GORDON STANLEY BALL

A funeral service was held this afternoon, Wednesday, July 23, for Gordon Stanley Ball of Simcoe. Rev. Dana Lamb officiated with the burial following in Glen Meyer Baptist Cemetery.  Mr. Ball died Monday, July 21 at the Norfolk General Hospital.  He was 88.

He is survived by his two sons, Harvey of Forest, and Keith of Calgary; and one daughter, Ruth (Mrs. Donald MacGregor), New Sarum. Also survived by a brother, William of Etobicoke, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  Predeceased by his wife, Iola Chute in 1968, and a sister, Alma Narstead.  Baldock Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Walter Ball

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The name “Walter Ball” is found in an article in the Times Journal in 1927 listing names being compiled for the Book of Remembrance, under Vienna.

The Book of Remembrance gives his service number as #40536, and rank as Gunner.  He was a son of James & Emily Ball, and enlisted in August 1914. He served in France and Italy with the 7th Division Royal Field Artillery.  He was wounded at Ypres.  He was discharged in May 1919.

No attestation paper can be found for Walter in Canadian records; however, a search of the British War Medals index revealed a matching entry with the above service number.  He was awarded the Victory Medal and British Star on December 21, 1914.  

1901 Census records show a Walter Ball, age 13, born in Birmingham, with parents James & Emily, living in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.

His connection to Vienna is unknown.  Passenger lists show a Walter Ball, age 32, a returning soldier, arriving in Canada on May 12, 1919. His destination is Hamilton. The record indicates that he had been in Hamilton for 11 years, prior to 1914.  This may be the same Walter Ball.

William Mansell Ball

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William Ball was born on June 25, 1894 in Port Burwell, the son of Richard Henry Ball (1853-1905) & Hannah Jane (Jennie) Mansell (1864-1934). Richard was born in Houghton Township, the son of William & Jane Ball, and was a music teacher living in Walsingham when he was married on June 3, 1885 in Tillsonburg to Hannah Jane (Jennie) Mansell, of Walsingham, the daughter of Nathan & Eliza Jane Mansell.  Richard moved to Malahide township, where he died at lot 11, concession 8 in 1905.  His wife Jennie was living in Sault Ste. Marie in 1916.

William was a clerk living at 429 Wellington Street, Sault Ste. Marie when he enlisted for service there on March 6, 1916.  He had served as a Sergeant at Soo Locke, and belonged to the 51st Soo Rifles.

Following the war, he was living in Hamilton where he was a student when he was married on July 6, 1922 at Winona, Saltfleet Township, Wentworth County to Margaret Morrison McCormick, a native of Scotland living in Hamilton, the daughter of John McCormick & Margaret Stewart Jenkins.

When his brother Gordon died in 1980, William was living in Etobicoke, Ontario.

William Ballah

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photo courtesy of Elgin County Archives

William Ballah was born on August 22, 1884 at Lyons,  lot 12, concession 8, South Dorchester Township, the son of James Albert Ballah (1857-1947) & Sarah Belinda Sherk (1857-1935).  They were married in South Dorchester on February 22, 1882.  James was born in South Dorchester, the son of William & Sarah Ballah.  Sarah Sherk was also a South Dorchester resident, but born in Walpole Township, Haldimand County, the daughter of James & Rosanna Sherk.  They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.  William’s brother, Orlo Grant Ballah, was killed in action on May 3, 1917.

William was married and living at 14 Jones Street, St. Thomas, employed as a locomotive fireman when he enlisted for service on February 24, 1916 in London.

He later moved to Fort Erie where he was living in 1935.  He died on February 10, 1950, at the age of 65.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, February 13, 1950:

BALLAH PASSES; ONCE RESIDED HERE

Welland Man Former N.Y.C. Engineer; Burial Here

WELLAND, Feb. 13 – Funeral services will be held in St. Thomas on Tuesday for William Ballah, retired New York Central Railroad engineer, who passed away at his late residence here on Friday after a long illness. He was 65 years of age.  Born in South Dorchester township, where he spent his early life, he resided for some years in St. Thomas before coming to Welland. Due to ill health he was retired in May of 1945 from a railroad career that began on November 9, 1912.  He was a member of the Pentecostal Assembly Church, and Division 132 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

He leaves to mourn his loss his wife, Mrs. Louisa Ballah; two daughters, Elden (Alice) DeMerchant, Canterbury, N.B., and Mrs. Earl (Verona) Watson, DeBec, N.B.; and one son, Charles Albert Ballah, of Fort Erie. A sister, Mrs. B. R. Barr, resides in Dorchester; another, Mrs. Gordon Barons, in Harrietsville; a third, Mrs. W. H. Cohoons, London, Ontario; and two others, Mrs. Carl Allen and Miss M. E. Ballah, both of Aylmer. There are also several grandchildren.

The remains are to arrive in St. Thomas at 8:07 p.m. Monday via the New York Central, and will rest at the P. R. Williams and Son Funeral Home where the funeral will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock by Rev. G. Johnstone, of the Pentecostal church, assisted by Division 132 of the B. of L. E.  Interment will be in Elmdale Memorial Park Cemetery.

Elston Winsor Bambrick

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photo courtesy of Elgin County Archives

Elston was born on May 7, 1898 in Dereham Township, Oxford County, the son of Frederick Bambrick (1873-1937)& Addie A. Curtis (1876-1957). Frederick was born in England, and was living in Dereham Township when he was married on January 20, 1897 in Middleton Township, Norfolk County, to Addie A. Curtis, a native of Dereham Township, living in Middleton, the daughter of John & Addie Curtis. The family is found on the 1901 census in South Dorchester, and in 1911 in Malahide township, in the Springfield area.  Frederick Bambrick lived on lot 25, concession 9, Malahide. Frederick & Addie are buried in Elmdale Cemetery, St. Thomas.

Elston enlisted for service with the 91st Battalion on November 24, 1915 in Springfield.  He gives his address as R.R. #4 Aylmer, and names his next of kin as his mother, of the same address.  He was a farmer, and was not married. He was discharged on August 23, 1918.

Following the war, Elston moved to Windsor where he was employed as a machinist, and later worked as a butcher.  He was married on June 3, 1919 in Malahide to Annie May Edith Elizabeth St. Clair (1897-1922), of Malahide, the daughter of Alva Vining St. Clair & Mary Edith Pound.

Elston & Edith were living at 1040 Howard Avenue, Windsor when she died on February 14, 1922. She is buried with her parents in Trinity Cemetery, Glencolin, Malahide Township.

Elston was later remarried to Mary Miller (1902 – 1965), daughter of Martin Miller of the Dutton area. They continued to live in Windsor.

Elston died on April 3, 1963 and is buried with his second wife in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, London.  His obituary appeared in the Windsor Star, April 3, 1963:

BAMBRICK – Elston W., 64, of 204 McEwan Ave., died today in Westminster Hospital, London, Ont. Born in Springfield, Ont., he moved to Windsor 47 years ago and worked as a butcher. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Surviving are his widow, the former Mary Miller; a son, Kenneth, of London; one brother, Arthur, of St. Thomas; one sister, Mrs. Ina Moore, of London; and three grandchildren.  Funeral service at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, London, Friday, at 2 p.m. Rev. F. A. Gilbert, United Church chaplain at Westminster, officiating. Burial Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London.

Harry Donald Barrett

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Harry Donald Barrett was born on January 20, 1899 in Aylmer, the son of Stanley Eli Barrett (1872-1951) & Emma Harris (1874-1959).  Stanley Barrett was born in Port Rowan, the son of Anthony Barrett & Sarah Cartwright,  but was a merchant in Aylmer when he was married on January 6, 1897 in Aylmer to Emma A. Harris, a native of Guelph but resident of Aylmer, the daughter of Harvey & Maria Harris.  The family is found on the 1901 Aylmer census where Stanley is a butcher.  By 1911, they had moved to Tillsonburg, where he is a livery man. Stanley & Emma are buried in Tillsonburg cemetery.

Harry Barrett was living in Tillsonburg when he enlisted for service on May 27, 1918 in London.

No further information is known.

Bruce Davidson Barry

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Bruce Davidson Barry was born on April 7, 1892 in Aylmer, the son of Thomas Barry & Lillie Ann Davidson.  Thomas was a cheesemaker, and was living in South Dorchester when he was married on January 10, 1883 in Malahide to Lilly Ann Davidson (1861-1944), also of Malahide, the daughter of John Robinson Davidson & Maria Carr.  Thomas was the son of Thomas & Lucinda Barry.

Thomas & Lilly moved to Grand Valley in Wellington County, where they appear on the 1901 census.  By 1911, Bruce was employed as a lineman on the Canadian Pacific Railway, and was boarding in Orillia Township, Simcoe County.

Bruce Barry was living at 145 Mavety Street, Toronto, working as an electrician, when he enlisted for service on November 2, 1918 in Toronto.  His mother was named as his next of kin, and was living at the same address.

Bruce was living in Toronto in 1944 when his mother died.  She was still living on Mavety street at the time of her death. No further information is known.

Donald Ross Bartlett

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Donald Bartlett was born on October 22, 1894 in Bayham, the son of Orin Bartlett (1868-1950) & Mary Ann Boyce (1870-1937).  Orin was born in Bayham, the son of Asel & Catherine Bartlett and was farming there when he was married on March 7, 1888 in Bayham to Mary Ann Boyce, a native of Haldimand County living in Bayham, the daughter of Silas & Catherine Boyce.  They are buried in Straffordville cemetery.

Donald was a farmer living at RR #1 Vienna when he enlisted for service on July 10, 1918 in London.

He was farming in Bayham when he was married on November 19, 1919 in Mount Salem to Lila Frances Ball, of Malahide, the daughter of Charles Ball & Ellen Pressey.

Donald died on October 25, 1960 in Detroit,  and is buried in Straffordville cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, November 2, 1960:

DONALD R. BARTLETT

VIENNA – Donald R. Bartlett, native of Bayham Township died in Detroit on Tuesday of last week following an illness of one month. He was in his 67th year.  He was the son of the late Orin Bartlett and Mary Ann Boyce, old-time residents of Bayham, and lived in the Vienna district before moving to Detroit 30 years ago. He was a member of the Baptist church.

Mr. Bartlett is survived by five sisters, Mrs. Ray (Lois) Soper, Vienna; Mrs. Harry (Vera) McShane, Aylmer; Mrs. Hugh (Violet) Sharp, Gravenhurst; Mrs. Harley (Gladys) Esseltine, St. Thomas; Mrs. Preston (Geraldine) Williams, Tillsonburg; brothers Clifford, Vienna; Asa, Straffordville.

The Rev. K. L. Chubb of First Baptist Church, Tillsonburg, conducted the service at Tillsonburg Saturday afternoon, and interment was in Straffordville Cemetery.

Edward Urquhart Bartlett

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Edward Bartlett was born on February 18, 1882 in Vienna, the son of Thaddeus Bartlett (1853-1886) & Henrietta Dreyer (1852-1934).  Thaddeus was born and living in Bayham, the son of Porter & Maria Bartlett, when he was married there on October 5, 1873 to Henrietta Dreyer, a native of Thornhill, Ontario, but living in Bayham, the daughter of Edward Dreyer & Elizabeth Urquhart.  Following Thaddeus’ death in 1886, Henrietta was married in 1889 to William Martin.  She and William are buried in St. Luke’s cemetery, Vienna.

Edward was living in Bayham working as a mason when he was married on February 3, 1904 to Clarissa Lambert, of Tillsonburg, a widow. She was the daughter of Robert Smart & Jane Sitzer.

Edward was employed as a clerk and living at RR #1 Springfield when he enlisted for service on March 23, 1916 in St. Thomas.  He had served two years in the 26th Middlesex Regiment.  

He died on June 23, 1952 and is buried in Tillsonburg cemetery. A military marker bears the following inscription: “Edward U. Bartlett, Corporal, 58 Battn. C.E.F.  23 June 1952 age 72″

His obituary appeared in the Tillsonburg News, June 26, 1952:

EDWARD BARTLETT

A native of Vienna, Edward U. Bartlett, 72, passed away Tuesday at Westminster Hospital, London. He had lived in this district all his life.  In World War I, he served overseas with the 58th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and was a member of the Tillsonburg Branch 153, Canadian Legion.

Surviving are one brother, Emerson, Tillsonburg, and two sisters, Mrs. Floyd Lester, Tillsonburg, and Mrs. Nelson Perry, Langton. Funeral service is to be conducted this afternoon at 2 p.m. from the H. A. Ostrander and Son Funeral Home by Rev. W. J. Holley, Courtland United Church, assisted by Rev. C. C. Anderson, Langton Baptist Church.

Local Legion members of Branch 153 will act as pallbearers, and branch will also conduct a graveside service. Interment will be in the Tillsonburg Cemetery.

Harvey Thaddeus Bartlett

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Harvey Bartlett was born on October 15, 1875 in Bayham, the son of Thaddeus Bartlett (1853-1886) & Henrietta Samantha Dryer (1852-1934).  Thaddeus was born in Bayham, the son of Porter & Maria Bartlett and was married on October 5, 1873 in Bayham to Henrietta Dryer, a native of Thornhill living in Bayham, the daughter of Edward & Harriet Elizabeth Dryer.  Following Thaddeus’ death in 1883, Henrietta was married to William Martin on April 16, 1889 in Straffordville.  William & Henrietta are buried in St. Luke’s cemetery, Vienna.

Harvey Bartlett was farming in Dereham township when he was married on October 26, 1904 in Vershoyle to Lydia Jane Phelps, of Dorchester. They lived at lot 4, concession 3, North Dorchester near Crampton.

Harvey was a teamster living at RR #2 London when he enlisted for service on December 16, 1915 in London.  He joined the 142nd Battalion. He returned from overseas in 1917, arriving at Quebec on September 25. He was discharged due to a tubercular condition.

He is not listed as a survivor in his brother William’s obituary in 1949. No further information is known.

William Arthur Bartlett

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William Bartlett was born on March 28, 1877 in Vienna, the son of Thaddeus Bartlett (1853-1886) & Henrietta Samantha Dreyer (1852-1934).  Thaddeus was born and living in Bayham, the son of Porter & Maria Bartlett, when he was married there on October 5, 1873 to Henrietta Dreyer, a native of Thornhill, Ontario, but living in Bayham, the daughter of Edward Dreyer & Elizabeth Urquhart.  Following Thaddeus’ death in 1886, Henrietta was married in 1889 to William Martin.  She and William are buried in St. Luke’s cemetery, Vienna.

William was employed as a mason in South Norwich township when he was married in Norfolk County on December 9, 1903 to Mary Myrtle Webber (1879 – 1941), of Bayham, the daughter of David Calvin Webber & Mary Ann Horner. 

William & Mary were living at Brownsville with four children when he enlisted for service on November 22, 1915 in St. Thomas with the 91st Battalion.  

William & Mary had five children: William Alfred (1905) and Gladys Alfretta (born 1907), Adolphus, Clara & Audrey.  They lived at lot 8, concession 5 Dereham Township, Oxford County.  About 1935  they moved to West Oxford Township, where they were living when Mary died in 1941.

William died on July 23, 1949 and is buried with his wife  in Harris Street Cemetery, Ingersoll. His obituary appeared in the Tillsonburg News, August 4, 1949:

WILLIAM BARTLETT DIES; INTERRED AT INGERSOLL

William Arthur Bartlett of Springford, passed away on Saturday, July 23, following about two years of failing health, in his 78th year.  He was born at Vienna on March 27, 1872, the son of Thaddeus Bartlett and Henrietta Samantha Dryer, of Vienna.  He farmed near Folden’s Corners for about six years before moving to Tillsonburg, later moving to Springford. For many years he followed the trade of mason. He was a member of Tillsonburg Branch, No. 153 Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League. He was predeceased by his wife, the former Mary Almyrtle Webber, about eight years ago.

Surviving to mourn their loss are two sons, Alfred B., of Woodstock and Adolphus B., of Springford; three daughters, Mrs. A. Oatman (Gladys) of Tillsonburg; Mrs. William Gains (Hazel) of Tillsonburg; and Mrs. James Talbot (Audrey) of Woodstock; two sisters, Mrs. Floyd Lester of Tillsonburg, and Mrs. Nelson Perry of Langton; two brothers, Emerson of Tillsonburg and Edward of Langton; also 22 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The funeral service was conducted at the H. A. Ostrander and Son Funeral Home on Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock by Rev. Alfred Yeoman. The pallbearers were Robert Moir, Walter Emerson, Charles Waller, Clarence Palmer, Hugh Brown and Norman Moir. The flower bearers were members of the Tillsonburg Branch of the Canadian Legion. Many beautiful floral tributes testified to the esteem in which Mr. Bartlett was held. Interment was in Harris St. Cemetery, Ingersoll.

Roy Edward Bastedo

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Roy Edward Bastedo was born on September 6, 1894 in Malahide, the son of Lewis E. Bastedo (1862-1926) & Ina B. Teeple (1869-1933). Lewis was born in Malahide, the son of Washington Bastedo & Jane Buckley Jewell, and was living in Malahide when he was married there on January 25, 1893 to Ina Teeple, a native of Yarmouth living in Malahide, the daughter of J. Nelson & Rebecca Teeple.  They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Roy Bastedo was a farmer living in Hespeler, Ontario when he enlisted with the 111th Battalion on April 7, 1916 in Hespeler.  He names his next of kin as his wife, Essie, of Hespeler.

When his father died in 1926, Roy was living in Michigan.

Roy died on September 7, 1947 and is buried with his parents in Aylmer cemetery. His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, September 9, 1947:

ROY E. BASTEDO, OF TORONTO, IS CALLED

Former Well Known Resident of Aylmer

Aylmer, Sept. 9 – Roy Edward Bastedo, 213 Carlton street, Toronto, a former well known resident of Aylmer, died in Toronto, Sunday evening, following a short illness, aged 53.  He was born in Aylmer on September 6, 1894, a son of the late Mr and Mrs Louis Bastedo, and lived here until moving to Toronto a few years ago. He was a painter and decorator.  He leaves many friends in the Aylmer district.  Mr. Bastedo was an adherent of the Baptist church. Surviving are his wife, the former Alberta Young; and a sister, Mrs. Joseph Rezar, St. George street north, St. Thomas. Resting at the Atkinson & Hughson Funeral Home, Aylmer, where the funeral service will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock by Rev. Fred Helps, pastor of the Aylmer Baptist church.  Interment in the Aylmer cemetery

Edward Walter Bateman

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The name Edward Bateman is found in a list of members of Trinity Anglican Church serving overseas, printed in the Aylmer Express, October 7, 1916. 

Edward Walter Bateman was born on February 14, 1885 in Nottingham, England.  He is possibly the Walter Bateman found on the 1901 census in East Bridgford, Nottingham, age 17, the son of Christopher & Mary A. Bateman.  There is also a brother Horace.

Edward Walter Bateman was married in 1906 in Nottingham to Daisy Edith Barrie. With their two sons, Edward Walter, age 3, and infant Leslie, they emigrated to Canada in 1911 on the ship Tunisian, arriving in Halifax on March 17.  He was a tailor and their destination was Paris, Ont.  Accompanying them was Horace Bateman, age 23.

Edward W. & Daisy are found on the 1911 census in Aylmer, where he is a tailor. Besides Edward Walter Jr. & Leslie, two daughters were born to them while in Aylmer; one on October 10, 1911, the other on January 23, 1914.

Edward enlisted for service on August 9, 1915 in St. Thomas.  He was a tailor,  married with four children.  He had served one year with the 30th Battery in Aylmer.

A photo of Edward with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Sergt. E. W. Bateman was born in England, but was a resident of Aylmer for about six years and was employed at Youell & Wrong’s in the tailoring department. He enlisted with the 33rd Batt., but was transferred to the 70th Batt., and is now attached to the 39th Batt. He is now in France. His family reside at Seaforth.”

A letter from Edward appeared in the East Elgin Tribune, October 19, 1916:

West Sandling, Kent, England, September 20th

G. Charlton:

Dear Sir – I just received another East Elgin Tribune today, which I can assure you was very welcome, so as I have a little time to spare, am taking the opportunity to write you a few lines again. Pleased to say I am feeling fine and dandy and hope this will find you the same. We have had several Zepp raids this last few nights. Last Saturday night they came over close here, and dropped about a dozen bombs. I could hear them and the hut windows shook but no damage was done. Several places further inland were rather badly damaged at various points.

Two weeks ago I was busy taking my entrenching course and met several of the 91st taking theirs at the same time. This week I am on duty at the ranges and today while I was down there not far from the range I saw a terrible catastrophe. An English battle plane had just risen a short distance up in the air and was flying towards where I was sitting and we could see that it was in difficulty, and all at once she suddenly dropped and crashed to the ground a few yards from us. Two of my men and myself were first to get there and it sure was an awful sight. The men were both tangled up in the machine but with the assistance of a few more men we managed to get them out. The first one we got out was all covered with blood and we could see he was badly hurt, while the other poor fellow only breathed for a minute or two after we got him out. I was told later that the other one died on the way to the hospital. It makes you think when death comes as suddenly as that right before your eyes. Well the war news keeps pretty good for us and it looks as though we are getting them on the run. Let us hope it keeps good. The weather has been very good lately, but it is raining now, but we need some to lay the dust. I saw Wyn Christie last week and he is looking very well and Charlie Picknell too. Alf Grogan and Andy Benson are still here and a few more of our boys, but not many. Well, how is everything around Aylmer?  I hope things are keeping good both with yourself and all in town. I guess that’s about all this time, so wishing you and Jim the best of luck. I will close and remain, yours very sincerely,

W. Bateman

Another letter from Edward was printed in the Aylmer Express, January 16, 1919:

OVERSEAS LETTER FROM E. W. BATEMAN

Messrs. Youell and Wrong have received a very interesting letter from Sergt. E. W. Bateman, who at the time of enlisting was employed as a tailor by that firm. It was written on Dec. 11th, at which time the writer was marching into Germany, and it now with the army of occupation. Sergt. Bateman mentions having met with Sergt. Earl Prowse, another Aylmer boy, the night they moved up for what proved to be the last attack. He reports Earl as looking fine. Following are extracts from the letter:

“We have marched about 240 miles this last four weeks, as we are attached to the 2nd Army, which is to occupy certain parts of Germany until peace is signed. We crossed the frontier on the morning of the 4th, with our band playing “O Canada” and the “Maple Leaf”. We were the first infantry battalion to cross. We only struck small villages the first three or four night, but last Monday arrived at the town of Euskivehen, with a population of about 14,000 people, where we stayed in the big barracks, and yesterday came to this place – Bruhil, not far from Cologne and got a good billet in what had been a hospital for their more serious cases, run by nuns. The building is steam heated and lighted by electricity, and as we all have single beds, shall be pretty comfortable during our day or two stay here. The town is of fair size, with good hotels and stores, and they seem to be pretty well stocked.  We sure have Fritz eating humble pie these days. All men have to raise their hats to all our officers as they pass, and stand still should the National Anthem be played. In all places we occupy we take charge of all railways, telephone and telegraph offices. No papers are allowed to be published, and all places of public entertainment are closed. They have to supply coal for all buildings we occupy, and everything we need in that line. The people in the first villages we entered had an idea that they must feed us as well as billet us, and we were used very well. In fact, I have seen no unpleasant incident myself so far, as the people generally seem very pleased that the war is finished, even though Germany lost. We are all looking forward to the time when we shall be coming home, you bet, and I hope it won’t be very long now. With best wishes to all, I remain, Yours sincerely, E. W. Bateman”

Edward returned from the war in 1919, arriving in Halifax on April 21.  The passenger list states that Pte. Bateman was serving with the 37th Battalion, and his next of kin was his wife, living in Seaforth, Ontario.

Edward & Daisy later moved to Hamilton, where they were living at 54 Ray Street North, when he died on November 29, 1933.  He is buried in Woodland Cemetery, Hamilton.

George Harley Bates

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George H. Bates was born on February 3, 1899 in Malahide, the son of Benjamin Ezra Bates (1859-1927) & Kate A. Feeley (1866-1950).  Benjamin was born in Malahide, the son of George & Lois Bates, and was farming there when he was married on October 15, 1890 in Hamilton to Kate A. Feeley, of Hamilton, the daughter of William & Mary Jane Feeley.  Benjamin & Kate are found on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 census in Malahide. They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

George enlisted for service in 1918, but his attestation paper is unavailable for viewing.  An article appeared in the Aylmer Express, August 15, 1918, upon his enlistment:

CADET GEO. H. BATES HONORED

Friends and Neighbors Met at Home of his Parents and Presented Him With Pen and Address

On Saturday evening about forty of the friends and neighbors met at the home of Mr and Mrs B. F. Bates in honor of their son, Cadet G. Bates who has recently joined the Royal Air Force and is now stationed at Long Branch Camp, near Toronto. He was presented with an address and pen suitably engraved. He replied expressing his pleasure in meeting so many of his friends and his appreciation of their lovely gift. The ladies served a dainty lunch on the lawn. The evening was spent with music and social chat. After singing “He’s A Jolly Good Fellow”, and expressing best wishes for the soldier boy, the friends returned to their homes all having spent a very pleasant evening. The address is as follows:

“To Cadet George Harley Bates, Royal Air Force –

We, a few of your friends and well wishers from your old home town are desirous of expressing to you our admiration of the spirit of loyalty and patriotism, which inspired you to offer yourself to participate in the great world war, and if needs be to lay down your life in aiding the Allies to overthrow Prussian autocracy, and to protect the sacred purity of womanhood, with all the strength and skill that a kindly Providence has so lavishly bestowed upon you, to stand up for the cause of little children, who in after years may be enabled to enjoy the freedom and liberty of the New World, the dawn of which is already emerging out of the sacrifices made by the mothers and fathers, who like your own folk, have given all it was possible to offer of the hearts’ fondest ties in the human family. As a token of practical sincerity of our friendly feelings toward you and yours, we beg you to accept this pen, which we hope may provide no mere ornament, but a souvenir of the happy days of your youth and which we trust may be the means of a pleasant correspondence with the friends and neighbors on Dingle Street, Aylmer. It has been said, quite truthfully, that sometimes ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’, but in these days of wireless telegraphy and winged flights, this poor little pen may become neglected. But it goes with you into a future, that we feel quite confident is fraught with success for the cause in which you have taken up arms, and we trust you may become a second only to the Canadian aviator’s greatest ideal, Major “Billy” Bishop. May this pen always be the means of conveying the good news to us of victory for the allies, and a successful career for yourself.

Signed on behalf of all the friends on Dingle Street, Aylmer, Ont., George Trim, John Caron

George was living in Windsor when he was married on August 4, 1926 in Leamington to Sarah Hughena Stephenson, of Walkerville, daughter of George Stephenson & Margaret McLean.

George died on September 22, 1989 at the age of 90.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, October 4, 1989:

  GEORGE BATES

George Harley Bates, 90, of Metro-Toronto, an Aylmer native, and pioneer in the Canadian automotive industry, died on Friday, September 22, 1989. The following appeared in The Toronto Star:

George Harley Bates ended life as he lived it: organized, unafraid of controversy, but willing to compromise.  Mr. Bates, who engineered Ford of Canada’s move from Walkerville, Ont., near Detroit, to Oakville in the 1950s, died at age 90 last week.  He left his family instructions he be cremated and then buried on common ground – that is, without a marker.

But, anticipating objections, he left a promise that if relatives just can’t stand that, they can put him under a headstone.  The gesture was very much in keeping with the character of the man, said his granddaughter, Heather Marshall, a Toronto film industry consultant.  “He had very definite ideas about the way he wanted things done, and he always spoke his mind”, said Marshall, following a private funeral.  It was held, in keeping with Mr. Bates’ wishes, before his death was made public yesterday.

Mr. Bates was a pioneer in the Canadian auto industry, a man who started out as a 65-cent-an-hour laborer, but despite a limited education, became one of its movers and shakers. In 1920, he left his birthplace of Aylmer, Ont., to join the Canadian Ford Company, then located in Walkerville, across the Detroit river from the firm’s American parent. Although he had barely finished Grade 8, he rose through the ranks to become, by 1958, one of Ford’s vice-presidents, a post he held until he retired in 1961.  He was the executive who oversaw Ford’s 1953 move from Walkerville to Oakville, an event that symbolized the firm’s recognition of Canada as a separate and important market, Marshall said.  Mr. Bates also travelled the world three times around on assignment for Ford, many of whose overseas operations were then managed by the automaker’s Canadian arm.

He gave his employer unwavering loyalty, and may sometimes have been hard to work for, Marshall said. “He lived, breathed and ate the Ford Motor Co.”.

Over the years it all made for interesting family debates about the role of the car in society, Marshall said.  “He felt the company’s social responsibility lay in the community work it would do, not with respect to its product”, she said.

For many years, the centre of the Bates family’s lives became their summer home near Port Elgin on Lake Huron. There, his children and grandchildren spent their holidays.  Mr. Bates tried to instill curiosity about the way things work in his youngsters and encouraged them to seek the higher education he never got, said Marshall. “He told us to reach for the moon”.

After retirement, Mr. Bates turned to community work.  His wife Hughena died in 1973. He leaves a son, Dr. Donald G. Bates, of Montreal; daughter Marilyn Marshall, of Winchester, Ont., nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

William Feeley Bates

432430

William F. Bates was born on August 9, 1891, on Dingle Street in Malahide, the son of Benjamin Ezra Bates (1859-1927) & Kate A. Feeley (1866-1950).  Benjamin was born in Malahide, the son of George & Lois Bates, and was farming there when he was married on October 15, 1890 in Hamilton to Kate A. Feeley, of Hamilton, the daughter of William & Mary Jane Feeley.  Benjamin & Kate are found on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 census in Malahide. They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

William enlisted for service early in the war, and unfortunately his attestation paper is not available for viewing.  He wrote many letters to his parents which were published in Aylmer newspapers, giving detailed accounts of his experiences at the front.

A photo of William with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Pte. W. F. Bates was born in Malahide 25 years ago and enlisted in Edmonton in 1915. He was wounded on March 18 last and was laid up for several months. He is a son of Mr and Mrs B. E. Bates, Dingle street, and is now back to the front doing his bit”.

The East Elgin Reformer, October 14, 1915:

A SOLDIER BOY WRITES HIS MOTHER

Will Bates’ Letter – Interesting Description of Canterbury Bell and Cathedral – Deal the Beautiful – “The Forty Niners”

Mrs. B. E. Bates of Dingle St., received the welcome letter appended from her son, Will Bates, of the 49th Battalion in camp at Dover, England. This Malahide boy has seen a lot of England, and is a close observer. He writes interestingly. His old friends in this neighborhood will be glad to know that he is well, and “as fat as ever”, as he puts it. The letter follows:

Dover, England, Sept. 19, 1915

Dearest Mother and All – Here is Sunday again and a perfectly lovely day, too. I have been on a week’s holiday, and have enjoyed it fine. I have seen dome distance along the east coast and have landed here in Dover, expecting to go home tomorrow. There is likely mail and lots of it for me in camp. I am getting rather anxious to get some, as I have not written or received a letter for a week nearly. I was in Canterbury for a day. It is a fine old place. The most picturesque thing I saw was the Cathedral of Christ church, built in 1538. It is interesting and the bell, dated 1636. The Cathedral has of course been made larger but the main part is almost all ruins. There is the castle, too, now fixed up and occupied by the gas and water works of the city, but one can see it has been a large and strong fortress. I was through the museum; there are some funny and interesting Roman collections; it is hundreds of years old. Canterbury has about 30,000 inhabitants, so they say. It is a very large military town, and thousands of English troops are stationed there in training now. I was in Deal for over a day. It is a pretty place, with about two miles of sea front, very pretty lawns and paved streets in front of swell hotels and apartments. There is a cement butment about eight feet high all along the street, level with the top, and steps to the beach below. Wednesday, a hospital ship came ashore with four coaches of wounded aboard. It struck a mine some distance out, but not to disable her entirely. Deal is a sea coast town and pilot station, but has no transport harbor. There is a steel pier running out in the channel 1000 feet, built in 1961, and is said to have cost $100,000. There is a pavilion at the end for concerts and also a moving picture house that seats nearly 500 people. The town hall is a big red brick building, dated 1806. There are some of the largest life saving stations in England here, and the largest life saving boat, the “Mary Somerville”. Big boats anchor here for provisions and water. Like all old English cities, it has its castle. The Deal castle was built in 1539, it is the defence for the southern boundary of the city. The walls are from 20 to 30 feet thick. I came back to Dover last night. This morning I went down and saw the railway tunnel under the Shakespeare cliff. The tunnel is 1331 yards long and the cliff is hundreds of feet high. The South-Eastern and Chatham railway runs right along the coast for a long distance; there is the Abbot’s cliff with the tunnel through beneath, 1940 yards long. There is the prettiest promenade pier here running 900 feet out in the water, and the Admiralty pier, 1550 feet out in the channel. This is where the large ships unload. It cost $5,000,000 and was built in 1847. Dover has a big harbor and all big boats stop here. There are foundations now being laid and will be completed in two years, to tun the pier 4000 feet out. The water in the Dover harbor covers 600 acres of space. Besides a large harbor it is the central mailing harbor in connection with Calais and Ostend, France, and also a big telegraph station. I was through the museum; it has mostly birds and fish and works of art. You remember a short time ago I sent you some cards of the Dover castle. I payed 2 shillings, or 2 bob, as they say here, for an hour in it just before dinner today. It is an old Roman fortress, 300 feet above the channel, and is considered one of the strongest fortresses of the country and covers 35 acres of land. The towers you see on the cards have been built at different times and some date back to the Normans. The Queen Elizabeth “Pocket Pistol” is a cannon 24 feet long. I had Oliver Cromwell’s helmet on and saw his armour, also his two handed sword; it weighs 12 pounds and the helmet 9 pounds. All such sights as I am mentioning are entirely new to me, of course, but I only wish I could tell you of all a stranger like myself does notice. Every time I turn around, it is something of interest, for everything is so different from Canada. Well dear I must close, hoping to hear from you all when I get back in camp, and that you are all well.  I am feeling fine and as fat as ever. Love, kisses and best wishes to all, from your soldier boy, Will.

 The Aylmer Express on September 23, 1915:

CANADIAN SOLDIERS CALLED OUT FOR VARIOUS DUTIES

Will Bates Writes an Interesting Letter to His Parents Here

Through the courtesy of Mr and Mrs B. E. Bates, we are permitted to publish the following letter from their son, Private William Bates, who is in England with the Third Canadian Contingent. It is dated at St. Martin Plains, Sept. 1st:

Dearest Mother and all:  

I received your loving letter today, and believe me I was glad to hear from you.  We are having rather a heavy week of it.  You will perhaps laugh when I tell you I am writing this away down in the hold of a freighter steamer, with my writing pad on a box of French millinery.

There are four hundred dock laborers on strike here in Folkestone and Dover, for higher wages, and there are a bunch of fellows from the 49th detailed to work at the docks unloading cargoes.  It is sure some job, and you can hardly imagine the great quantity of stuff there is to handle.  Last Monday I was getting ready to write a letter, when we were called out to assist in unloading three Red Cross steamers. The poor wounded soldiers were sad to look upon. We went down on the double quick to the docks and worked until nearly 11 o’clock that night.  Tuesday morning we were called out at 4:30 a.m. to unload freight, and worked until 7:30 at night. Wednesday we started again at 4:30 and did not finish until nearly 8 at night. This morning we have been reviewed by the King and Lord Kitchener. I had a real good view of both, as they rode right along in front of our line, and I was in the front rank. There were quite a number of us as you may imagine, when I tell you we started forming up in column or route to march to our different camps and the procession of troops alone extended between 14 and 15 miles long, with four men abreast the entire distance. The King was mounted on a fine black horse and Lord Kitchener on a white one.  There were some twenty staff officers accompanying them, and some thirty bands.  It was fine.

It is raining hard this p.m. and we are inside, but have to go to the docks at 5:30 tonight and work all night. We unload all kinds of freight including fruit, apples, oranges, watermelons, pears, grapes, also all kinds of dress goods, millinery, gloves, leather goods, etc. All these come from France.  Then we have to load the ships for the return trip.  I wish you could see us work. We don’t know just how to go at it, but get there just the same.  It is done with crates and cranes from the docks, and yesterday we handled 6,000 bags of mail.

As time goes on and we get more training, we are gradually beginning to see the more important part we are playing in this war, although we are not at the front yet.  It is encouraging for a Britisher to talk with the crews of these large ships. They are people who see things on both sides, and have a chance to form opinions of their own, for they are not in uniform. There are several of these boats coming and going every day, although at times they have trouble in crossing the channel.  But when on thinks that today England has over 3,000 ships of various types on the open water, and Germany has none at all, and cannot get them out, you can realize the difference. There are big fields of mines laid between here and Calais, where these ships run, but the course is well marked with buoys, and the English boats get around them safely, although, of course, at some risk.

We are putting in long hours, but I do not get very tired, and it is all new and interesting to me. I could tell you some great stories if I were only there. Tuesday we were all working away at the boats, when a mob of strikers broke through the big gates at the docks, and started a free-for-all fight. They were angry because we had taken their places and the work was going on. We outnumbered them and won out. One of the strikers was thrown off the wharf and into the water and nearly drowned, but we hauled him out. It was just a fist fight, and I was not hurt at all. Two of our boys have bad-looking faces, and several black eyes are noticeable, but nothing serious. This was but an incident, and such things occur frequently among so many men here together. It would seem funny to me were I still in old Ontario, but one quickly gets accustomed to such things here.  I received and appreciated the Aylmer Express you sent me. I wish I had the time to write a letter to Claude to publish, as I could tell many interesting things, but by the time I write home it is bedtime or parade time, or something to take me away; and then it seems hard to start again.

I am feeling fine, but want to get some sleep. We are living high while on the dock job, and are dining at the Royal Hotel, the best in Folkestone. We go to work and come back on the train.  With love to all, Will.

P.S. It is still raining. I started this letter yesterday while at work, but did not get much written until now.

Another letter from Will was printed in the Aylmer Express, December 16, 1915:

WILL BATES WRITES ANOTHER INTERESTING LETTER

TO HIS PARENTS FROM BELGIUM

He Has Met Several of the Aylmer Boys
Gives Information of Belgium Farming Methods
The Whistle of Enemy Shells and Bullets Rather Unpleasant
Belgium, Nov. 23, 1915

Dear Dad and All:

Just a line to let you know I am O.K.   I saw Clinton Learn again today. He just came out of the trenches last night, and is feeling fine.

I went over to Colonel Brown’s quarters; they are near us, only about a mile away, and saw a few of the fellows I knew.  Colonel Brown himself was away at headquarters, but I saw Alfred Benson, one of the St. Clair boys, the one that used to make cheese at Dunboyne, and later at Lyons; Bert Stamp, who was at Trim’s, and Jack Parker, who used to be at the Brown House and at the Central Hotel. The latter said he recognized me by knowing you, and asked me to tell you that he is well. They are all in the ______Brigade, and have been kept very busy, as there has been considerable bombarding on this front of late. There were some big ones passed over our heads while I was there the other night. No matter what you are doing, they make one stop and listen, believe me. But what especially startles you is when you hear them coming from the Germans, or Old Fritz, as we all call them.  One cannot run, for there is no telling where a shell is going to land, and you can hear them coming for some time before they reach or pass you, which ever it may be. They surely make some noise, and they surely make some hole in the ground.

The Belgians are great people to stick to their homes. Even with shells bursting all around them, they carry on their daily work as best they can. They are great people for turnips, mangles and all sorts of roots.  Everything is done in a very old-fashioned way. As to machinery, they have none. They use a three-wheeled wagon, a century old, and what amuses me is to see them drive with one line, and scarcely any harness at all. They have no tongues to their wagons, and the horse is about ten feet away from the little front wheel.

I saw them threshing and it certainly was some outfit, too. The dogs are numerous here, and they have to work in this country. They have three or four of them drawing carts loaded with all sorts of things. They also have big wheels, like treadmills, and the dogs walk around and around to do the churning.

The Belgians do not seem to have any special type of farming, but they apparently make ends meet, and secure a fair living, but no more. Of course we must consider the present conditions, things might be different in peace times. Their country is surely getting riddled just now.

Well I think I will close. It is trying to rain again, and the fog has been fierce for the past two days. The mud is as bad as ever, but is frozen in places, as it is now quite cold.

Trusting this letter may find you all well, I am, Your affectionate son, Will Bates

The East Elgin Reformer, January 6, 1916:

SOLDIERS GET THEIR SOX

Will Bates of the 49th Says in a Letter to His Uncle and Aunt, Mr and Mrs W. E. McKenney of Malahide That Soldiers Get Every Parcel Sent Them – A Hot Roast For Those Who Spread Yarns

Will Bates, son of Mr and Mrs Ben. Bates, Dingle Street, writes as follows to his uncle and aunt, Mr and Mrs W. E. McKenney, forcibly denying that parcels do not reach the soldiers at the front. Machine guns make the boys hug the earth, mud and water:

Belgium, 10-13-15

Dear Aunt and Uncle – Received your loving letter of 21st and was glad to hear from you again. I am O.K., but it is still raining, and has been for weeks. The mud is something fierce. We were to the trenches last night and it rained all the time. I never in my life saw such a country. It rains continually, and it is impossible to get our clothes dry, as we live in canvas tents and it is pretty cold, too.  You speak of Bob Holtby and his nerves, and compare it with our position here. Well you are sure right. I never knew that I had nerves until now. The other night we were out working, and they opened a machine gun on us.  We were digging in the water, and of course all dropped behind a bank.  Some of the bullets hit the bank and others went over our heads. Talk about getting down, I was as small as a snake.

I got that big parcel O.K., and believe me, I was glad to get it. The honey and maple sugar was certainly fine. The box was not damaged in the least, although it was on the way for three months and over, I guess.  It came Dec. 5. You say people say we do not get them, and what we do get, you say, we have to pay for.  Well, now where ever you heard this, it is from someone that does not want their boy to enlist, or perhaps to not want to enlist themselves, for it is absolutely untrue.  For the parcels getting to camp from where they are sent, I think the war postal service is impossible to be improved on. Very, very seldom a parcel is lost. I’ll bet our Battalion averages three full mail bags every day, and when one thinks that this is only one Battalion in hundreds and hundreds that have to get this average mail every day from across the channel. For our officers getting these parcels and holding them, it is impossible, even if they cared to. But we consider we have one fine bunch of officers, and would surely trust our parcels with them if necessary, but they come direct from our Battalion post office to us.  The only mail or parcel an officer handles is his own, and he gets it handed to him just the same as we do. Who ever has told you this trash, show them this, and any Canadian soldier will stand behind it. It is a shame to start such yarns, when there are so many anxious Canadian mothers with boys out here. But they can rest assured we are certainly well looked after; in fact as well as could be expected under the circumstances, and everything that is meant for us comes. Well, we have to fall in for rifle inspection and mine is dirty yet, so must close. Hoping to hear from you soon. Remember me to all. Lovingly yours, Bill

The East Elgin Tribune, March 16, 1916:

WILL BATES AT FRONT

We are, this week, privileged to print three successive letters from Wm. Bates to his parents, Mr and Mrs B. E. Bates, Dingle St.

France, Feb. 13, 1916.  Dearest Mother, Dad and All:

Here it is Sunday again, and we are in the trenches, have been in two days now. I have just had my dinner and as I have nothing to do in particular for an hour or two, just thought I would drop you a line.  I guess this is the first time I have written to you while in the front line.  I am sitting in a dugout about 6 by 8 feet, and 2 ½ feet high.  That is my home for a few days.  It is fairly comfortable.  It has been raining quite a bit since we have been in this time, but it is real fine this p.m.  Old Fritz is sending some [shells] over right now. They are lighting some distance behind our lines with one occasionally quite near.  They are mostly shrapnel. We are sending our share back too. The German trenches are about 200 yards in front of us, and when our big guns in the rear are firing at this trench, the shells just miss the tops of our heads.  It makes us duck, even when we know they are going the other way. Bill [Bill Butters who went with Mr. Bates from Edmonton] and I are together as usual, and are getting along fine.  Our battalion has been pretty lucky so far, and I hope it continues.  Had a dandy long letter from Fred King. I am going to write to Fred as soon as I can get a chance. Well, dear, I will close. Will write as soon as we get out of this. Love, kisses and best wishes, “Will”.

February 17th, 1916

Dearest Mother and All –

Received two loving letters from you. One written Jan. 16th, and the other on the 30th.  The one of the 30th  had evidently been to a reserve battery in England by mistake, making it a little late,  but all the same I am glad to say it found me at last.  We came out of the trenches last night, and believe me it was some fierce trip.  When we got up Tuesday morning, I had just been in my dugout a very few hours when “stand to” went and as I crawled out the ground was covered with snow.  I had been on patrol, in turn, all night, and it had been raining the most of the time, so I was pretty wet, then to come out and “stand to” for an hour was sure no treat. It turned out fairly nice and the snow melted. Towards evening it started to rain again, and at night when we were returned it was pouring, and a very cold rain too. We had to march with one full pack, and everything sopping wet for two hours to the camp where we are now. We landed here late and we were sure some weary, wet bunch. Gee, I was tired. We rolled in, about twenty in a hut, and of course there was no wood in sight, so we just threw our wet duds on the floor, and crawled in between our blankets.  I had a good cold, and expected to be sick yesterday morning, but a fellow just seems to get hardened to it, for I felt great and we expect to go back to the trenches in a day or two.  I have been cooking today, and it is some job on our field kitchens, and I am as black as a nigger, but am finished for the day. I don’t think I ever saw the wind blow harder than it did yesterday.  It did considerable damage but is better today.  I thought our huts were going up sure yesterday; and in fact, some of the roofs did blow off, and some of the  canvass tents blew down. I got another box from those people in England. The ones who sent me the Xmas parcels. I am glad Clint. Learn is not seriously wounded. Don’t you worry about my socks, as I have lots, and I always keep the ones you send for the trenches, as they are better and warmer than the ones that are issued.  I have one  pair of homemade that  Nettie [his sister] sent me that I have never worn. I will wear them the next time in, and your sweater is always on me. I never take it off only to wash.  Bill Butters, my chum,  is here reading. I had some papers come from London, England today and Bill is reading them. He is feeling fine. We are sure making this parcel look sick. Well, dear, I must close and write to Aunt Ella.  Love, kisses, and best wishes to all. “Bill”.

France, February 18, 1916

Dearest Dad –

Well, I only wrote home yesterday but am going to drop a few lines tonight.  I am now on guard for twenty-four hours now, and it is raining hard, but it may stop before my turn comes.  Butters is on with me.  It is a fierce night, but still the sky is all aglow every little while from the flash of the big guns.  The front line is getting it now, and some poor guys are having a bad night, both with regard to weather and shell fire, and our turn is coming shortly. We are not having much of a rest this time, as we expect to go in any time now.   I had a letter from Earnie [Higginbottom; who was with the 33rd at Quebec], also a parcel from Nettie, containing solid alcohol for my hot water heater. I am sending a parcel home tonight. It is a pair of moccasins made by the Indians away up in Northern Canada. There is a quarter-breed here with us.  His father sent them to him and they are no good here, so I bought them. They are the real stuff.  If there is  cold weather before I come home, and you can use them, why do so, if not, save them for me. I will register the parcel. They will certainly travel some distance. From Lake La Bisch to the Army P.O. in England, then out here, and back to Ontario. Well, I must close now. Best of luck and health to you from your loving boy, “Bill”.

We are some distance back, but the guns are shaking the ground right now. Anyone caring to write, may address W. H. Bates, 49th Batt., C. Co., 11th Platoon, British E.F., Army P.O. London, England”

Will was wounded after the above letter, and writes to his parents in March 1916. The letter was published in the Aylmer Express, April 20, 1916:

WILL. BATES TELLS HOW HE WAS INJURED

Greatly Praises Red Cross Society and Their Work
Military Hospital, Alexandra West Ward,
Silver Street, Edmonton W., London, Eng.

29th March 1916

Dear Dad:
Here I am still in my comfortable little home, and feeling pretty good, considering.  I thought I would just write you and tell you where I have been and how I got hurt.

When we first went to France, we took over our allotted share of the front line trenches and were there some time but got along pretty lucky, only lost a few men. From there we went in sort of reserve and did working parties and all extras. Then we went to _______ , France, and took over trenches. I nearly got mine here. One of the boys and myself were caught out in the open one day when the Germans started bombarding. We crawled on our stomachs to a big shell hole, while the big shells were falling all around us and shrapnel bursting and scattering like rain.  My rifle was struck and the butt split by shrapnel.  It was not two feet from me; in fact, the foresight was under my shoulder.  We were there in this hole for some time, although our feet and legs were lying in the water, but we dare not move. I was hurt near _____, on Saturday night, the 18th of March. A few of our battalion and some of the officers were taken to look over trenches and the lay of the ground before taking over the new line of trenches.  We were supposed to act as guides when our bunch went up the following morning.  It was just dusk, and the German artillery opened up on us. Three of us lay down flat in the communication trench, about ten yards from the firing line. A trench mortar alighted just a short distance from us on top ground. They are dreadful things, nearly as bad as a “coal box”, as we call the big shells. There was a pile of “mine” or “sap” timbers. One of these was thrown on my right leg.  I got up, and not considering my injuries serious, got a piece of board for a crutch and started down the communication trench, which was nearly three miles long to open “dead” ground, as the shells were sure flying around fast and furious.  I considered it no place for a man on crutches to stick around. I got about a mile out and met some fellows. They gave me a hand out the rest of the way.

Our camp was about seven miles away. I rode home and went to bed.  It was then after 11 p.m. I could not sleep, for my leg hurt so, and I felt tough from shock. Next morning, Sunday, I reported sick. The doctor was a mile away and as I could not walk over, I had to wait for him.  I thought my ankle was sprained, it was so badly swollen. By noon the doctor came and at once sent me to _______, to the dressing station. They could not tell without the X-ray what was wrong, so they put a bandage on and put me in the ambulance, and went to _________.  We got there about eleven o’clock on Sunday night, and on Monday morning at eleven we were loaded on the Red Cross train and sent to _______. They put my leg in splints, and I was glad to get out of the C.C.S., as they call it (Canadian Clearing Station). We didn’t get to _______, until late on Monday night.  I was good and tired.  They put me under the X-rays on Tuesday and found my right knee injured, ankle sprained, and fibula broken, just above the ankle. Saturday, the 25th, they loaded us on the boat at 11:30 a.m., and sent us across the Channel to Dover. We were two hours coming across, and believe me, it was rough. The boat was packed just as full of stretchers as possible.  I was in the Canadian Hospital in France, and there are a large number of Canadian nurses there. They are certainly fine – so considerate and industrious, willing to do anything possible for our comfort.  I dreaded leaving there; in fact, was very much surprised when the doctor said I was booked for “Blighty”, as we call England.  It took us over four hours to come from Dover to London, and we were not unloaded until late.  It was blowing very cold, and you can imagine how pleased I was when I saw this nice, comfortable little home. They have put me under X-rays again since coming here, and have me tied up properly now.  It has been very cold, stormy weather, but is fine now.  We are very comfortable here, such a big, bright, cheerful ward. They say it is the nicest hospital in England. The nurses are very nice, and everything is so modern and clean.  I get everything I want to eat, and always have a little pitcher of milk on the stand by my cot.  I shall be so fat by the time they let me up that my legs will not support me. We have visitors Sunday and Wednesday. They have brought me everything you can imagine – cigarettes, matches, oranges, apples, bananas, jelly custard, books, and the Canadian Red Cross have written me a nice letter from their headquarters here, and sent me candy, writing paper and magazines. There are few Canadians here, and everyone makes a line for a Canadian cot.  I have several invitations out for auto drives around London, and theatre and house parties, and all sorts of concerts, so as soon as they let me on crutches, I will have some time. The splints are so long on my leg that I can lie only on my back, and it gets very tiresome.

Well, here comes the nurse with our supper.  I am anxious not to miss a meal, so will close. Bill.

A photograph of Will and the following article was printed in the Aylmer Express, December 26, 1918:

Lieut. W. F. Bates R.A.F.

Son of Mr and Mrs B. E. Bates, enlisted on January 9th, 1915 with the 49th Edmonton Battalion and proceeded overseas on May 30th.  He accompanied his battalion to France in October and was wounded the following March.

After convalescing in England he transferred to the R.A.F. receiving his commission on Christmas day 1917. Returning to France he experienced considerable flying and is still on the Western Front.

In his last letter home Lieut. Bates tells of the thrilling experience he had the day before the armistice was signed.  He went out with his squadron and he and his observer carried 200 pounds of high explosives for a bombing raid. They had completed their work and were ready to return tot heir airdrome when their engine stopped. Immediately they were bombarded by the anti-aircraft guns by the Germans, and thought it would be necessary to make a landing on German ground, but in the nick of time were successful in starting the engine and landed safely inside the British lines. His plane was completely wrecked but the boys were thankful to escape with their lives.  The following are letters received by his parents since the armistice was signed”

“Will we never forget this day? Things have been rather quiet here, as it is such a desolate place, but to think there is no fighting going on seems almost too good to be true. Gee! How I would love to be home today. We hare having a big concert among ourselves tonight, and having a few other officers in to dinner. I am going away for a piano as soon as I finish writing this. We are too busy and excited to write much today. I may not be home for some time as we expect to be on special work several miles from here, and I have no idea how long it will last.  I will write more later on.”

Nov. 17 – Have not heard from you since writing last, but must drop you a line to let you know I am O.K. We have moved again. Landed here yesterday. My machine was loaded for a bear, as we were short of transportation for our kits and had to tie on all we dare. We landed here late and were cold from flying, but there was no way of getting warm as this aerodrome has not been used for some time. Carroll and I found some large tin cans and have made a stove today.

We again have a room to ourselves and have it fairly comfortable tonight, but have worked all day on it. We made one window out of cloth and actually have glass in the other. We spend a good deal of our time chopping and hunting wood for our stove. We have a door nailed to the wall for a table and boxes nailed to the wall with curtains in front to put our clothes in. We have no fires in the mess yet and for breakfast this morning I ware cap, overcoat and gloves, but will no doubt have some fires tomorrow.  I am glad there is no fighting now for we would nearly freeze stiff flying in this weather. It is frozen up hard but looks like rain or snow tonight. Our mail has not gone out to be posted for three days and none has come in, but we will soon be settled and find a place to post it and get our incoming mail, at least I hope so, as it is about time for more mail from you. It is just dinner time now.”

William was married in 1917 in Petersfield, Hampshire, England to Marjorie Chamberlain Clues (1891-1963), and later moved to Orillia.  An article appeared in the Aylmer Express, July 31, 1974 on the occasion of his 83rd birthday:

EX-AYLMERITE FLIES ON 83RD BIRTHDAY

Next month, as he has done for many years, Bill Bates, a native of Aylmer, expects to celebrate his birthday by taking over the controls of an aircraft.  There is nothing much unusual in this except that it will be his 83rd birthday.

He lives in Orillia and is a veteran of the First Great War in which he served in the infantry and also the Royal Flying Corps.  He is the son of Benjamin Bates and was born on the family farm on Dingle Street. After the war, he returned to Aylmer with his English bride, Marjorie.  According to Mrs. Lena M. Brown, who keeps in touch, they owned a home for two years on the site now occupied by the Dominion Store facing Sydenham St. He was an inspector for the Ontario government livestock branch at that time.

His brother, George Bates, was a vice-president of the Ford Motor Co. of Canada and is now retired in Toronto. His sister, Mrs. William (Nettie) Wood was a school teacher in Toronto and now resides in Burlington. The following story appeared in a recent edition of the Orillia Packet and Times:

The expression in the eyes of World War One veteran Bill Bates reflects the Royal Flying Corps wings proudly displayed on his blue jacket. “These other guys around here (at the Royal Canadian Legion) wear medals”, he said with a grin, “Look at this”.

He pulled three medals from his pocket, grinned, and returned them.  At 82 years of age and walking with crutches, Mr. Bates is determined to take over the controls of an airplane on his birthday in August. “You can always count on me flying on my birthday”. The man with an itch to fly over Orillia has flown every year on his birthday since his return from the war.  “They won’t let me take off or land, but I take over the controls”.

Becoming a pilot in World War one was not easy. The challenge began when he volunteered in Edmonton in 1914.  “There was no such thing as a Canadian army”, he recalled.  “We had no uniforms, no rifles and no barracks”.  “On January 7, 1915, they called me up, and put us in a cattle barn with wooden rifles and borrowed uniforms.  When I was finished my training, I went overseas with the 49th Battalion from Edmonton. Wounded in the infantry, I was asked to come back and recruit. But, I wouldn’t ask any guy to do what I went through in the infantry – I wanted to fly.”

His determination to be a World War One pilot overshadowed his lack of education. “I only went to school until I was 12 years old, and they told me it would be tough to become a pilot. I took a discharge in Canada, as there were no flying corps here, and joined the Royal Air Force in England”.

He was accepted at Oxford University where he received the “ground work” for his flying instruction. He graduated as a pilot officer with the RAF.

At the time of the amalgamation of the RAF and the Royal Navy Air Force of England, forming the RFC, Mr. Bates was sent to Belgium and France.

After the allies captured Ostand, Belgium, they moved inland toward France. “We moved further inland as the Germans retreated. We were stationed near Calais, France when the Armistice was signed.  After the Armistice was signed, we were split up. The younger fellows were sent home, and the older ones, including myself, were left behind to ferry machines inland to the dismantling depot”.

Mr. Bates returned to Canada on July 7, 1919, discharged as a pilot.  In 1921, while living in Toronto, he worked with the livestock branch of the federal government. He has also spent 10 years in the dairy business in Toronto and Orillia, and worked eight years for the Liquor Control Board before retiring 12 years ago.  Mr. Bates continues to serve as an active member of the Orillia Lions Club, and has not missed a meeting in nearly 30 years.  He joined Branch 34 of the Royal Canadian Legion when he came to Orillia 25 years ago. He belonged to the War Veterans Association in Toronto previously.

William Bates died on October 17, 1980 and is buried with his wife in Aylmer cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, October 22, 1980:

DEATHS

BATES, William Freeley, at the Orillia Soldier’s Memorial Hospital, Friday, October 17, 1980, William Bates, beloved husband of the late Marjorie Clues, in his 90th year. Loving brother of George of Toronto and the late Nettie Wood. The funeral service was held in the Crawford Chapel of the Doolittle Funeral Home, Orillia on Monday, October 20th at 10:00 a.m. Interment Aylmer Cemetery, with graveside committal Monday at 2:15 p.m. The family would appreciate donations to the Orillia Soldier’s Memorial Hospital building fund or the charity of your choice.

Benjamin Hoover Bearss

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Benjamin was born on October 19, 1895 in Malahide, the son of Burton Wilson Bearss and Olive Benner, who farmed on lot 26, concession 4 in the 1890’s, and also on lot 29, concession 4 and lot 29, concession 5 in the early 1900’s.  Burton W. Bearss (1869-1950) was born in Malahide, the son of Wilson & Mary Bearss.  He was married on February 1, 1893 in Malahide to Sarah Olive Benner (died 1947), born in Bayham, the daughter of Jacob & Mary Benner.  Burton & Olive are buried in Elmdale Cemetery, St. Thomas.

Benjamin was living in St. Thomas when he enlisted for service on June 6, 1918.  His parents were living at R.R. #6 St. Thomas at the time.

Benjamin moved to California where he died on January 28, 1978 at the age of 81, in San Bernadino.  His death record gives his date of birth as October 18, 1896.

Benjamin is found on the 1930 US census in San Bernadino, California, with his wife Thirza, whom he married about 1927.  The census states he emigrated to the United States in 1922.  His occupation is given as a real estate broker.  A death record was found for a Thirza Stevens Bearss (born Nov. 12, 1906 in California), on June 29, 1979 in San Bernadino.

Reference to Benjamin in California was found in a newspaper article in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, October 13, 1926:

THOMAS BOY DOES WELL IN CALIFORNIA

Benj. Bearss In Money Making Real Estate Business With Another Canadian

Editor, Times-Journal: Sir, – I am a Haligonian and interested in Canadians in the United States.   I just ran across a bright St. Thomas boy who is making his mark in this new West California, Benjamin H. Bearss.  I find him associated with an older man in an active real estate subdivision enterprise with offices in Los Angeles and fifty miles east to Fontana and San Bernadino.  Tourists are flocking into this state by the thousands and climatic conditions and productiveness everywhere allure them to remain, and these two hustling Canadians, to use the vernacular, are “getting theirs”.  C. H. Archibald, the other partner, is a Nova Scotian and lived in New York many years, being actively engaged in the practice of medicine, and only recently migrating to California.  Their land sells for $1,000 per acre and up on county boulevards, and the figures for city property simply stagger one.  Archibald is a retired New York physician, and in telling me the story said he picked young Bearss in St. Thomas as having all the qualifications for a winner, and during their two years of activity they have handled hundreds of acres, city lots and houses, totalling figures over six in number.  A profit of $6,000 cash was just made to this firm in a ten acre sale – in which they had an option at a fixed price and they reaped this profit over and above the seller’s price legitimately.  This is a common occurrence, it would seem, in this line of work. California is a great state and will later house and support 50,000,000 people, while little less than 4,000,000 are here now. I am touring in California and Western Canada and where I meet progressive Canadians, I feel constrained to drop a line to their home town.

Yours very truly, Charles Harvey, Hollywood, Cal., Oct. 9, 1926.

William Roy Beaufore

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The name Roy Beaufor is found on an Honor Roll unveiled at the Aylmer High School on May 23, 1918, listing students and former students who served overseas.

Roy Beaufore was born on October 18, 1887 in St. Thomas, the son of Peter Beaufore & Hannah Caroline Smith (1854-1889). Peter was born in Dunwich Township, the son of Peter Beaufore & Louisa Crusoe, and was a locomotive engineer.  He was married to Hannah Smith, daughter of Squire & Eliza Jane Smith in Fingal on June 30, 1874.  The family is found on the 1891 census in St. Thomas.  Following Hannah’s death, Peter was remarried to Annie Symonds, and moved to Malahide where they are found on the 1901 census.

Roy was a brakeman living in Stratford when he enlisted there for service on February 9, 1916.  He names his next of kin as his wife, Irene, of the Brunswick Hotel, London.  He had served two years in the 1st Hussars, London.

Roy had lived in the United States from about 1906 to 1916. He is found on the 1910 census in Detroit with his wife Evelyn, where he is employed as an assembler in an auto plant.  Border crossing records show his passage from Canada to Buffalo in 1918.

No further information can be found.

Richmond Beck

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Richmond Beck was born on July 25, 1886 at Burgessville in North Norwich Township, Oxford County, the son of George Beck & Clara Ann McDonald (1861-1942).  George was born in Windham Township, Norfolk County, the son of Michael & Margaret Beck, and was farming there when he was married on December 25, 1879 in Delhi to Clara McDonald, a native of Dereham living in Burgessville, the daughter of John Smith McDonald & Mary Ellsworth.  It is not known what became of George, but Clara and two children, Richmond & Olive May are living in Malahide on the 1901 census.  By 1911, Clara is a widow living alone in Malahide.  She is buried in Springfield cemetery.

Richmond Beck was living in Searchmont, Ontario, which is in Hodgins Township, Algoma District, when he enlisted for service on April 12, 1916 in Sault Ste. Marie. He was a labourer and was not married.  He names his next of kin as his mother, Clara, of Springfield.

Richmond returned from overseas in 1918, arriving in Halifax on December 14. He was a member of the 119th Battalion.

When his mother died in 1942, Richmond was living in Springfield.  However, he returned to the Sault Ste. Marie area where he died about 1974.  He spent most of his live as a trapper in the wilderness near Sault Ste. Marie.  When he died at the age of 87, he left his estate worth $180,000 as a trust fund to East Elgin Secondary School. Scholarships from the “Richmond Beck Scholarship Fund” are given annually to students graduating from E.E.S.S. who have qualified to enter university or other schools of higher learning with preference given to students from Springfield Public School.

There is a Richmond R. (Bob) Beck buried in Greenwood (West) cemetery, Sault Ste. Marie.

Henry H. Beech 

Henry Beech was born in Lancaster, Lancashire, England on November 11, 1900, the son of Henry Beech & Margaret Taylor. The family is found on the 1901 census in Lancaster, Lancashire.   It is not known if he served in the war in England or Canada.  He moved to Malahide Township in 1922.  He was married in 1929 to Ula Fay Schram (1911-2008), daughter of Albert Schram & Wilhelmina Andrews.  He died on May 26, 1973 and is buried in Aylmer Cemetery.  In addition to the family monument, a footstone bearing the following inscription marks his resting place:

“Henry H. Beech, W.O. #1 R.C.E.M.E. 26 May 1973 age 72″

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, May 30, 1973:

HENRY BEECH

A funeral service was conducted in Trinity Anglican Church by Rev. Robert Mills on Tuesday afternoon of this week for Henry Beech of RR 2 Aylmer, who died Saturday at Westminster Hospital, London. Burial was in Aylmer cemetery.

Mr. Beech was in his 73rd year. A resident of Malahide Township since 1922, he was a member of the Trinity Church and Col. Talbot Br. 81 of the Royal Canadian Legion, having served in the First and Second World Wars.  Mr. Beech was also a member of the Port Stanley Yacht Club.

Mr. Beech, whose wife is the former Ula May Schram, survives with two sons, Harry of Mississauga and Melvin of RR 6 Aylmer; a sister, Mrs. Max (Lorene) Brown [should be Bowen], RR 6 Aylmer; two brothers, Stanley and Thomas, both of Toronto; ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. 

Members of Branch 81 conducted a Legion memorial service Monday night at the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home where the body rested.

Lloyd Arthur Beecroft

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photo courtesy of Elgin County Archives

Lloyd Beecroft (also spelled Beecraft), was born on June 14, 1896 in South Walsingham Township, Norfolk County, the son of Hubert Beecraft (1855-1920) & Sarah Jennings.  Lloyd’s birth registration gives his middle name as “Alfred”, but both his attestation paper and marriage registration say “Arthur”.  Hubert died in Port Burwell and is buried in St. Luke’s cemetery, Vienna (no marker).

Lloyd was a carpenter living with his parents at RR #1 Vienna when he enlisted for service on February 3, 1916 in St. Thomas with the 91st Battalion.  He was transferred to the 38th Battalion in France in August 1916, and was wounded on April 9, 1917. He was invalided to England on April 21, 1917.

The Aylmer Express of April 26, 1917 reports that Pte. L. A. Beecroft of Vienna had been wounded.  His return from overseas was reported in the Aylmer Express, December 13, 1917, in the Lakeview news column:

“Pte. Lloyd Beecroft, who has recently returned to his home in Pt. Burwell from an English hospital, where he spent many weeks suffering from a terrible wound in the head, spent Saturday at the home of Mr. B. Smith here.”

Following the war, he moved to Guelph where he was married on September 17, 1919 to V. Emeline (Emma) Chisholm, a native of Belleville living in Guelph, the daughter of William Chisholm & Lillie Jones.

Lloyd died in December 1972 and is buried with his wife Emma in Woodlawn Cemetery, Guelph. [interrred Dec. 11]

Rev. William Archibald Beecroft

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William Beecroft was born on September 21, 1885 at Woodville, Eldon Township, Victoria County, the son of William James Beecroft & Isabella Carmichael.  He became a minister in the Presbyterian church, and was living in Kingston when he was married there on September 18, 1913 to Jessie May Reid, also of Kingston, the daughter of Frederick & Georgina Reid.

They moved to Aylmer, where Rev. Beecroft was minister at Knox Presbyterian church from 1914 to 1916. He enlisted for service on May 24, 1916 in Guelph. He had served as a Corporal in the 30th Battery, C.F.A., in Aylmer.

An article about his enlistment appeared in the Aylmer Express, April 20, 1916:

REV. W. A. BEECROFT WILL ENLIST

The Popular and Efficient Pastor of Knox Church to Join the Colors as a Private

In addressing his congregation on Sunday evening last, Rev. W. A. Beecroft, pastor of Knox Church here, announced that after thought and consideration he had definitely decided to enlist for overseas service.  He expressed his regret at severing his connection with the Aylmer and Springfield churches, but his duty, as he saw it, was plain.

While his desire for some time past had been great to do his “bit” for his King and Country, he had hoped that the urgent call for recruits would be answered sufficiently by young men without responsibilities. The young men were not going, however, and he felt the need so keenly that he could not longer delay in offering his services.

While his congregation, and our citizens in general, will regret to have this brilliant young divine leave Aylmer, all must admire his loyalty and courage in making the sacrifice, especially so from the fact that he is enlisting as a private, with no thought of a position as a chaplain or officer. He is showing the spirit of true patriotism, by offering himself for any service where he can be used to advantage, and men of this stamp cannot be defeated.

We trust he may go through the struggle uninjured. Men of this kind cannot well be spared.

A letter from Rev. Beecroft was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 21, 1916:

LETTER TO JOHN KAISER FROM GR. W. A. BEECROFT

Dear Friend –

You will be surprised when I tell you that I have met your two nephews Bert and Don McKenzie. They are in my own battery, taking an officer’s course here. First time we met at the Y.M.C.A. in Shorncliffe and walked home together. They are not quartered in huts as the rest of us but are living very comfortably in private quarters in Sandgate, 15 minutes walk from here. I was certainly glad to meet them. They had news of so many of Queen’s men. They are both looking fit and enjoying themselves here. They asked me to remember them to you for as soon as I met them I said I was going to write to you.

I have been here for two weeks now. We had 10 days of fine September like weather; now we are getting the real English weather, raw, rainy, and we are glad to get close up to the coal stoves.

I am in a sheet iron hut along with 30 other fellows. We have good cots, food is plain soldiers’ fare, but a good appetite is a good sauce. I often recall Aylmer, the people there and my pleasant experience while there, and I assure you I will be glad when this hard job is over and I am free to return to my real work.

I hope you are in good health now, ready for the winter. Remember me to others in your household.

Sincerely, W. A. Beecroft

The National Archives of Canada shows in their index of Rev. Beecroft’s attestation paper, that his rank was Lieutenant. Passenger lists show a Lieut. Beecroft returning from overseas on May 9, 1919.

Gillespie Hardwick Beemer

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Gillespie Beemer was born on September 23, 1893 in Aylmer, the son of Seth Abraham Beemer (1852-1939) & Ida Belle Hardwick (1860-1940). Seth was born in Aylmer, the son of Bradford Beemer & Eliza Martha Davis.  He emigrated to the United States and married Ida, who was born in Iowa, the daughter of John Hardwick & Martha Ann Scott. Several children were born to them in Illinois, before they returned to Canada.  They found on the 1901 census in Aylmer, where Seth was a labourer in the canning factory. By 1911, they had moved to Winnipeg, where they were living at 791 Portage Street.  Seth was working as an electrician. Seth died in 1939 in Denver, Colorado.  His wife moved to California, where she died in Los Angeles in 1940.

Gillespie was living with his parents at 297 Aubery St., Winnipeg when he enlisted for service on October 20, 1916 in Victoria, B.C.  He was also an electrician, and was not married. He returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on July 28.  

Gillespie was married in 1926 to Genevieve Bayer (1887-1962).  He died on April 29, 1982 in Capistrano Beach, Orange County, California.

Charles Bell

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The name Charles Bell appears on the Springfield Honor Roll.  It is believed this man is the Charles Bell who is found on the 1911 Malahide township census, born April 1894 in England, emigrated in 1910, and living with Henry & Ada Young.

Charles emigrated to Canada as a “home boy” at the age of 15, leaving Liverpool on May 28, 1910 on the ship Sicilian, arriving in Quebec on June 10, 1910.  He was from Dr. Barnardo’s home.

An attestation paper was found for a Charles Bell, #491131, who was born in London, England on April 15, 1894.  He enlisted for service on January 11, 1915 in St. Thomas with the 33rd Battalion.  He had served two years in the 25th Regiment.  He was a driver and was not married.  His address is not given, but he names his next of kin as Fred Bowers, a friend, of Manitoba Street, St. Thomas.

No further information is known.

Arthur Lee Benner

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Arthur Benner was born on March 14, 1899 in Malahide, the son of Thomas Ward Benner (1853-1927) and Mary Catherine Woolley.  Thomas Benner, the son of John Benner & Eliza Pound, was married in Malahide on December 7, 1881 to Mary Woolley, the daughter of Nelson & Martha.  Arthur’s brother Murray Benner was killed in action in France on September 4, 1918. Another brother, Frank, also served during the war, in Egypt.  Thomas & Mary are buried in Luton cemetery.

Arthur was a farmer living at R.R. #1 Aylmer when he enlisted for service on June 11, 1918 in London.  He entered training with “A’ Company, 1st Depot Battalion, Carling Heights, London in June 1918. He then became a cadet with the Royal Air Force in Toronto, training at Jesse Ketchum School in Toronto.  By October 1918 he was training at Camp Rathburn with the 85th Squadron, 42nd Wing, and in November 1918 at Camp Mohawk, Deseronto, Ontario.

He was married on April 19, 1924 in Aylmer to Cora Mae Laur (1898-1969), the daughter of Melvin Laur & Nancy Summers. 

During World War II, he was commissioned as captain in the Aylmer Branch of the Elgin Regiment, the Headquarters being in St. Thomas. They trained in a hall in Aylmer and during the summer attended tent camps for training near Chatham. 

Arthur died on May 24, 1973 and is buried with Cora in Richmond West Cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, May 30, 1973:

ARTHUR BENNER

The Rev. Norman Jones of St. Paul’s United Church and Mr. Alfred Bowden of Richmond United Church conducted services Monday afternoon at the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home here for Arthur Benner, of RR 1 Aylmer who died Thursday in St Thomas Memorial Hospital.  Burial was in Richmond Cemetery.

Mr. Benner was one of the best known citizens of Malahide Township. He was born there and was in his 75th year.  An active man, Mr. Benner was a long time member of Richmond United Church, a general farmer for years, and an agent for State Farm Insurance.

Active for years as a director of the Aylmer Fair Board; a past president of the Aylmer Rotary Club, a director of the North and South Dorchester Mutual Insurance Company, a past master of Malahide Lodge No. 140 A.F. and A.M.; a member of London Lodge of Perfection, London Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix, a Royal Arch Mason and a past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Mr. Benner was predeceased by his first wife, Cora Mae Laur who died in 1969.  Surviving are his second wife, the former Cressa Flota (Woolley) and two sons, Frank of Tillsonburg and Keith, RR 1 Aylmer; a step-son, Max Woolley of Brownsville; two step-daughters, Mrs. Leslie (Doreen) Cowan of Brownsville and Mrs. Robert (Marie) Spindler, London; a brother, Ward Benner, RR 1 Aylmer, and seven grandchildren.

The pallbearers were Don Kipp, Ward Dickhout, David Fleming, Leon Carter, James Wright and Cecil Ball. The floral tributes were carried by Jesse VanPatter, Spencer McConnell, Max Mitchell, Max Woolley and Derek Eckersly.  Relatives and friends attended from London, Tillsonburg, Flint, Mich., Woodstock, Toronto, Belmont, Otterville, St. Thomas, Simcoe, Saginaw, Mich., Brownsville, Aylmer and district.

Bruce Lapeer Benner

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Bruce Lapeer Benner was born on May 13, 1897 in Aylmer, the son of John W. Benner (1862-1939) & Elsie Jane Smith (1865-1947).  John Benner was the son of Augustus Benner & Sarah Belcher.  He and Elsie are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Bruce Benner was a farmer living at R. R. #4 Aylmer when he enlisted for service on May 15, 1918 in London.

He was a machinist living in Aylmer when he was married on September 12, 1922 in Port Stanley to Anna Lela Dadson (1900-1983), daughter of Frank & Lizzie Dadson.  She was born in Southwold, but was living in Aylmer at the time of their marriage.

Bruce died on December 17, 1967 and is buried in Aylmer cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, December 19, 1967:

BRUCE BENNER

A well-known citizen of Aylmer and a lifelong resident, Bruce Benner, 70, died Sunday afternoon in St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital. His home was at 347 Talbot St. East.  He had been ill for some time.

Mr. Benner was the son of the late John Benner and Elsie Smith. He was a machinist by trade and had worked for the Canadian Canners Ltd. here for 20 years before he operated his own machine shop on his Talbot Street property.  Mr. Benner was an adherent of the Aylmer Baptist Church and a member of Malahide Lodge No. 140, A.F. & A.M.

Surviving are his wife, the former Lela Dadson; one daughter, Barbara, at home; a sister, Mrs. Aura Keillor of Aylmer and a number of nieces and nephews. Service will be conducted by the Rev. Fred Jillard of the Aylmer Baptist Church at the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Burial in Aylmer Cemetery.

Dr. Frank Aubrey Benner 

The name Captain Frank Bennett, M.D. is found on an Honor Roll unveiled at the Aylmer High School on May 23, 1918, listing students and former students who served overseas.  The surname Bennett is believed to be an error, and should actually be Benner.

Frank Aubrey Benner was born on August 8, 1884 in Malahide, the son of Thomas Ward Benner (1853-1927) & Mary Catherine Woolley (1863-1939).  Thomas was the son of John Benner & Eliza Pound, and was farming in Malahide when he was married there on December 7, 1881 to Mary Catherine Woolley, also of Malahide, the daughter of Nelson & Martha Woolley.  Thomas & Mary are buried in Luton cemetery.

No attestation paper can be found for Dr. Benner, and it is believed he may have enlisted in England.  His brother Murray Benner was killed in action on September 4, 1918, and in the notice of his death in the Aylmer Express, it states that his brother, Dr. Frank Benner, now of Winnipeg, had recently returned from service in Egypt.

Dr. Benner lost his lower leg under a train heading west to the Saskatchewan wheat fields.  He graduated from McGill University in Montreal with a medical degree.  During the first years of the war, he served on troop ships throughout the Mediterranean Sea delivering fresh and returning wounded soldiers to and from England.  He treated returning injured soldiers in Dublin, Ireland and later in a military hospital in London, England.  He also served in Egypt, treating Palestine front casualties in a British Red Cross Hospital in Giza. 

Dr. Benner’s name is found in a list of British medals awarded.  He received a Victory Medal as a surgeon in the Naval Transport Service during 1915 and 1916. His regiment was the British Red Cross Society & Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

A photo of Dr. Benner with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Dr. F. A. Benner, a son of Mr and Mrs F. W. Benner of Malahide, spent a year aboard a troopship as surgeon and made several trips to the Dardanelles, Egypt and other eastern points. He has had some exciting experiences since the war started”.

A letter to the Editor from Dr. Benner was published in the Aylmer Express, November 18, 1915:

FRANK A. BENNER IS MEDICAL OFFICER ABOARD THE TRANSPORT SHIP

“THE EMPRESS OF BRITAIN”

Dr. Benner is a son of Mr and Mrs Thos. Benner, of Malahide, and Has Been to the Dardanelles

H.M.T. Empress of Britain, Liverpool, Oct. 12, 1915

To the Editor of the Express:

Dear Sir:

It is I think my duty that I should acquaint the many friends in Aylmer and vicinity of a few of my experiences since I left them last July to do my bit in this world war. Hence I am writing to you, as through the columns of your valuable paper I can reach the vast majority of my home friends.  You must not, however, feel yourself to be under any obligation to publish this, which will probably be a rather rambling account, but you may either publish it in its entirety or any part of it, or perhaps do the safest thing by disposing of it in the rubbish basket.

After a slow and uneventful trip across the Atlantic in the S.S. Montfort, we arrived at Avonmount, the port of Bristol.  Here I spent several days, then went to London for a few days, where I met an old classmate who had just returned from the front in France where he had been working under the R.A.M.C. since the first British troops landed in that country. This officer, Capt. Lockwood and another classmate, Capt. Hepburn, were taking post graduate work in Berlin when the war broke out and were unable to leave that place for ten days thereafter. I would like to give you an account of their adventures and experiences before they reached Holland but as I am writing of my own experiences I must not begin by telling of the adventures of another – adventures that would put to shame those described by Henty of his famous heros.  While in London I received a telegram asking if I would take the position of Medical Officer on this transport and of course immediately accepted.  Another wire asked me to come to Liverpool at once as the boat was ready to sail at midnight. So I came and have been with the transport since and will probably remain until the end of the war.

We left Liverpool without troops but called at Plymouth and Devonport for them.  I was interested in seeing this place because it was here you remember, that our first Canadian Contingent landed. After two days we started on our voyage to the Dardanelles.  We had aboard approximately five thousand men as follows: 4400 troops, 123 officers, and a crew of 400. There were soldiers everywhere. They slept in the alleys, on all decks, in the life boats, on tables, under tables and over tables in hammocks.  We could not take a stroll on deck at night else we would tread on arms, legs or faces.  However, we were blessed all the way with a calm sea and had no seasickness, a fact appreciated by all, but particularly by the medical men aboard, of whom there are four others. Although the ship was so crowded the soldiers were drilled and had physical exercise daily, besides accommodation was provided on deck for bathing (in a huge bath made from canvas) and concerts, boxing, wrestling, tug of war, pillow fights, cock fights, etc. were arranged to while away the time.

Had we been unfortunate enough to have met with a mishap there would undoubtedly have been great rejoicing in Germany. One can hardly imagine to what extent they would have celebrated as the children were given a half holiday to rejoice over the sinking of the Lusitania and its 1200 men, women and children (neutrals and non-combatants). Surely had we met such a fate they would have honored us with a week of cheer as we were all combatants and no neutrals aboard; and moreover legitimate prey. But legitimate work does not greatly impress the Hun in war time. However, we took precautions to avoid becoming a prey to submarines.  At night the ship was kept in absolute darkness, no smoking being allowed on deck. A guard of about 150 armed men were constantly on watch from the boat deck and elsewhere. For defensive purposes there is a fine type of 6-inch naval gun mounted at the stern. This gun was always in readiness and the naval gunners aboard were available at a moment’s notice.  To give us all confidence we had some gun practice one day. We threw over a barrel and while it was bobbing about on the waves at a distance of 1,000 yards one of the gunners was able to knock it to bits. Then in the stoke hold the firemen and trimmers were kept up to full strength so that as much speed could be obtained as possible. Another precautionary measure was to pass Gibraltar at night, so that we could not be seen by any enemy lurking about the Spanish coast. Also the ship took a zigzag course nearly all the time.

Our first stop was at Valetta, the capital of the Malta Islands. This is a quaint city, built on very high ground. From it one gets a beautiful view of the harbor and shipping, of the forts about and beyond the Mediterranean.  I only intend to mention one or two of the many things that appeared to me strange for the streets of a big city, and of these goats come first.  These things have the right of way in the streets. Everyone steps aside to let them pass, not because the goat is particularly reverenced, but it is particularly respected on account of it being the host of fleas.  These goats are milked at your door or (as I have seen) in the kitchen, hence fresh and unadulterated milk is the only kind peddled in Malta.  I may say in passing that the use of goat’s milk is prohibited to all except natives. Several years ago it was definitely proven by a commission appointed by the British Medical Association that goat’s milk was practically the sole cause of Malta or Mediterranean Fever, a disease that one seldom sees nowadays.  Another interesting observation was the street life. The streets are narrow, only fairly clean, and some of them are merely long stairways.  Here the people live, that is, they sit outside their doors, visiting, eating, and even curling up and sleeping on the sidewalk. Men and women go barefoot, the women wear a peculiar block headgear, and they all are beggars, even to the kiddie learning its first steps.

At Malta I met several friends, nurses working with the Red Cross Society.  They are doing an excellent work. I was quite surprised to find so many colonial nurses there, not only from Canada, but also from New Zealand and Australia.  I had occasion to visit a large Roman Catholic hospital and there I found the Mother Superior to be – as she put it – “another blooming colonial” – an Australian.

Our destination was Mudros, the name of the harbor and the naval and military base on the Island of Lemnos.  It was indeed a wonderful sight that spread out before us, as we steamed to our anchorage. There being no docks or wharfs, all the vessels have to be anchored in mid harbor. There seemed to be hundreds of them – boats of every description, troopers’ supply boats, repair boats, hospital ships, etc., from such well known liners as the Acquitania and Mauritania down to river boats, motor boats and row boats, and all manner of warships from a dreadnought to a submarine of the British and French fleets, also one Russian cruiser.  About the shore were camped thousands of soldiers and here also were several base hospitals including Nos. 1 and 3, Canadian Base Hospital. Entirely surrounding the harbor are high hills, some are mountains. The country itself is quite barren, no trees growing except in the little villages.  These one learns to pick out after a time, but at first I thought the place barren and uninhabited.  We remained at Mudros a week during which time I am sure 3500 troops arrived. They came daily in ship loads of 1800 to 3000, some days four or more such ships came in. One boat, the Southland, just ahead of us a few hours, was torpedoed, but managed to reach the harbor where she beached.  About sixty were killed, chiefly in the stoke hold, although some of the soldiers who were sitting on the hatches were also killed.  I had an opportunity of going aboard this boat several times as our Captain was a relative of the 1st officer of the Southland.  It was interesting to hear the account of the affair, and the officers gave great credit to the troops for their splendid behaviour. The troops were Australians who were coming from Alexandria. Although there was a hole 32 X 20 feet in her port bow, all beneath the water line, her water tight doors held and prevented the immediate sinking.  On two occasions when I visited the ship I saw them taking off bodies that the divers had recovered from the hold.  It made one feel thankful that a similar fate had not befallen us.

I visited the Canadian hospitals and there I found a great many old friends, classmates, teachers and nurses who had graduated or trained at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal or at the General Hospital in Winnipeg during the time I was connected with these institutions.  I was made most welcome by my old friends and spent the afternoon at their hospitals and recreation rooms, where we had several snaps taken as souvenirs of the occasion. One circumstance marred the pleasure of the day. One of the Canadian nurses, a Miss Muro, of Toronto, had died the night previously and was buried that afternoon. At the time I arrived the funeral procession was about a mile away. An Australian captain (two Australian hospitals were near by) offered to take me to the burial in a motor ambulance so I went. After the service this same officer sent the motor to bring me back, a courtesy that was sincerely appreciated.

Before leaving Mudros, which we did at dusk, we had the cheering news that the Mauritania, which sailed the other night before, had just managed to get out of the way of a torpedo fired at her.  However, we were fortunate to miss such an adventure and returned to Malta without mishap.  Here we stayed four days coaling and storing for a thirty days’ trip.  Just where we were then slated for I do not know, but to our disappointment on the fourth day we were ordered home. We stopped at Gibraltar for an hour, where we received sailing orders. About all once can see of “Gib” is a rock, although on close observation with the aid of marine glasses, one can see guns sticking their noses out in all directions.

On the return trip I brought back a number of wounded. They were all glad to get home but would have preferred to stay until “the game is finished”.  One chap, who had nine bullet wounds was particularly hopeful of getting back eventually.  He was only a lad of eighteen but had cause enough to seek vengeance, for his father and six uncles have already been killed.  He had hoped to account for twenty of the enemy before they “got”him, and was therefore quite disconsolate at going home with only eleven to his credit, five of which he had bayoneted during the various bayonet charges in which he had taken part.  I thought at the time that if Kitchener could get a supply of such inspired men the result of the war could not be in doubt even though our enemies were twice as numerous. All these fellows spoke most highly of the Turk, whom they describe as “splendid fellows, fine soldiers, and darn good shots”.

After our return to Liverpool I went to London for a few days where I visited as many of the interesting places as I could.  I then returned to the boat expecting to sail at once, but evidently the Balkan crisis, or for some other reason our sailing was delayed and we lay at anchor in the Mersey.  On Thursday night last our ship was discovered to be afire, and in spite of our best efforts we were unable to control the flames until the Liverpool and Birkenhead fire brigades came on tugs to our assistance.  Considerable damage was done, but it is being rapidly repaired and we expect to soon again start on another voyage with troops, but we do not know to what destination.

I beg to remain, yours very truly, Frank A. Benner.

Another letter from Frank to his parents was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, August 31, 1916:

NEWSY LETTER FROM DR. BENNER

A very excellent letter has been received by Mr and Mrs Thomas Benner, from their son, Dr. F. A. Benner, who has been engaged in the British Transport Service for some months. He is doing hospital work in Ireland. The letter is newsy and bright and takes note of many things of which Canadians are curious to know.

Dear Mother and All –

You have no doubt been anxiously awaiting a cable from me regarding the commission I wrote to you about from Halifax. Well I have been here four days now and so far I can’t make head nor tail out of it – however, General Jones will give me a definite answer tomorrow – so he promised.  It is one thing or the other tomorrow in my case – because if they want me they can say so without keeping me here on expense for several days. I told him yesterday that perhaps we had best not bother any more about it – but he didn’t seem quite content to let it drop at that. Oh well, if it doesn’t go through I’ll try to get a few months special work and then back to Canada, it’s good enough for me.

Well what do you think of the news during the last week?  I am not sure whether or not we have won a naval battle – the only thing that makes one believe that we did is that the Germans ran and our fleet chased them. I don’t quite see how the Germans can have the gall to try to convince the world that the victory was theirs – yet they certainly did give our fleet a warm time. If the news reports that we have received during the last two days are true the Germans suffered as much as did the British fleet- which if true means that their percentage of loss is much higher than ours. But I for one can make little out of it. One time some on said that “all men are liars” – it may be true – anyway all newspaper and war reports are chiefly wonderful for their lies.

Then yesterday came the news of Kitchener’s death. Of course everyone was somewhat shocked – but there was no excitement. They all felt that the country had lost its one big man – but it would take more than that to rouse these English. There was no more interest shown in Kitchener’s death or in the report of the naval scrap than in a horse race.

You’ll not be sorry to know that I am off the sea – for good too. It’s no life at all: for nine months I have but very little to do and in a time like this there is much to be done. I don’t know how things would have turned out about leaving the ship had not the Admiralty made some change in the rate of pay to transports.

Yesterday I met one of our Winnipeg doctors here in London. He has been at the front for several months. His wife is a nurse and is with him here. She was out at the Dardanelles and I met her there. Another chap – a house surgeon at the W.G.H. when I went there, Haight by name – has just been killed in France. I knew him pretty well – he was a very decent chap. Also yesterday I met Miss Clint, late of the R.V.H., late of the Dardenelles and late of Cairo. Poor girl is in pretty bad shape – got blood poisoning at the Dardenelles and has been laid up since Jan. 15th.  She can hardly walk about even now – and I greatly fear her nursing days are over. She expects to return to Canada very shortly. Yesterday I also met another old R.V.H. friend – a Miss Bryce – she just came over.

Late yesterday p.m. I took a trip up the Thames as far as Richmond.  It is a beautiful trip – and Richmond is about the most beautiful spot I have ever seen. The view from the terrace there is magnificent. I met a Canadian soldier on the way back – a boy from New Brunswick, so that helped to break the monotony.

Now as I am out of the transport, I can tell you of some exciting events that I didn’t want to mention before because you would have worried too much. You see I know you pretty well – and I know how you worry over everything that you possibly can, so I concluded that some little adventures of ours would be best if kept from you for a time. Our “hottest” time was on our last trip from England to the Mediterranean – the time we went to Pt. Said. Just before reaching Malta we had our first excitement. It was at 12:30 just past midnight on December 14th. The chief engineer, purser and myself were in the purser’s office having a fine game of cards. The night was as black as anything you can imagine but calm and the sea smooth. We were hitting about eighteen knots an hour (that is between 21 and 22 miles). Well there was suddenly three sharp blasts of a whistle (not ours) but very close. Then ours gave three sharp blasts and we knew there was something doing. At the same time our boat shook so that it rattled – this was the engines reversing and going full speed astern, and then almost at once there came a smash which was a collision. All this happened in less time than it takes you to read this account. As soon as we heard the first three blasts we knew that something was wrong so we sprang out of the office. The soldiers heard it too and thought something was wrong but they misinterpreted the three blasts for three of the siren (the latter is to man the lifeboats) so they were starting to run upstairs. It looked for a moment as though there might be a panic – so I called to the men to keep their places and await orders, that nothing serious had happened. I felt sure of that for it felt more like us bumping the other fellow than being bumped ourselves. But you mustn’t think that I wasn’t scared! I only hope I didn’t look it!  Anyway the men behaved splendidly, they simply said, “All right, sir!” and stood in their places. I went up on the bridge and there learned that we had struck another boat almost amidships and that she was sinking just off our bow. But was so dark that I couldn’t really see her.  Of course we had to stop and show lights and rescue the survivors – although we should have gone on, because we had 5,000 troops on board and we were right in the submarine area about Malta.  Well we got the crowd from the unfortunate boat on board – there were sixty-three, amongst them being two women, the wife of the French minister at Athens, a Mde. Guilliman, and her maid. Two were lost by the collision which practically cut the lost boat in two. This boat was the “D’jurjura”, a French transport, but fortunately she was returning from Salonika quite empty of troops. Mde. Guilliman was indeed most heroic. She was the first to land on our boat – and to get there meant climbing up forty feet of rope ladder hung over the ship’s side. This is not a nice thing to do at any time but in mid-ocean with the ever present swell rocking the ladder it becomes a real sailor’s job. I’ve had to do it in port a few times and so know it is no snap. When the lady got nearly to the top of the ladder she called out in English to ask if we were a British ship. She seemed quite relieved to hear that we were – then when she got on board she laughingly said “Well, I didn’t expect to be in England so soon”.  I had the pleasure of giving up my room to these women, and when we arrived at Malta and disembarked them the same day at five p.m. Mde. Guilliman made me a present of a fine scarf. It will make a fine memento of the occasion. It has taken me a long time to describe this affair. One of the negro cooks on the “D’jurjura” describes it from the standpoint in a much shorter and better way, viz: “Bang, hit in the middle, one end go up, this end go down, git in the life boats – ship sink”.

After a couple of days in Malta getting some patches on our bow (we didn’t get off free but had several holes, cracked plates and a twisted nose) we proceeded to Alexandria, but the excitement wasn’t yet over. On the morning of December 18th we got warning of submarines ahead, so we changed our course. Either the subs were warned of our movements or anticipated them, because at three p.m. we found ourselves in a regular ambush of them. The first one we saw came to the surface about three miles away. We had a couple shots at him, then he went below. While we were watching this fellow on the starboard a couple more came up on our port, but fortunately were a little astern of us. I was on the bridge at the time, and saw one of these two first. I reported it but the 1st officer said “Oh, Doc, don’t you go seeing things too!”  I said I had just seen a submarine astern and following us and for him to keep his eyes open and he would soon see it too. I guess I was a little “peevish” about it, but fortunately two of the staff officers came up just then from aft and reported it too – and almost at once Mr. Periscope again came above water – the other sub was still farther to port, but both were chasing us and trying to get in a position to fire a torpedo and that was the reason they were poking their periscopes above water every few moments. Of course we stopped zigzagging and hiked. Two torpedoes were fired but passed astern. We got to Alexandria and only stayed a few hours, then on to Pt. Said. The same morning we reached Pt. Said,  the Japanese Urania boat had just been torpedoed in the course we had just been on, and we saw her survivors being brought in to Pt. Said. We were certainly glad to get that bunch of troops safely on shore.

During the evacuation of the Dardanelles we had several experiences less interesting than the ones I have related but I’ll leave this for some other time. Am feeling as fine as silk, but am wondering what I’ll be doing next week. However, you will get a cable from me tomorrow. Best love to all,
FRANK 

Dr. Benner returned from overseas on July 1, 1918, arriving in Quebec.  He moved to Winnipeg, where he was married on February 15, 1921 to Margaret S. Davidson, daughter of James Davidson of Winnipeg. 

Dr. Benner died on June 20, 1963 in St. Thomas. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, London.  His obituary from an undated clipping follows:

FRANK BENNER DIES IN HOSPITAL

AYLMER – Dr. Frank Benner, 8 Elgin Street, died in St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Thursday evening after a lengthy illness.  Born in Malahide Township,78 years ago, he was a son of the late Thomas Ward Benner and Mary Catharine Woolley. He was medical superintendent of Grace Hospital, Winnipeg, for 18 years prior to his retirement. It was 11 years ago that he came to live in Aylmer.

Mr. Benner graduated from McGill University in 1910 and served as a surgeon with the Royal British Navy during World War I.  He was a member of St. Paul’s United Church. Dr. Benner had been an active member of the Rotary Club in Winnipeg and had also been a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Royal Canadian Legion branch there.

He is survived by his wife, the former Margaret Davidson; one daughter, Mrs. Derek (Kathleen) Eckersley, of Waterloo; three brothers, Fred, Ward and Arthur, all of Aylmer; and one grandchild, Peter Eckersley.

Resting at the James H. Barnum Funeral Home, where service will be held on Saturday afternoon at 1 o’clock. Rev. J. Allan Logan, of St. Paul’s United Church, will conduct the ceremony and interment will be made in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, London.

Victor Harley Bennett

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Victor Bennett was born on May 22, 1897 in Bayham, the son of Thomas Atkinson Bennett (1855-1935) & Emily Amelia Hiepleh (1857-1930). Thomas was born in Middleton Township, Norfolk County, the son of Richard & Mary Bennett, and was farming in Bayham when he was married on March 5, 1890 in Middleton to Amelia Hiepleh, a native of Flamborough living in Middleton, the daughter of Christian & Catherine Hiepleh.  They lived at lot 4, concession 1, Bayham, and are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Victor was a farmer living at RR #1 Port Burwell when he enlisted for service on May 17, 1918 in London.

Victor died on September 20, 1953 and is buried with his parents in Aylmer cemetery. His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, September 21, 1953:

VICTOR H. BENNETT, DIES IN 57TH YEAR

AYLMER – A lifelong resident of this district, Victor Herbert Bennett, brother of Mrs. Harley Evert, RR 6 Aylmer, died Sunday afternoon in St. Thomas Memorial Hospital. He was in his 57th year. Mr. Bennett was ill a month.

Born at Port Burwell on May 22, 1897, Mr. Bennett was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Thomas Bennett. He had farmed all his life. A bachelor, Mr. Bennett was a member of Port Burwell United Church.

Surviving besides his sister Mrs. Evert, with whom he made his home, are several cousins.  At rest at the Hughson Funeral Home where service will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. Interment will follow in the Aylmer Cemetery. Rev. J. N. Gould and Rev. C. C. Strachan will officiate.

Alfred Benson   

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Alfred Benson was born on October 31, 1894 in Aylmer, the son of Joseph Benson (1858-1928), a butcher, and his wife Kate Good (1854-1940). Joseph was a native of Liverpool, England.  He & Kate were married in March, 1880 in Bortte, District of West Derby, Lancashire, England, and emigrated to Canada in 1886 or 1887, settling first in Toronto where in 1886 they were living at 18 St. David Street.  By 1891, he family had moved to Enniskillen Township, Lambton County. By 1894 they were living in Aylmer.

Alfred was following his father’s trade as a butcher when he enlisted for service on November 10, 1914.  He had served with the 30th Battery, C. F. A. in Aylmer.

Alfred’s brother Donald Good Benson was killed in action on June 25, 1918.

A letter from Alfred to his parents was printed in the Aylmer Express, June 25, 1915:

AYLMER BOYS ARRIVE SAFELY IN ENGLAND

Gunner Alfred Benson writes a very interesting letter to his parents, Mr and Mrs Jos. Benson, John street south, and gives a splendid description of their trip across the Atlantic and safe arrival in England. Their boat just escaped a German submarine, which had been lying in wait by about three hours.

St. Lawrence River, May 21

Dear Parents:

This is the second night aboard ship. Tomorrow at 11 o’clock makes two days and nights. When we pulled out of Montreal there was not much of a crowd to shout “good bye”, but every boat blew its whistle to beat the cars.  We passed Three Rivers about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, but I was trying out my bunk and of course did not see it.

We arrived at Quebec at about 9 o’clock and it looked great all lighted up. Wolfe sure had some nerve to climb those heights, for they looked mighty dark when we came by. I also saw my first cruiser. We could not make out much of it, except where its lights were showing. There were a couple more boats at the wharf that looked like destroyers. They were low and quite long. Her port hole lights looked to be no more than a foot from the water. We put our last mail off there. We are now keeping quite close to the shore of Gaspe.  The mountains along the shores are covered with snow and the wind is a little cold.

Saturday, May 22nd – When we got up this morning we couldn’t see land.  It was colder than –the place Old Bill’s going.  After breakfast I went for’d (I’m getting to be some sailor, eh?). We went through the place where the Newfoundlanders cod fish. There were 7 or 8 sailing vessels setting out nets.  About 10 o’clock we saw an ice berg.  Gee, it was a whopper.  About 12 o’clock we sighted land again.  I think it was Cape Race. Just after we sighted land I saw some water spray up a short distance from the ship.  I kept watching for it again and saw it spout up four or five times and then a big black thing came to the surface, about 20 feet long. Everybody said it was a whale so I say the same. The pond is commencing to boil pretty good and the boat to rock, but I am not sick.

Sunday, May 23 – We were travelling slow this morning in a dense fog.  The fog whistle was blowing in the night and all morning. Passed an iceberg about 5 o’clock and another about 6.  It is still foggy and we are going slow. Sea is rather rough. The chart says we were south of Cape Race at noon today so we are going slow. My stomach felt funny at noon but it has nearly passed away.

May 26th – I was feeling pretty sick last night so did not write. I have not fed the fish yet and am now feeling OK.  Last night we saw a couple of boats and today about six o’clock we saw the masts of a boat showing on the horizon. Today we were detailed for the life boats.

May 31st – Arrived OK this morning and are pretty tired.  I was on guard the 28th and was too tired to write on the 29th, and last night I had not time or paper. The night of the 28th was dandy so I didn’t go to bed.  We expected an escort at 4 a.m., but it did not come. About 2 p.m. we saw a speck on the horizon and it rapidly got bigger until we could see it was a torpedo boat destroyer.  In plain English that can go like the ______.  It went across in front of us and turned and came straight for our starboard side.  One of the fellows just got a glance at it and hiked to his cabin and put on his life belt.  It passed behind us to the port side and by the time we all got on that side of the ship it had turned around and was coming back. The men cheered as if they were wild. By this time another was in sight and so we had one on each side. The boat we came on has been chased four or five times and the Germans were laying for her again, because at six o’clock a steamer passed in front of us and at 9:30 she was sunk so we were only three and one half hours lucky. We anchored about 9:30 in Plymouth Sound. It is certainly some place. A searchlight is going all the time and the coast is lined with forts.  We were called at four next morning and were then moving up the river. It was the prettiest sight I ever layed my eyes.  It has any picture beat forty ways.  If a person could have told me it was like it before I would have called him a fabricator that is all.

When we got to the deck, I was detailed to help load our stuff on the train. The train pulled in about 11 o’clock and the rest of the men left on it. We started work as soon as they left and between being down the hold and loading cars we were there till 10:30 p.m. We stepped on the train and pulled out.  We stopped to change engines just off the docks and women and girls came to the fence with cigarettes for us.  None of our men got out but those who did were a disgrace to Canada by the way they talked back to them. We did not see much as it was dark. We came through the suburbs of London and saw some swell buildings.  I didn’t sleep on the road so hit the hay when I got here. We are in huts at Westonhanger four miles from Schorncliffe. The 18th Battalion of London, Ont., is just a mile from us.  I met two fellows I went to school with on our trip.  One is Fred Paupst, the son of the man who drove mail wagon. The other is Winfred Davis. He is with the 29th Vancouver Battalion and Paupst is with the 14th Battery.

I had to laugh at the trains here, but they sure speed some. We had some of the sparrows wild at the dock about the cigar boxes on wheels and tea pots for engines. The dock engine just had 4 wheels on it. They all have whistles like Capt. Light’s brick yard whistle so when they blew them we would say “Hot Peanuts”.  One of the fellows asked a girl what the thing was going down the street. She said it was a tram car and that we had nothing like that in Canada. The fellow said, “No, we hadn’t time for such things, we walked”. Well, I guess this is all for now so, good-bye Boss.

Address – Gr. A. Benson, No. 84104, 16th Battery, 4th Brigade, C.F.A., 2nd Canadian Contingent, B.E.F., Army Post Office, London, England.

A photo of Alfred with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Bomb. Alf Benson, another son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Benson, enlisted with the 16th Battery, and is now in France. He has lived here all his life and enjoys the respect of a host of friends. He has been on the firing line for more than a year and up to date has escaped injury”.

Alfred was married in London, England in 1919 to Constance C. Smith (1896-1959). Alfred sailed from Liverpool with his bride on the ship Cretic, arriving in New York City on September 15, 1919. The passenger list gives his occupation as butcher, and their destination as Aylmer.  They later moved to Sarnia.

Alfred died in April1953 and is buried with his wife in Lakeview Cemetery, Sarnia.

Andrew Benson

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Andrew Benson was born on March 1, 1881 in Liverpool, England, the son of Joseph Benson (1858-1928), a butcher, and his wife Kate Good (1854-1940). Joseph was a native of Liverpool, England.  He & Kate were married in March, 1880 in Bortte, District of West Derby, Lancashire, England, and emigrated to Canada in 1886 or 1887, settling first in Toronto where in 1886 they were living at 18 St. David Street.  By 1891, he family had moved to Enniskillen Township, Lambton County. By 1894 they were living in Aylmer.

Andrew enlisted with the 91st Battalion on March 29, 1916, while living in Aylmer working as a butcher.

A photo of Andrew, with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Pte. Andrew Benson, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Benson, enlisted with the 91st Batt., and went overseas in June 1916. He was born in Liverpool in 1881, his parents coming to this country when he was very young. Few parents have been called upon to give up more to their country’s cause than Mr and Mrs Benson, who are trying the bear the situation cheerfully and hoping for the best”.

Andrew returned to Aylmer where he died on February 5, 1930 in a house fire, at the age of 49 years.  He was not married, and is buried in Aylmer cemetery with his parents. His obituary, accompanied by a photograph, appeared in the Aylmer Express, February 6, 1930:

ANDREW BENSON LOSES LIFE IN FIRE

Explosion Evidently Prevented Him Making an Escape from the House

Between five and six o’clock Wednesday morning fire destroyed the home of Mrs. Joseph Benson, one mile south of Aylmer, at Benson’s Corner, and the remains of Mrs. Benson’s oldest son, Andrew, were found in the ruins.

The fire was first discovered by Mr and Mrs A. K. Smith who live directly across the road from the Benson home to the south. Between 5:30 and 6 o’clock they were startled by the reflection in their window and upon looking out discovered the entire back portion of the Benson house on fire.  Mr. Smith rushed over and fearing Andrew was in the house, tried to get in. He forced the front door but the fire had spread so quickly that he could not enter. An alarm was sounded over the phone, but nothing could be done to save the 1 ½ storey frame house nor its contents.

Dr. Coll Sinclair, coroner, visited the scene and deemed an inquest not necessary.  The body of Mr. Benson was practically cremated, only a few rib bones remaining so that the coroner could not identify them as being that of a human being. These bones were found near the place where one of the kitchen doors opened outside. The fire was evidently caused by an explosion of some kind, and Mr. Benson was evidently immediately overcome.  It is thought he might have been starting a fire in the kitchen stove with coal oil, or that a gasoline lamp may have exploded. Andrew was alone in the house at the time, his mother being in Aylmer, taking care of Mrs. Gray who recently fell and broke her ankle.

Andrew Benson was the eldest son of the late Joseph Benson and Mrs. Benson and was born in Liverpool, England, in 1880. He came to this country with his parents when he was very young. He was a veteran of the Great War and went overseas as a member of the 91st Battalion in June 1916. He was one of four brothers who enlisted, Lieut. Donald G. Benson being killed in France while serving with the Royal Flying Corp. Mr. Benson had just returned home about a month ago from undergoing an operation in a London hospital.

Besides his mother, he is survived by five brothers and one sister: Herbert, St. Thomas; Joseph, London; Frank, Aylmer; Harold in England; Alfred, Sarnia; and Miss Jessie Benson, London.

The funeral will be held this (Thursday) afternoon at 2 o’clock, at the funeral home of E. E. Atkinson, Aylmer, and interment will be made in the Aylmer cemetery.

Harold Benson   

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Harold Benson was born on February 11, 1893 in Enniskillen Township, Lambton County, the son of Joseph Benson (1858-1928), a butcher, and his wife Kate Good (1854-1940). Joseph was a native of Liverpool, England.  He & Kate were married in March, 1880 in Bortte, District of West Derby, Lancashire, England, and emigrated to Canada in 1886 or 1887, settling first in Toronto where in 1886 they were living at 18 St. David Street.  By 1891, he family had moved to Enniskillen Township, Lambton County. By 1894 they were living in Aylmer.

Harold enlisted for service on January 12, 1915 in London.  He was a blacksmith, and had served six years with the First Hussars.  He gives his place of birth as Aylmer on his attestation paper, but his birth registration states he was born in Enniskillen.

Harold served with the 7th Canadian Hussars, the 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles, and the Fort Garry Horse. He fought in the battles of Somme, Hill 70, Amiens and Drocourt.

Harold was wounded in 1915, as reported in the June 3 issue of the Aylmer Express:

FIRST AYLMER MAN TO BE WOUNDED AT THE FRONT

Provisional Lieutenant Harold Benson Receives Three Wounds by Bursting Shrapnel

In a letter just received from Canterbury, England, written to his parents, Mr and Mrs Joseph Benson, John street south, Provisional Lieutenant Harold Benson informs them that he was injured, but not seriously, in France. Lieutenant Benson was engaged in taking a bunch or horses from the base, to Lille, and had made three trips safely, but when making a fourth trip with remounts for the R.F.A., met with a German shell, which burst among them, killing three men and eleven horses. He received 3 wounds, one on the face and two in thigh, and the Doctor had ordered him to take a short rest to Canterbury, England.  His wounds had stiffened him up a little, but were not at all serious and he expected to be back on duty again within a week.  Gunner Alfred Benson, of the C.F.A., a brother of Lieutenant Benson, landed in England just a week ago.

A photo of Harold, with the following caption, was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Sergt. Harold Benson, is a son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Benson, and enlisted in 1915. He is now attached to the Fort Garry Horse, C.E.F. Sergt. Benson has lived here all his life and is one of four brothers serving his King and Country.  He has married since arriving in England and is now the proud father of a little girl”.

Harold’s return from overseas was reported in the Aylmer Express, February 6, 1919, with a photograph and the following caption:

“Sergt. Harold Benson, who, with his wife and baby, returned from overseas last week. He is a son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Benson, John street south, who sent four sons with the Canadian forces. Sergt. Benson was one of the first men to enlist from this district and has been wounded several times in the fighting.”

A marriage registration was found in English records for a Harold Benson and Elizabeth Minion in 1918.

Harold was living in Nelson, British Columbia in 1928. When his brother Andrew died in 1930, he was living in England,  but by 1940 had moved to Calgary.

Martin Daniel Berdan

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Martin Berdan was born on May 10, 1897 in Springfield, the son of James E. Berdan (1874-1950) & Annie Purdy (1874-1965).  James was born in Bayham, the son of Daniel & Mary Berdan and was farming there when he was married on November 22, 1893 in Tillsonburg to Annie Purdy, also a native of Bayham, living in Dereham, the daughter of Martin & Caroline Purdy.  They are buried in Springfield cemetery.

Martin was a farmer living at RR #2 Springfield when he enlisted for service on May 14, 1918 in London.

He was a cheesemaker living in South Dorchester when he was married on March 11, 1922 in Aylmer to Aleta M. Godby (born 1900), of Aylmer, the daughter of George Godby & Elva Wilson.

Martin died on March 19, 1941 and is buried in St. Luke’s cemetery, Vienna. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, March 27, 1941 in the Vienna news column:

Mr. Martin Berdan, well known and well liked resident of the village, passed away at his home here on Wednesday, after a few months of much suffering.  He is survived by his mother and father of Richmond, his wife and son Ivan, of Vienna.  Mr. Berdan was in his forty-fourth year. The funeral took place at his late residence on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. thence to the St. Luke’s cemetery. The funeral was extra large, showing the esteem of the deceased. His wide circle of friends will miss him very much and the deepest sympathy is extended the survivors.

Robert William Berdan

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Robert Berdan was born on June 23, 1894 in Houghton Township, Norfolk County, the son of William D. Berdan (1865-1944) & Agnes Ann Kyle (1869-1963).  William was born in Bayham, the son of Albert & Bridget Berdan and was farming there when he was married on November 23, 1888 in Clear Creek to Agnes Kyle, of Houghton, the daughter of James & Jane Kyle.  They later moved to Springfield.  William & Agnes are buried in Springfield cemetery.

Robert was living in Paris, Ontario employed as a lathe hand when he enlisted for service on March 28, 1916 in Paris.  He names his next of kin as his father, William, of Springfield.

There is some confusion as to Robert’s place of birth.  His birth registration is recorded in Houghton Township; on his attestation paper he states he was born in Springfield; and on his marriage record, he lists his birth place as Port Burwell.

Robert was living in Paris and gives his occupation as a soldier when he was married on June 2, 1916 in Woodstock to Hazel Loucks (1897-1918), of Paris, the daughter of Albert Loucks & Marie Lattam. Hazel died on October 27, 1918 in Windsor at the age of 21.

Robert died on February 21, 1968 and is buried in Springfield cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, February 28, 1968:

ROBERT BERDAN

SPRINGFIELD – Robert Berdan of 653 University Avenue, Windsor, died Wednesday at home in his 74th year.  Mr. Berdan was born in Houghton township and lived in Windsor for 50 years.  He was an engineer with Dinsmore Construction Co. in Windsor and later with the Fullerton Construction Co.  He was a member of Windsor United Church.  He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Charles (Mina) Jones and one grandson, James Edward Jones of Troy, Ohio; one sister, Mrs. Reginald (Erie) Orm, Windsor; also several nieces and nephews.  Service was held at the Shaw Funeral Home here Saturday afternoon.  Mr. William Ziegler of St. John’s United Church conducted the service. Interment was in Springfield cemetery. Pall bearers were Jack Hodgson, Joe Hodgson, Clayton Fulkerson, James Wilson, Douglas Oram and Calvin Girard. Flower bearers Robert Hodgson, Jim, Michael and Mark Wilson.  Friends and relatives attended from Troy, Ohio; Detroit, Windsor, London, Lambeth, Springfield and community.

Vernas Orlando Berdan

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Vernas Berdan was born on July 11, 1897 in Springfield, the son of Albert Berdan (1860-1934) & Adeline Jane Pound (1864-1928).  Albert was born in Bayham, the son of Albert & Bridget Berdan, and was farming in Malahide when he was married on April 26, 1888 in Tillsonburg to Adeline Pound, a native of Humberstone township, Welland County living in Malahide, the daughter of Daniel & Mary Pound.  They are buried in Springfield cemetery.

Vernas was living at 833 Talbot Street, St. Thomas employed as a mason when he enlisted for service on July 26, 1918 in London.

He was married on December 25, 1918 in Springfield to Edith D. Stringer, a native of London, England living in Kitchener, the daughter of Fred Stringer & Lottie Card.

Vernas died on March 17, 1929 at the age of 33 years in the Memorial Hospital, St. Thomas, and is buried in Springfield cemetery.

His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, March 18, 1929:

VERNUS O. BERDAN CALLED BY DEATH

Native of Springfield Succumbs in Thirty-Third Year After Long Illness

The sad death occurred on Sunday morning at the Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness of Vernus O. Berdan, 286 Talbot street.  Mr. Berdan, who was born at Springfield thirty-three years ago, made his home for five years in Kitchener, but had resided for the past three years in St. Thomas, where he was employed at the Metal Signs Limited. He was an adherent of the Baptist church. Besides his wife, Mr. Berdan is survived by one son, James, aged seven; also his father, Albert Berdan, of this city; and two brothers, Emery Berdan, White street, and Eugene Berdan, Princess avenue. His mother died last December. The funeral will take place on Tuesday from the Griffith and Sifton Funeral Home at 1:30, thence to Springfield Baptist church, where a service will be held at two-thirty.  Rev. William Raithby will have charge of the service and interment will be in the Springfield cemetery.

Earl Victor Berry

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Earl Berry was born on October 31, 1893 in Middleton Township, Norfolk County, the son of William Emanuel Berry & Ella French.  William was born in Brant County, the son of Robert & Catherine Berry, and was farming in Middleton township when he was married on December 25, 1892 in Bayham to Ella French, of Bayham, the daughter of Thomas & Julia French.  The family is found on the 1901 and 1911 census in Bayham township.

Earl was living in Tillsonburg, employed as a clerk when he enlisted for service on January 4, 1918 in London. He returned from the overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax  on January 18. By 1923 he was living at 111 Mount Pleasant Ave., London, employed as a grocer.  He was married on June 27, 1923 in London to Charlotte Hall, of London, the daughter of Harvey Hall & Sarah L. Reeve.

Earl died on January 29, 1985, and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London. His obituary appeared in the London Free Press, January 30, 1985:

BERRY

At his residence on Tuesday, January 29, 1985, Earle V. Berry of 950 Queens Avenue in his 92 year. Beloved husband of Mrs. Charlotte (Hall) Berry; dear brother of William S. Berry, Tillsonburg, and Thomas R. Berry, St. Thomas. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Visitation in the Needham Funeral Chapel, 520 Dundas Street (Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.), where the funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, January 31st at 1:30 p.m. Rev. R. E. Robinson of Central Baptist Church officiating. Interment Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Alexander Betterley

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Alexander Betterley was born on February 15, 1894 in South Dorchester, the son of George Betterley (1867-1942) & Annie Taylor (1863-1944).  George was the son of Nathaniel & Hannah Betterley and was living in South Dorchester when he was married on March 22, 1888 in St. Thomas to Annie Taylor, also of South Dorchester, the daughter of Angus & Margaret Taylor.  The family is found on the 1901 and 1911 census in South Dorchester. George & Annie are buried in Mapleton cemetery.

Alexander enlisted for service on January 18, 1916 in London.  He was a school teacher and gives his address as Belmont.  He names his next of kin as his father, also of Belmont.

Lieut. A. Betterley returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on April 5.  He took up farming in South Dorchester and was married on June 26, 1920 in Alvinston to Hazel Bertha Moore (1897-1971), of Alvinston, the daughter of Walter Yates Moore & Leila Louise Oke.

He also served in the Air Force in World War II.

Alex died on May 30, 1983 and is buried with his wife in Elmdale cemetery, St. Thomas.  His obituary, accompanied by a photograph, appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, May 31, 1983:

ALEXANDER BETTERLEY

Alexander Betterley, formerly of 371 Carlow Road in Port Stanley, passed away Monday, May 30, 1983 at Westminster Hospital in London. He was in ailing health, in his 90th year.  Mr. Betterley was born in Dorchester, Ont., Feb. 15, 1894, to the late George and Anne (Taylor) Betterley of South Dorchester and lived in London and then Port Stanley for 20 years.  He was a retired postal employee and a member of Port Stanley United Church; King Solomon Lodge 368 A.F. and A.M. in London, and the Lord Elgin Branch 41 of the Royal Canadian Legion, having served overseas with the air force in both the First and Second World Wars.

His wife, Hazel (Moore) Betterley, passed away in 1971 and he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Harold (Leila Anne) Falk of New York City; three sisters, Mrs. Harold (Jean) Burgess of Springfield; Mrs. Irene Black, of London, and Mrs. Ethel Laur of St. Thomas. Three brothers, Andrew, Alfred and George Betterley and three sisters, Mrs. Pearl McKellar, Mrs. Margaret Wilkie and Mrs. Lillian Archer passed away previously. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

Mr. Betterley is resting at Williams Funeral Home, 45 Elgin Street, St. Thomas, where visitation will commence at 7 p.m. today. The funeral service will be held from the funeral home Thursday at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Karl Sievert of Port Stanley United Church officiating. Interment will be in Elmdale Memorial Park Cemetery.

Frank Betts

Several letters from a Frank Betts were published in the Aylmer Express. It is believed the above man was Frank Cecil Betts, #5784, who was born on December 3, 1893 in Basford, Nottinghamshire, England.  His address is not given on his attestation paper, but he enlisted for service on September 23, 1914 at Valcartier and was attached to the 1st Divisional Signal Company. He names his next of kin as his father, W. V. Betts, of Bank House, Basford, Nottinghamshire. Frank was a farmer and was not married.

Frank is found on the 1901 census living at 630 Radford Road in Basford, Nottingham, with his parents, William V. & Hannah Betts.  His father was an architect and surveyor.  Passenger lists show a Frank Betts, age 18, arriving in Quebec on the ship Ascania on June 23, 1913, having departed from Southampton, England.

From the following letters, it is known that Frank was employed in the Copenhagen and Grovesend area prior to enlisting.  It is not known if he returned to Canada following the war.

A letter from Frank Betts was published in the Aylmer Express, February 11, 1915:

AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM SALISBURY

The following interesting letter written to Mr. F. W. Ingram, of Grovesend, by Frank Betts, an Englishman, who last summer was employed by R. H. Lindsay at Copenhagen and who enlisted with other Aylmer boys in the first contingent, gives a faint idea of the war from the soldier’s point of view:

Headquarters Subordinate Staff, Bustard Camp, Salisbury Plains, England

Jan. 13, 1915

Dear Mr. Ingram – I have just heard from a very reliable source that we are to be in France by February 10, so this will be the last letter from England, I hope.  I have already been to the front on special duty with Colonel Williams, something about the Princess Patricia’s, and only got back last Saturday morning.  I did have a splendid time and am very anxious to get back again.  Everything is wonderful, but yet so horrible. The continual stream of wounded, the awful rain and mud, the terrible noise made by the never-ending artillery duels, the fights between aeroplanes, the huge holes made by shells and the ruin and dilapidated condition of everything, together make up a sight not easily forgotten.  One sees London buses, taxi cabs, etc., axle deep in mud and absolutely immovable on the roadside. Some of the shell holes are 20 feet in diameter and eight to ten feet deep, and filled with water. Very few building remain, but I was amazed to see people still living in cottages within hearing of the guns, although they have everything packed ready to leave should the Germans come. The men, however, are most cheerful. I never heard anyone speak of the dead or wounded. I met a regiment coming from the trenches and they were singing, smoking and playing mouth organs, while the din of the guns was awful, but they didn’t care.  One of them asked me if I have a “Gillette” blade, another for decent matches and a third how Woolwich arsenal were going on. They were caked with mud and some were apparently stiff, but not a word about the fighting or the horrible condition of the trenches. The work shops are magnificent, lighted with electricity with up to date machinery going all the time, and the men are great, they can do anything – turn out good motorcycles and cars from absolute wrecks and generally work miracles in this way. The feed is very good indeed. I went up from the station in a London bus with the top off and special sides put on, loaded with little boxes containing rations for each man. Inside is bully beef, potatoes, bread, cheese, jam, rum and cigarettes and emergency rations once per week.  They have more than enough so that they can save a little should the trucks not be able to get through.  Salisbury Plains is in a beastly state and I shall be glad to get away as soon as possible. Life is not all bad, however, and I am in splendid health. Glad to hear Bounce and Leslie have joined, hope they get a good time.  I have managed to hurt my hand so please excuse writing and brevity but I hope to send more next time.

With kindest regards to everyone, Frank.

Another letter from Frank was published in the May 20, 1915 issue:

MALAHIDE MAN HAS THRILLING EXPERIENCE AT THE FRONT

Frank Betts, formerly employed by R. H. Lindsay, Copenhagen, writes an interesting letter to Mr. Frank Ingram, brother of the Bishop of London, of some of his hair-breadth escapes in France. Under shells and bullets at Ypres, he successfully carried dispatch from headquarters and escaped unharmed. A native of England, he is proud to be enlisted with the Canadians.

“We are in the middle of what must be the decisive battle of the war, and I am taking a few minutes to write you about the glory of the Canadians, while I have time. How many of these will come out live I do not know.  I only know that practically 80 per cent of the Canadians who went into action are amongst the casualties. To properly describe the whole affair, with which I have been so intimately connected, will be impossible, but I am indeed so proud to belong them. Being English I was somewhat skeptical as to their behaviour, but now I know.

I returned on the 22nd about 5:30 p.m. from a dispatch ride to Popengre, and was amazed to see the French (Turcos) running down from the village, gasping for breath, eyes bulging, and with neither equipment nor rifles “Les Allemandes are coming”, they said, and all was excitement.  Hastily I was given a despatch to our 3rd Brigade about 6 miles away: “You must hold the ridge at all cost”, and told to go as fast as my motor cycle would carry me. I did so. The roads were packed with refugees, all their belongings on their wagons, on their backs, wheelbarrows or dog carts; Frenchman’s guns, carriage and ammunition wagons and troops.  How I managed to get there I do not know. I had to leave the machine and crawl about 3/4 of a mile to the farm where the 3rd Brigade was under a veritable rain of shrapnel and bullets. When I got there, troops were hastily digging themselves in and it was impossible to reach the office. As I arrived and was giving my dispatch to one of the officers of the line, one of the men yelled out “There goes the signal, they are coming”, and sure enough not five hundred yards away were the spiked helmets and caps of the Germans.  I beat a hasty retreat, passing the guns which were now firing point blank shrapnel, and the Montrealers who rushed up in time to shove the Germans back.

That night I was to the same brigade four times in pitch darkness, among shells and bullets and never got a touch.  I had to pass through a part of Ypres, which is something like the diagram (Mr. Betts here draws a diagram of the positions) and is called the “Death Trap” and the “Devil’s Corner”, as the Germans shelled it without a break, and have done ever since with Lyddite shells and shrapnel. Shell holes are many and huge debris strews the roads. Broken carts, motor cycles, wagons, dead horses and men, trees, telephone poles and every obstacle is there, and yet you must take the corner as fast as possible, and yet with no light to get through.  But we had no reinforcements and no artillery compared with the Germans, and had to fall back as the French had retreated.  Had we staid in our positions we should have been annihilated. More troops came up and during the night we regained our position on the right, but the Germans were 50 or more to one, and 6 army corps at least were concentrated there, and artillery too numerous to count or to think about. Gradually we were pressed back until at last the Germans held St. Julien. Reinforcements were coming up, also artillery, but before they could get up, the battle raged furiously. A small village called Wilche held an officer of the Buffs to whom I had a dispatch. He was in a cellar and when I arrived within about 50 to 100 yards of the place, the village was in ruins and the most of it on fire.  The road ahead of me was swept by machine guns and rifle fire, but I had to get there so I crawled along a ditch in 8 inches of water and thick mud using dead men and horses as a cover, and finally got there exhausted but unhurt. I was decidedly loath to leave, but it had to be done. With a quick dash I had crossed the stretch of road and drawn myself from the ditch and reached headquarters once again.

The next day they were shelling the whole road between headquarters and our 2nd Brigade (on the way to the 3rd), and I had to go by a different road; make a wide detour and cross a wood and field under fire, but in a trench to the 2nd Brigade. Within ten minutes of my leaving the 3rd was shelled and burned to the ground, but the Germans were held and today are being pushed back, and as I write we once more hold St. Julien.  We have an innumerable amount of artillery and troops, including the Indians, but it is the Canadians who have borne the brunt of the attack and whose glory is undying.  I have had numerous rides but our line men have kept up the wires and communications splendidly.  So far we have only lost two killed and 10 wounded, but we are all played out and practically nervous wrecks. We have had about 5 hours sleep in 4 days and I have never had my boots off the whole of the time. I pray for the time when we shall be relieved.  I am nervous and almost frightened. Even the darkness scares me and the sights I have seen haunts me continually. But what can one say of it all.

Last night I saw one of our battalions going back after reunion eleven strong, including the quartermaster and the cook, singing Tipperary and joking.  Did you ever hear of anything like that?  The Germans are using  poisonous gases, but their losses must be at least three times greater than ours.  I hope I may live through it, but I must take my chances with the rest and trust to luck. I have no time for more, so good by. Yours very truly, Frank Betts

Note – Arthur Methuen and Alfred Walters, two other Malahide boys, are with the 3rd Brigade Mr. Betts writes about.

A third letter from Frank was published in the June 3, 1915 issue:

COPENHAGEN BOY WAS OVERCOME BY GAS

Frank C. Betts, whose interesting letter was published in the Express a couple of weeks ago, is still safe, and writes the following letter from France, to Mr. F. W. Ingram, of Grovesend, brother of the Bishop of London, who has been in France with the soldiers:

Nieppe, May 7, 1915

Dear Mr. Ingram – I was delighted to get a letter from you yesterday and glad to know that you are all well at Grovesend.  I suppose that now the hot weather is coming, the lake will be in great demand, I wish you could send us a piece of it here as we badly need a bath.

I managed to get through the action all right. I’m glad to say, and except for the effect of the gas, I am quite well.  I hope you have received my former letter, as after posting it, I had to take a dispatch to one of the brigades, and on coming back was overcome with the gas, and woke up in the early hours of the next morning in a dug out, and I’ve not quite got over it.

We have been taken away from Ypres to a somewhat quieter place for a badly needed rest and for more equipment and reinforcements, so that we have a little time to write now. The Canadians have certainly made a name for themselves over this affair, and I guess they’ll keep it up throughout the rest of the war.

I was in Estavit when the Bishop of London addressed the troops, and heard him. “Now cheer that”, he would say at the conclusion of each sentence, and you can bet we cheered all right. 

Bouncer hadn’t then left for England yet. Will you let me have his full address?  I have seen Arthur and Alfred once or twice here in France, but not since the scrap.  I nearly forgot to mention that I received two stripes after it was over and now am a full blown corporal.  Kind regards to the boys,

Yours very sincerely, Frank C. Betts

George Betts 

The name “George Betts” appears on a Springfield Honor Roll. There are 9 attestation papers for the name George Betts. Eight of them have no connection to Elgin, and one isn’t available to view: Gnr. George Betts, #5377

No one by that name can be found on the 1901 and 1911 census in the Springfield area. However, an obituary for Mrs. Sarah Betts found in the St. Thomas Daily Times, May 11, 1910, names a son George Betts of Lucan. Her death registration states she had been living at 40 Moore Street, St. Thomas for four months. She was the daughter of Robert Doughty, and widow of George Betts.

George & Sarah found on the 1871 census in Shropham, Norfolk, England with children Elizabeth & Ellis.  They emigrated to Canada and are found on the 1881, 1891 and 1901 census in Lucan. Their son George was born on December 23, 1879 in Lucan. 

George is not found with his parents on the 1901 census, and it is believed he is the George Betts, age 23, found on the 1900 census in Port Huron boarding with Abraham & Blanche Stoner, where he is employed as a carpenter in the car works industry.

On the 1911 census, son George and his wife Gertrude (Hammond) are living in Lucan with children Ernest, Lillian, May and Eilean. It is believed George & Gertrude were married in Michigan.  George & Gertrude later returned to Michigan, where they are found on the 1930 census in Port Huron.

It cannot be determined if the above George Betts is the same man mentioned on the Springfield Honor Roll.

Francis (Frank) Lorne Billington

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Frank was born on March 27, 1893 in Bayham Township, the son of Edwin Billington (1861-1929) and Susan Isabel Ferris (1866-1902). They were farmers who had previously lived in Charlotteville Township, Norfolk County in the early1880’s, and Malahide Township in the late 1880’s.  They returned to Charlotteville Township where they were living on the 1901 and 1911 census.  Edwin Billington (1861-1929) was born at Normandale, Norfolk County, the son of Joseph (Job) Billington & Emily Murphy. He was married in Charlotteville on August 5, 1883 to Susan J. Ferris (1865-1902), born in Charlotteville, the daughter of Richard & Altha Ferris.  Edwin & Susan are buried in Fairview Cemetery, Charlotteville Township.

Frank enlisted for service on February 22, 1916 while living in Port Rowan.  He gives his place of birth as Malahide on his Attestation Paper.  He was a machinist, and names his next of kin as his brother Thomas, of Vittoria.  At the time of enlistment, he belonged to the 39th Regiment of Militia.

Frank returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on January 28. The passenger list states his “dependent” is his wife in Port Rowan.

Information in postings on Ancestry.com by researchers reveal that Frank was married in February 1919 to Lillian M. Boad (1895-1980), daughter of Thomas Elliott Boad & Mary Clark.  They emigrated to the United States in 1924 and are found on the 1930 census in Shelby, New Orleans County, New York, where Frank is employed as a laborer in a mine.  They had three children: Lorne Elliott, Gordon Laverne and Viola Pauline.

According to this information, Frank died on June 18, 1934 in Ontario.  No record of his death can be found. 

Eric Eaton Hoag (Bingham)

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Eric Eaton Gregory Hoag was born on February 18, 1898 in Aylmer, the son of George Wood Hoag & Florence Bingham.  George was born in Elgin County, the son of Walter Hoag & Annie Sanders and was a dentist living in Toronto when he was married on February 21, 1893 in Toronto to Florence Pearl Bingham (1873-1899), also a native of Elgin County, but a resident of Hamilton, the daughter of William C. Bingham (1847-1928) & Emma Kate Gregory (1850-1934).  Following Florence’s death in 1899, George Hoag was remarried to Maude Atkinson in 1900.  His infant son Eric was raised by his maternal grandparents, William & Emma Bingham, and he is found with them on the 1901 and 1911 census in Aylmer.  William, Emma and Florence are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

It appears that Eric Hoag was also known as Eric Bingham, his grandparents’ surname. Although his attestation paper is not available for viewing, he enlisted under the name of “Eric Eaton Bingham”.

Excerpts from a letter from Eric were printed in the St. Thomas Journal, September 15, 1916:

ERIC BINGHAM, AYLMER, TELLS OF FIRST 24 HOURS IN TRENCHES

Popular Young Man is Glad He is in the Artillery

Falls Into Hole and Was Badly Scratched

Aylmer, Sept. 14 – In a letter to W. C. Bingham, Eric Bingham tells of his experiences at the front. He was in the trenches for twenty-four hours last week and that was twenty-four hours too much. He is glad he is in the artillery for the infantry had it just simply awful, he says. All the rest of his companions are well. He took a walk one evening and fell into some kind of a hole and as a result was so scratched up that you would imagine he had been through the whole war. They have been under fire several times, and although somewhat weak in the knees at first it soon wore off.

Eric returned from overseas on January 18, 1919, arriving in Halifax.  He was married on July 20, 1933 to Catherine Frances Landon in Glencoe, Illinois.

When his grandmother died in 1934, Dr. Eric Hoag was living in New York City.

No further information is known.

Roy William Bingham

The name “Roy Bingham” is found in a list of names being prepared for the Elgin County Book of Remembrance, which was printed in the St. Thomas Times-Journal in 1927, under Aylmer. 

The Book of Remembrance states that Roy was a Lieutenant who served in France with the American Expeditionary Forces. He enlisted in June 1917, and was discharged in June 1919.

Roy was born about November 7, 1886, the son of William Charles Bingham (1847-1928) and his wife Emma Kate Gregory (1850-1934).  W. C. Bingham was the son of William Bingham & Elizabeth Davis, and was a merchant in Aylmer when he was married on January 2, 1873 in Port Dalhousie, Louth Township, Lincoln Co., to Emma Gregory, of Port Dalhousie, daughter of Philip Gregory & Sarah Jane Johnson.  W. C. & Emma and family are found on the 1901 and 1911 census in Aylmer. They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Roy moved to the United States sometime after 1901 and settled in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he became a dentist.  He is found on the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census in Eau Claire.  By 1930 he was married to Anna L. (1891-1978), and they had one son, William A., born about 1926.

Roy died on September 29, 1941 in Rochester, Olmstead County,  Minnesota.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, October 2, 1941:

ROY BINGHAM PASSES

Relatives and friends here have received notice of the death of Dr. Roy William Bingham, a native of Aylmer, and a son of the late Mr and Mrs William C. Bingham, of this place. Dr Bingham had been practicing dentistry at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for many years.  He died at Rochester, Minnesota, after an illness of some weeks. Dr and Mrs Bingham visited relatives and friends here last summer. Surviving are his wife, and one son, Billy; and one sister, Mrs. R. E. Davis, of London. Mr. G. A. Bingham, Aylmer, is a cousin.  The funeral service and interment took place at Eau Claire.

Grant Nichol Black, M.D. 

Grant Black was born on July 7, 1899 in Springfield, the son of Malcolm McBrayne Black (1865-1929) & Annie Romania Chambers (1869-1956). Malcolm was born in Belmont, the son of James Black & Sarah McBrayne, and was an insurance agent in Springfield when he was married on December 30, 1891 in Malahide to Annie Chambers, of Malahide, the daughter of Ralph A. & Mary A. Chambers.  They are buried in St. Thomas Cemetery, West Avenue.

No attestation paper can be found for Grant, but he is found in a list of names being prepared for the Elgin County Book of Remembrance, which was printed in the St. Thomas Times-Journal in 1927, under Springfield.

Grant enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps, and served on the hospital staff at Camp Borden, Ontario. He was also on the medical staff at Leaside Hospital, Toronto. Following the war, he entered the University of Toronto School of Medicine from which he graduated in 1924. He then interned for a year at Toronto’s Wellesley Hospital, then received an appointment in a hospital in Buffalo.

Grant was married in Buffalo in 1925 to Dr. Phyllis Verschoyle Young, daughter of Thomas W. H. Young & Ethel A. McDougall. Phyllis also studied medicine at the University of Toronto, and following their marriage, she and Grant both practiced medicine in Buffalo.  They later moved to Humberstone, Ontario (later incorporated as part of Port Colborne), and set up a joint practice.  During the 1940s, Grant took further medical training and qualified as a specialist in anaesthesia.  Phyllis also took additional training to specialize in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  During the course of his career, Grant was the first president of the medical staff of Port Colborne General Hospital, Chief of the Department of Anaesthesia, president of the Welland County Medical Society and president of the medical staff of the Welland County General Hospital. He was also the medical officer for the Welland Regiment.

Grant and Phyllis had three children: Douglas K. (1926-1964); Marion (Mrs. Charles I. Wilson), of Toronto; and Grant, of Fonthill.

Dr. Black died on August 21, 1979 in Wainfleet.  He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Port Colborne, Wainfleet Township, Welland Co. Phyllis moved to Toronto where she died on March 20, 1990.  His obituary, from an undated newspaper clipping:

GRANT BLACK, DEAD AT 80

VETERAN DOCTOR FOUND DEAD IN HOME

Dr. Grant Black, a veteran Port Colborne medical practitioner and pioneer in modern anaesthesiology, was found dead in his 161 Surgarloaf St. home by police yesterday afternoon.  Police were asked to investigate Dr. Black’s whereabouts by the doctor’s wife, Dr. Phyllis Black, when she became suspicious and concerned by his absence.  Police report there is no evidence of foul play and a post mortem was scheduled for this morning.

Dr. Black was reared in Springfield, Elgin County, his parents of Loyalist and Scottish stock.  His enlistment in the Royal Flying Corps came in 1917, following a brief attendance at the College of Medicine in the University of Western Ontario.  Serving in the medical branch as a warrant officer, Dr. Black organized and administered the R.F.C. Hospitals at Long Branch, Camp Borden and Leaside Camp. He was subsequently placed in charge of administrative headquarters of the R.A.F. Medical Service in Toronto in 1918.

Following demobilization in 1919, Warrant Officer G. N. Black re-entered the study of medicine at the University of Toronto, where he graduated in 1924, with internship to follow in Buffalo, succeeded by his marriage to Dr. Phyllis Verschoyle Young of Peterboroguh in 1925.

Dr. Black located his first practice on Main Street in Humberstone in June of 1925, where he remained until moving to 550 King St., Port Colborne, in November 1927.  Three children were born to the Doctors Black between 1926 and 1930, with Dr. Phyllis Black resuming practice the following year.

Dr. Black was the first anaesthetist of this area to use spinal and intravenous anaesthesia, and the first to use the various anaesthetic gases endotracheally at the Welland County General Hospital.  He was certified in 1946 as a specialist in this field, and from 1943 to 1952 was the head of the department of anaesthesia at the Welland hospital, heading the same department at the Port Colborne General Hospital from 1951 to 1957.

Dr. Black was appointed as medical officer of health for Port Colborne in 1959, and a year later, upon the recommendation of the medical staff, was appointed as Emeritus Head of the department of anaesthesia, his honorary membership in the medical staff actualized in April of 1963. As Medical Officer of Health in Humberstone, Dr. Black instituted a modernized Milk Control bylaw, immunization of pre-school and school children, a bylaw concerning restaurants, mass tuberculosis surveys, physical examinations of elementary school pupils and the chest clinic.

Post-graduate education had been an active objective of the Doctors Black, both taking annual courses of varying durations at university centres and hospitals in Montreal, Toronto, Philadelphia and New York, the studies comprising anaesthesiology, cardiology, obstetrics, gynaecology, fractures and paediatrics. 

Dr. Black was a member of the Canadian and Ontario Medical Associations and of the executive committee of the latter. During World War II he served as Medical Officer of the 2nd Battalion, Lincoln and Welland Regiment, as well as Regional Chemical Warfare Officer for Civilian Defence.  In this connection, 32 professional chemists from Welland and Port Colborne were organized and equipped to direct civil defence measures for counteracting poison gases, biological and chemical warfare enemy attack.  The RCMP Welland Canal Security Forces during the war were under his medical care, and he served as medical examiner for National Selective Service.

 

James Duncan Kenneth Black

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Kenneth Black was born on December 25, 1892 in Springfield, the son of Malcolm McBrayne Black (1865-1929) & Annie Romania Chambers (1869-1956). Malcolm was born in Belmont, the son of James Black & Sarah McBrayne, and was an insurance agent in Springfield when he was married on December 30, 1891 in Malahide to Annie Chambers, of Malahide, the daughter of Ralph A. & Mary A. Chambers.  They are buried in St. Thomas Cemetery, West Avenue.

Following high school graduation, Ken joined one of the banks as a clerk and in early 1916 was working in Niagara Falls.

Ken was living at 93 Queens Street, Niagara Falls employed as a bank clerk when he enlisted for service on June 1, 1916 in Guelph with the Royal Canadian Artillery. He was sent overseas in October of that year as a gunner.  He served in France and Belgium and on September 3, 1918 was wounded in the arm and sent back to England.  He returned from overseas in1919, arriving in Halifax on February 5.

After receiving his discharge, Ken enrolled in Osgoode Hall Law School and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1921.  He practiced in London, first with the Crown Attorney J. B. McKillop, then with the firm of Cronyn, Betts & Black, and then by himself.

In January 1930, he was married to May Evelyn Isobel Hayman (1901-1970), daughter of Frank & Coline Hayman of London. They moved into their home at 960 Maitland Ave., London. 

Ken was a member of the Highland Golf Club and also the London Skating Club, of which he was treasurer for many years. He was also active in the military reserve, and was commander of the 12th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, from 1933 until 1939, when he helped mobilize it for active service.

On September 2, 1939, Ken enlisted for active service in the Canadian Army with the rank of Major. After a number of assignments in Petawawa and Brockville, he was sent overseas for six months in 1941, then returned to Brockville and later to National Defense Headquarters in Ottawa. In the King’s birthday honours list of June 1944, Ken was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. On October 16, 1944 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. 

On March 27, 1945, Ken was admitted to the London Military Hospital suffering from cardo-renal disease. On April 3, 1945 he was transferred to the Westminster Hospital in London where he died on April 18, 1945 at the age of 52.  He and his wife Evelyn are buried in Woodland Cemetery, London, Ontario

His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, April 19, 1945:

SERVED IN TWO WARS, LT. COL. BLACK PASSES

Native of Springfield Has Fine Military Record

London, Ont., April 19 – Lt. Col. J. D. K. Black, M.B.E., E.D., well-known in military and legal circles, died last night in Westminster Hospital in his 53rd year.  He had been stationed in Ottawa since March 1942, when he was appointed general staff officer in the directorate of military training, N.D. H.Q. He returned to London due to ill health only a month ago.

Lt.-Col. Black served in the First Great War with the Canadian Field Artillery.  He was wounded in September 1916.  Upon discharge, he entered Osgoode Hall, graduating in 1921.  Until the outbreak of the present war he practised in London, first with the late Crown Attorney J. B. McKillop, then with the firm of Cronyn, Betts & Black, and later went into practice for himself.

He was active in the 12th Field Battery, N.P.A.M., as its commander from July 1933 until 1939 when he helped mobilize the battery for this war.  Until he went overseas in July 1941, he was second in command of the 7th Army Field Regiment, and senior instructor of the artillery wing, Officer’s Training Centre, Brockville, from its foundation.

Returning from overseas in March 1942, he became attached to N.D.H.Q. in Ottawa, the post he held at the time of his death.  He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the King’s birthday list of June of last year.

Born in Springfield, Ont., he came to London in 1921 and had been a resident of this city since that time.  He was the son of Mrs. C. E. Knight, Springfield, and the late M. M. Black.  Besides his mother, he is survived by his wife, Evelyn, and two sons, Roger and Hugh, who reside at 960 Maitland street; two brothers, Squdn. Ldr. S. M. Black, R.C.A.F., Dartmouth, N.S., and Dr. Grant Black, Humberstone, and a sister, Mrs. Candy Miner, St. Catharines.

The Veteran’s Affairs of Canada Book of Remembrance contains the following description of Lt. Col. Black’s career:

JAMES DUNCAN KENNETH BLACK, M.B.E., E.D.

Lieutenant Colonel, Canadian Army

Col. Black was a combat veteran of the Great War 1914-1918, and served with the 12th Battery from 1925 -1939.  He was commanding officer from 1933-1939 when he was called to active status and given staff duties in Canada and the United Kingdom.  He was returned home in ill health and died in Westminster Hospital on April 18, 1945.

Stuart McBrayne Black 

Stuart Black was born on March 3, 1895 in Springfield, the son of Malcolm McBrayne Black (1865-1929) & Annie Romania Chambers (1869-1956). Malcolm was born in Belmont, the son of James Black & Sarah McBrayne, and was an insurance agent in Springfield when he was married on December 30, 1891 in Malahide to Annie Chambers, of Malahide, the daughter of Ralph A. & Mary A. Chambers.  They are buried in St. Thomas Cemetery, West Avenue.

Stuart attended Springfield Public School and St. Thomas Collegiate, where he completed his senior year in 1917.

No attestation paper for Stuart can be found, but a newspaper article states he enlisted in Toronto and went to England where he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He became a pilot, with the rank of Lieutenant, in a squadron of two-seater DH-9day bombers that was attached tot he Independent Air Force engaged in long-range strategic bombing of industrial targets in the Rhineland, Germany. After a number of successful missions, Stuart and his observer were shot down over Mainz, Germany and he was taken prisoner on July 31, 1918. He was repatriated on December 14, 1918 and  returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in St. John, New Brunswick on January 27.  The passenger list describes him as an army officer, and that his destination is Toronto.

The Aylmer Express of August 29, 1918 reported that he may be a prisoner of war:

FLIGHT LIEUT. BLACK MAY BE PRISONER OF WAR IN GERMANY

Daring Springfield Aviator Missing – Son of M. M. Black, Who Has 3 Sons in the Service

Grandson of Mrs. R. Chambers, Aylmer

The letter given below was received August 22nd by M. M. Black, of Springfield, concerning his son, Lieutenant Stewart M. Black, of the Royal Air Force, who was reported missing on July 31. Lieut. Black enlisted with the R.A.F. at Toronto in September 1917 and after 3 months training received his commission as second lieutenant and was sent overseas in December. In England he received further training and proved himself so capable a pilot that he was given a full lieutenant’s rank and sent into France in march of this year, where he had been flying continuously until slightly wounded by an explosive bullet from a Hun machine in June. He had fully recovered and had returned to his old squadron and had been flying only a few days when he received the hit which sent him down. Lieut. Black was just twenty-three years of age, and being of a particularly genial disposition had made friends, both socially and in business. At the time of his enlistment he was employed as traveler for one of the largest manufacturers of electrical goods in Detroit, and was previously employed with Ingram & Davey, St. Thomas. Lieut. Black has two brothers in the service, J. D. Kenneth Black, with the 9th Battery, who has been in France two years, and Sergeant Grant N. Black, hospital staff, Camp Borden.

Letter from Commander

The letter follows:

“Dear Sir – It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you that your son, Lieut. Stewart M. Black, of this squadron, has been missing since yesterday morning. He was over the lines with a number of other machines of this squadron, when they had a very hard fight with a number of hostile machines. After a particularly close portion of this fight your son’s machine was seen to become disabled and go down. I am afraid I have no further news, but will of course let you know at once if I hear any news officially.

I am afraid that we may hear nothing for some months. The address of the observer (2nd Lieut. E. Singleton) next of kin, is E. Singleton, 15 Elmore Road, South Norwood, London, S.E. (father). I think it would be worth your while for you to communicate with him, with a view to exchange of information; also to get someone to see about sending parcels from England for him if he is a prisoner of war.

His kit will be sent to Messrs. Cox Shipping Agency, Charing Cross, London, S.W., and his personal effects to the D.A.G. at the base, to whom you should write as to their disposal.

Your son was one of our original pilots in the 99th Squadron and will be very much missed by everyone. He had done a good deal of valuable work. Please accept my sympathy for you in your anxiety.

Yours very truly, L. A. Pattinson (Major)”

An undated clipping tells of Stuart’s release from the prison camp:

LIEUT. STEWART BLACK ARRIVES IN ENGLAND

Cable Received by Mr. Black, of Springfield, That His Son May Be Home For

Christmas; Will Be Family Reunion

Mr and Mrs. M. M. Black, of Springfield, received a cable Monday morning from Lieut. Stewart M. Black, R.A.F., stating that he had arrived in England and expected to receive leave in order to be home for Christmas. His many friends in this city will rejoice with his parents that he has been released, having been taken a prisoner on July 31 of this year.

Mr. Black also received a prison camp card Monday morning, dated Sept. 30, in which Lieut. Black stated that he had been over nearly the whole of Germany in different prison camps and while in Holzminden, met Lieut. Ian Cameron, son of W. K. Cameron of this city and also Lieut. A. G. Beattie of Westminster.

Lieut. Black’s brother, Gunner Kenneth Black, is at present in the Folkestone Hospital, England, suffering from a wounded arm, and his youngest brother, Sergt. Grant Black, in on the medical staff of Leaside Hospital, Toronto.

The three boys will undoubtedly be home for Christmas, where a joyful welcome will meet them after nearly three years of service for King and Country.

Following his discharge, Stuart studied electricity and illumination, and worked at Wardell Lighting Co. in Detroit from 1919 to 1920, then Faries Manufacturing Co. in Decatur, Illinois from 1920 to 1922.  

He was married on May 21, 1921 to Grace Filer Hart in Detroit, and in late 1922 they moved to Toronto where Stuart joined McDonald and Willson Lighting Studios Ltd., first as manager, then managing director, and in 1926 was promoted to vice president of the company.

In December 1940, Stuart took a leave of absence from his firm and joined the R.C.A.F. on December 9, 1940 as an administrative officer with the rank of Flight Lieutenant and later Squadron Leader. He served on Canada’s east coast as officer in charge of the Aircraft Detection Corps for two years; Bombing Range controller for 8 months, and Camp Commandant at Eastern Air Command from July 1945 to March 1946.  He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire on June 14, 1945.

A description of his service during the Second World War was found in a document titled “R.C.A.F. Personnel Honours & Awards, compiled for the Air Force Association of Canada, 1939-1949″, by Hugh A. Halliday of Orleans, Ontario:

“Stuart McBrayne Black (C3216) – Member, Order of the British Empire – Eastern Air Command Headquarters – Award effective 14 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date.  Born 3 March 1898; attended Springfield Public School and St. Thomas Collegiate Institute.  Employed by McDonald and Willson Lighting Studios, Toronto; enlisted in Toronto, 9 December 1940. Administrative Branch.  Award presented 10 January 1946.  Squadron Leader Black has been employed as officer in charge of the Aircraft Detection Corps from October 1942 until its disbandment in November 1944. Through this period he has worked with tireless energy and has shown outstanding organizing ability in developing the Corps from 3,733 to a peak of 20,023 voluntary and unpaid observers.  His devotion to duty has been reflected in the morale and enthusiasm of the Aircraft Detection Corps which has been responsible for saving the lives of the crews of many operational and training aircraft.  He has displayed exceptional devotion to duty”.

Stuart was discharged from the R.C.A.F. on March 29, 1946. He did not return to Toronto, but took up residence in London, Ontario where he worked in a senior capacity for the Richards-Wilcox Company, a manufacturer of doors and related products. During the 1940s, Stuart and his wife Grace were separated.

Stuart died on April 22, 1960 and is buried with his parents in St. Thomas Cemetery, West Avenue.  The inscription following his name contains the designation: “M.B.E.  R.C.A.F.”

His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, April 22, 1960:

STUART M. BLACK WAS AIRMAN IN BOTH WORLD WARS

LONDON, Ont. – Stuart McBrayne Black, 65, squadron-leader with the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War, and a member of the Order of the British Empire, died Friday.  Born in Springfield, Ont., Mr. Black served as an RCAF pilot-officer in the First World War and was held prisoner by the Germans for several months after his plane was shot down on a mission. During the Second World War, he was officer-in-charge of aircraft recognition with RCAF Eastern command at Halifax.  Since 1947 he had been employed by a London Export firm. He is survived by two sons.

SQDN.-LDR. S. M. BLACK, OBE, WAS NATIVE OF SPRINGFIELD

LONDON, Ont. – Stuart McBrayne Black, 65, of 137 Windsor Crescent, who was made a member of the Order of the British Empire in 1945 by the late King George V, died Friday at Westminster Hospital after a month’s illness.  Mr. Black was a squadron leader with the RCAF during the Second World War and was officer-in-charge of aircraft recognition with Eastern Air Command at Halifax.  He had been decorated many times and his name is inscribed on the honor role of heroes in Toronto.

During the First World War as a pilot officer of the RCAF, he was shot down behind enemy lines in 1918 and held prisoner in Germany for several months. 

He was born in Springfield, second son of Malcolm M. Black and Annie R. Chambers Black. During the years between the two world wars, Sqdn-Ldr. Black was a partner and vice-president in the firm of MacDonald and Wilson Lighting Studios Ltd., 347 Yonge Street, Toronto.  Following the Second World War, he became a resident of London and in 1947 joined the staff of Richard Wilcox as advertising and export manager. 

Mr. Black was a member of the United Church, Canadian Club of London, St. Thomas Gun Club, Military Institute of Toronto, and the Caterpillar Club, an exclusive club for fliers who have been shot down.

Surviving are two sons, George H., of New York; Stewart M., of Chicago; one brother, Dr. Grant N., of Port Colborne; and one sister, Mrs. Canby (Kathleen) Minor, of Short Hills, N.J.  A brother, Lt-Col. J.D.K. Black, died in 1945.

The body is at the Needham Memorial Chapel. Funeral service will be conducted Monday at 2 p.m. by Rev. Uriah Laite, United Church chaplain at Westminster Hospital. Burial will be in St. Thomas cemetery.

Thomas Charles Morrison Blake

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Morris Blake was born on September 29, 1895 at Lyons in South Dorchester, the son of John Colin Blake (1858-1947) & Hannah Elizabeth Sherk (1860-1957). John Colin was born in South Dorchester, the son of John & Cerinda Blake and was a farmer there when he was married on February 4, 1881 at Lyons to Hannah Sherk, a native of Humberstone, Welland Co., but living in South Dorchester, the daughter of Noah & Hester Ann Sherk. They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Morris Blake was a barber living at 10 Mondamin Street, St. Thomas when he enlisted for service with the 91st Battalion on March 7, 1916 in St. Thomas.

An article about Morris appeared in the Aylmer Express, November 22, 1917:

AYLMER SOLDIER WINS MARKSMANSHIP PRIZE

Pte. T. C. Morrison Blake, a former 91st Battalion man, and a son of Mr. Colin Blake of this place, who in a letter received recently states that while he was returned to England some time ago on account of trench fever, he is now in the best of health again and expects to return to France at any moment. Pte. Blake also states in the letter that he has been successful at the ranges, making 135 points, while the maximum necessary to win the prize was only 125. As a result of his excellent marksmanship, which was in competition with 100 men, he was awarded the prize, namely six days’ heave, but unfortunately he will probably have to forego this, on account of the urgent call for men. ‘I don’t mind’, he writes, ‘if they want me at the front I am ready to go and do my bit with the rest of them’.

Morris arrived home from overseas on February 8, 1919, landing in New York from Seaforth, England.  After the war, Morris moved to Aylmer where he was working as a barber when he was married there on January 7, 1920 to Blanche Victoria Canning (1897-1968), a native of Watford, living in Aylmer, the daughter of Frederick William Canning & Catherine Morris Parsons. 

Morris died on May 11, 1961 and following his death Blanche was married in 1966 to Wilfred Roberts.  Morris & Blanche are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Morris’ obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, May 17, 1961:

MORRIS T. C. BLAKE

A native of Lyons, Morris. T. C. Blake, well-known Aylmer barber died Thursday morning in St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital from a heart attack.  He had not been well for a week, and was removed from his home at 339 Talbot Street West a short time before his death.  Mr. Blake was a son of the late J. Colin Blake and Hannah Sherk.  He had lived for the past seven years in Aylmer, and prior to that spent 30 years as a barber in Detroit with the Terminal Barber Shops. Before that he had lived in St. Thomas.  Mr. Blake served overseas in World War I with the 91st Battalion and was a musket instructor.  He was a member of the Aylmer Baptist Church and the church finance committee.  He was also an active member of the Aylmer Optimist Club.  He is survived by his wife, the former Blanche Canning; one son, Jack, of Detroit; two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Barbara) Lenox, of Taylor, Michigan; and Mrs. James (Betty) Elkmeian, of Detroit. Also surviving are eight grandchildren.  Service was held Saturday afternoon at the Jas. H. Barnum Funeral Home with the Rev. Fred Ward of the Aylmer Baptist Church officiating. Pallbearers were Lloyd Charlton, Mahlon Hale, Robert Truman, William Chipchase, Dr. George Harrison, and L. R. Oliver, fellow members of the Optimist Club.  The lovely floral tributes were carried by friends and business associates present. Relatives and friends in attendance from Detroit, Windsor, Chatham, London, Toronto, St. Thomas, Eden, Long Point, Aylmer and district.  Interment was in Aylmer cemetery.

William Roy Blake

808232

Roy Blake was born on April 29, 1888 at Lyons in South Dorchester, the son of John Colin Blake (1858-1947) & Hannah Elizabeth Sherk (1860-1957). John Colin was born in South Dorchester, the son of John & Cerinda Blake and was a farmer there when he was married on February 4, 1881 at Lyons to Hannah Sherk, a native of Humberstone, Welland Co., but living in South Dorchester, the daughter of Noah & Hester Ann Sherk. They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Roy moved to the United States about 1908 and spent time at Chicago, Illinois; Topeka, Kansas, and Detroit. He  was living at 84 Geneva Street, Highland Park, Michigan, when he enlisted for service in March 1918 in the United States forces.  He was employed as a clerk with the Ford Motor Company.  He served in France with the United States Army Medical Corps, and was discharged in July 1919.

He is found on the 1920 census in Detroit, employed as an accountant in a motor company.  He was married to Anna Evers, daughter of Harry & Catherine Evers.  Roy & Anna were still living in Detroit in 1930, with a daughter Dorothy, born about 1920. No further information is known.

John Raynor Hawke Bobbett

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Raynor Bobbett was born on December 6, 1890 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, the son of Stephen James Bobbett & Eliza Brown (1858-1911).  The family is found on the 1901 census living at 55 Florence Road, Preston, Sussex, England.  Raynor emigrated to Canada about 1905 and is found on the 1911 census in Malahide, living with his brother Charles and sister Muriel (later Mrs. Gordon Philpott).  Raynor’s father Stephen was living in California in 1912, but his mother Eliza died on January 15, 1911 at lot 21, concession 2, Malahide.

Raynor was living at Grovesend when he was married on December 25, 1914 in Orwell to Velma Gladys Bingham, a native of Hamilton living in Orwell, the daughter of Thomas Bingham & Mary Jane Hall.

He was farming at R.R. #2 Aylmer when he enlisted for service with the 63rd Battery on September 30, 1916 in St. Thomas.  He was a member of the 30th Battery, C.F.A.  

Raynor returned home from the war in 1919, landing at Halifax on May 29.  He later moved to Barrie in the 1930s where he died on February 17, 1944.  He is buried in St. Paul’s United Church cemetery, Innisfil, near Barrie.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, February 24, 1944:

R. BOBBETT

Mr. J. R. Bobbett, of Barrie, formerly of Aylmer, died at his Barrie home on Thursday last, February 17.  Well known in Aylmer and Belmont districts where he farmed, Mr. Bobbett left Aylmer some ten years ago.  A native of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, he came to Canada 36 years ago. As a member of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, he served in France in World War I.  Besides his wife, the daughter of the late Thomas Bingham, he leaves three sisters, Mrs. J. N. Brice, Aylmer, Miss C. T. Bobbett, Toronto, Mrs. Gordon Bobbett [sic – should be Philpott], Grovesend, and one brother, C. N. Bobbett, Grovesend. Mr. Bobbett leaves 10 children, Mr. R. Bobbett, Toronto; Mrs. Elsie McFadden, Barrie; Mr. Murray Bobbett, Toronto; Stanley, in the R.C.A.F.; Pte. Ronald, in the Royal Canadian Engineers and Gladys, Gerald, Russell, Marian and Lyall, at home. Funeral services were held at Barrie where Mr. Bobbett was buried.

His funeral was reported in the Aylmer Express, March 2, 1944:

RAYNOR H. BOBBETT

The funeral of the late J. Raynor H. Bobbett, a former resident of Aylmer and Malahide, whose death occurred at his Barrie home, on February 17th, following a severe heart condition for some time, was held on Monday, Feb. 21st, from his late residence. Services were conducted by the Rev. Green, of Burton Avenue United Church. The funeral was a military service, the Canadian Legion No. 147, of which the deceased was a member, attended. The floral tributes, which were many and beautiful,  included those of many relatives and friends; The Red Shield; S.  A. Auxiliary War Services; Camp Borden, where Mr. Bobbett was a member of the staff; Canadian Legion; Burton Ave., W.A., and Sunday School classes; Drawing Dept. Canadian Wire and Cable Co., Leaside, and 3-B Barrie Collegiate.  Relatives and friends from a distance attending were: Burton Bobbett, Grovesend; Miss C. T. Bobbett, Toronto; C. R. Brown, Toronto; Mr and Mrs Harry Reid, Shelbourne; R. S. and Mrs. Bobbett and daughter, Toronto; Murray Bobbett, Toronto; Spr. Ronald Bobbett, R.C.E., Petawawa; LAC Stanley Bobbett, RCAF, Labrador, arrived too late for the funeral.  Interment was made in St. Paul’s United Church cemetery, Innisfil.

Charles Nurton Bobbett

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Nurton Bobbett, and he was born on August 30, 1885 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, the son of Stephen James Bobbett & Eliza Brown (1858-1911).  The family is found on the 1901 census living at 55 Florence Road, Preston, Sussex, England.  Nurton emigrated to Canada about 1905 and is found on the 1911 census in Malahide, with his brother Raynor and sister Muriel (later Mrs. Gordon Philpott).  Nurton’s father Stephen was living in California in 1912, but his mother Eliza died on January 15, 1911 at lot 21, concession 2, Malahide.

Nurton enlisted for service on August 21, 1915 in St. Thomas.  He names his next of kin as his father, S. J. Bobbett, of 1731 Franklin Street, San Fransisco, California.  Nurton’s address is not given on the attestation paper, but he was farming near Grovesend in Malahide township.

Nurton returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in New York on February 8.  He returned to Grovesend.

He died on September 23, 1970 and is buried in Aylmer cemetery with his wife Elizabeth (1887-1975), and sons Samuel (died 1932) and Stephen (1929-1940).

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, September 30, 1970:

CHARLES N. BOBBETT

Service for Charles Nurton Bobbett of RR 2 Aylmer, who died on Wednesday, September 23, 1970, was held from the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home, 119 Talbot St. East, Aylmer, Saturday afternoon. Rev. Charles Forrest of the Malahide United Church conducted the service during which Mrs. James Wright presided at the organ. The pallbearers were Stephen Bobbett, Wayne Bobbett, Edwin Hankinson, Gordon Jones, Chester Baughman and Norman Jones. Interment was in Aylmer cemetery. Relatives and friends attended from Toronto, Barrie, Bracebridge, Sarnia, London, Grovesend, Copenhagen, Windsor, Aylmer and district.

Mr. Bobbett died in Westminster Hospital, London, following a lengthy illness, in his 88th year.  He was born in Tumbridge Wells, England, but spend most of his life in Malahide Township.  He was a patient at Westminster Hospital for the past five years. During World War I,  he served with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles.

Mr. Bobbett is survived by his wife, the former Elizabeth Martin of Windsor; one son, Charles of Toronto; three stepsons, William McCrory of RR 2 Aylmer; James McCrory of St. Thomas, and John McCrory of Windsor; one step-daughter, Mrs. Anthony (Jennie) Diondati of Windsor; one sister, Mrs. Gordon (Murial) Philpott of RR 2 Aylmer; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Ray (Velma) Bobbett of Bracebridge. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren.

Arthur John Bodsworth

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Arthur Bodsworth was born on April 3, 1892 in Brickhill Bow, Buckinghamshire, England, the son of William George Bodsworth & Mary Tompkins.  The family is found on the 1901 England census living at 13 Copeswood Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, England.  

Arthur emigrated to Canada in 1913 and was a plumber living in Port Burwell when he was married there on June 14, 1916 to Viola V. Williams (1891-1973), a native of Houghton township living in Port Burwell, the daughter of Arthur Williams & Louise Tilley.

Arthur was living in Port Burwell working as a tinsmith when he enlisted for service on February 14, 1918 in London.  An updated address was added as 666 Oxford Street, London, Ontario.  He served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps, and in Siberia at the 11th Stationary Hospital. Sergt. Bodsworth returned from overseas on May 6, 1919, sailing from Vladivostok, Russia.

Arthur died in 1962 and is buried with his wife in Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Port Burwell.  His obituary, from an undated clipping, follows:

ARTHUR J. BODSWORTH, OF PORT BURWELL, DIES

Port Burwell – Arthur John Bodsworth, of Port Burwell, died early this morning at the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital. He was born in Buckinghamshire 70 years ago, and spent his boyhood in Watford near London, England. He immigrated to Canada in 1913, and has lived in Port Burwell ever since, except for a two year period during the First World War, when he served with the Canadian Forces in Vladivostok, Russia.

At Port Burwell he worked for the A. N. Wright Hardware Store since 1916, and retired last April when the store was sold.

A prominent Anglican, he was a member of Trinity Church here, and was a church warden for many years.  Mr. Bodsworth was a member of the Elgin Deanery Anglican Laymen’s Association, and at one time served as the president of this organization. He was a village councillor for a number of years.

Mr. Bodsworth is survived by his wife, the former Viola Williams; one daughter, Mrs. Reginald (Marion) Buckle, of Hamilton; one son, Fred, of Toronto; and two brothers in England.  Resting at the H. A. Ostrander’s and Son Funeral Home, Tillsonburg. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Albert Bottrill

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Albert Boothe Bottrill was born in 1863 in Barwell, Leicestershire, England. His mother’s name was Mary, but his father had died prior to his birth. On the 1871 census, Albert is living with his grandparents, Amos & Maria Bottrill in Barwell.  Albert was married in 1882 to  Prudence Mary Jane Clarke (1863-1925), the daughter of George Clarke & Rose Watson, a native of Hinckley, England. Albert & Prudence are found on the 1901 census living at 37 Countesthorpe Road, Wigston, Magna, Leicestershire, where Albert is a boot & shoe operator.  They had four children:  Grace Maud, 13, Albert George, 12, Beatrice Ethel, 10, and Stanley Herbert, 6.

The family emigrated to Canada about 1911 and probably settled in Aylmer before moving to Brantford  where they were living at 107 Lyons Avenue when Albert enlisted for service there on October 23, 1915.  He gives his date of birth as February 9, 1871, and names his wife, Mrs. P. M. Bottrill as his next of kin.  He was a shoemaker.

Albert returned from overseas on October 7, 1918, arriving in Quebec, and returning to his wife in Brantford.  Shortly after returning, Albert & Prudence returned to Aylmer where they were living when she died in an auto accident on November 15, 1925, at the age of 62.  Her death record states she has lived in Canada for 14 years, and in Aylmer for 10 years.

Albert was remarried to Florence A. M. Evans (1869-1936), daughter of John Evans of Walpole Township. His third wife, Martha Jane (Armstrong) Hibberd (1881-1943) is buried in Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Port Burwell. He and Martha were married in Port Burwell in 1937. She was the daughter of John Archibald Armstrong & Sarah Catherine Brandow. 

Albert died on June 3, 1944 in his 82nd year and is buried with Prudence & Florence  in Aylmer cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, June 8, 1944:

ALBERT BOTTRILL PASSES SUDDENLY

Established Shoe Repair Business on Talbot Street

Albert Bottrill, a resident of Aylmer and this community for 30 years, died suddenly at his home on Caverly Road on Saturday afternoon.  He was in his 82nd year and was born in Barwell, England. He came to Aylmer some 30 years ago and was employed in the shoe factory in this town.  Later he established the shoe repair business which is now operated by his son. Thirteen years ago he purchased a small poultry farm on the Caverly Road, just west and south of the town, where he had since resided.  Mr. Bottrill was a veteran of the war of 1914-19, and was a member of Aylmer Post 81 of the Canadian Legion.  He was an adherent of Trinity Anglican Church. His wife predeceased him 20 years ago.

Surviving are two sons and two daughters, George Bottrill, in Wisconsin; Stanley, of Aylmer; Mrs. George Warner of Malahide, who was keeping house for her father; and Mrs. Huron Sears, Aylmer.

There was a private service, conducted by the Rev. E. E. West at the home on Caverly Road on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.  Interment was made in the Aylmer Cemetery. There were many floral tributes from relatives and friends.  The pallbearers were: Chas. Marchant, Syd. Vail, Robert Sutherland, Fred German, John Downing and George Watson. Relatives from a distance were from Stoughton, Wis., Toronto, Weston, London and St. Thomas.

Carl Bowen

The Aylmer Express of October 17, 1918 reports that Pte. Carl Bowen, son of Charles, is ill with influenza at a military hospital in London.  However, no attestation paper can be found for Carl.

Carl Benson Bowen was born on November 8, 1898 in Malahide, the son of Charles E. Bowen & Clara Kilmer.  Charles was born in Malahide about 1864, the son of William & Lydia Bowen, and was married in Malahide on September 30, 1897 to Clara L. Kilmer, also of Malahide, the daughter of William & Sophia Kilmer. The family is found on the 1901 and 1911 census in Malahide.

Carl became a medical doctor and moved to Oakland, California about 1923.  He was married on March 17, 1927 to Verland Blashill, of Winnipeg. He and his wife and son Howard (born about 1928) are found on the 1930 census in Oakland, California.

Dr. Bowen died on April 16, 1955 in Napa, California.

Emer William John Bowes

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Emer William John Bowes was born on April 7, 1893 at Castlederg in Albion Township, Peel County, the son of Frederick Bowes (1857-1924) & Isabella McCallum (1859-1943), who were married on February 12, 1890 in North Dorchester. Isabella was from North Dorchester township, the daughter of John McCallum & Caroline Willis. Frederick was born in Albion Township, the son of William & Nancy Bowes.  After living in Peel County for a few years, the family moved to South Dorchester township, where they are found on the 1901 and 1911 census.  Frederick & Isabella are buried in Avon Cemetery.

Emer was a school teacher living at 20 Redan Street, London, when he enlisted for service on January 5, 1918 in London.  He names his next of kin as his father, Fred, of R.R. #1 Belmont.

Emer was a resident of the University of Toronto and a cadet in a flying corps when he was married on May 25, 1918 in Toronto to Violet Hortense Smith, a native of Dorchester, living in London, the daughter of William Smith & Esther Hoffman.

No further information is known.

Byron Boyes

The name Byron Boyes is found on an Honor Roll unveiled at the Aylmer High School on May 23, 1918, listing students and former students who served overseas.

An attestation paper cannot be found for Byron, but he is believed to be the Byron Boyes who was born on May 16, 1889 in Thamesville, Kent County, the son of William James Boyes & Adelaide Louise Holmes.  William was a teacher, and was born at Paris, Ontario, the son of James & Martha Boyes. He was living in the Township of East York when he was married on October 25, 1888 in Toronto to Adelaide Louise Holmes, a native of Toronto living in Blenheim, Ontario, the daughter of Hugh & Louisa Holmes.

Byron’s mother Adelaide was also a school teacher, and is found living with her mother Louisa Holmes on the 1901 census in Aylmer, with her children including Byron.  Newspaper indexes reveal that she was a teacher at Calton, Dunboyne and New Sarum during the 1899 to 1902 period.  She moved from the Aylmer area about 1909 to Fort William where she is found on the 1911 census.  A Byron Boyes is found on the 1911 census in Temagami, Forest Reserve, Nipissing District.

Byron H. Boyes is listed in the July 28, 1916 issue of the London Gazette, as a Sub-Lieutenant.

Passenger lists show a Byron H. Boyse, age 30, returning to Canada from Liverpool, arriving in Halifax on August 31, 1919.  His destination was Toronto.  The list does not indicate that he is a returning soldier, however.

No further information can be found.

Robert Henry Brackstone

53656

Robert’s name appears in a letter printed in the Aylmer Express, November 26, 1914 from “the Aylmer Boys” while in London awaiting their journey overseas. His name is not included in any previous lists of recruits, nor is his place of residence given on his attestation paper.  It is assumed he was living in the Aylmer area when he enlisted for service on October 26, 1914 in St. Thomas.  He was born on December 7, 1893 in Poole, Dorset, England.  He names his next of kin as his father, Charles R. Brackstone, of #1 Croft Villa, Upper Post Stone [?], Poole, England.  He was a farmer and was not married.

The family is found on the 1901 census living at Cranbrook Villa in Branksome, Dorset.  Charles is in the navy, and his wife’s name is Mary.

No further information is known, but it is possible that Robert returned to England following the war.  A marriage record was found for a Robert Henry Brackstone to Mabel Chamberlain in 1922 in Poole, Dorset, England.

George Clarence Bradt

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George Clarence Bradt was born on March 27, 1887 in Parkhill, Ontario, the son of George Nelson Bradt (1840-1921) & Catherine Hoover.  George Nelson Bradt was born in Dunnville, the son of John Bradt & Mary Austin.  He & Catherine were living in Port Rowan in the late 1870’s, but were living in West Williams Township, Middlesex County on the 1881 census. By the 1891 census, George was a widower living  in Kingsville, Essex County.  On the 1901 and 1911 census they were living in Pelee. In 1911 George Clarence was working as a farm hand for John & Frances Burdfield, in Pelee.

George was farming on Pelee Island when he enlisted for service on April 2, 1918 in London.  He names his next of kin as his father, George Nelson Bradt, of Pelee Island.

He served in France with the 1st Battalion and was awarded the Victory & British War Medals.  He was discharged on June 12, 1919.

George was living at Pelee where he was married on May 10, 1923 in Leamington to Lucinda C. Taylor (1903-1980), a native of Harlin County, Kentucky, living on Pelee Island, the daughter of Isaac Newton Taylor & Rachel Jane Daniel.  On the marriage record, George states he was born in “Bellmont, Ontario”.

George & Lucinda moved to Bayham township, probably in the late 1920s.  He died on July 11, 1982 and is buried with his wife in Straffordville cemetery. His obituary from an undated clipping:

GEORGE C. BRADT

George C. Bradt of Port Burwell passed away on Sunday, July 11, 1982 at Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, in his 96th year.  Born at Parkhill, March 27, 1887, he was a son of the late George Belson [sic] Bradt and the former Katherine Hoover.  His wife, the former Lucinda Jane Taylor, predeceased him on November 20, 1980.  Mr. Bradt was a member of Port Burwell and Bayham Legion Branch 524 and was a veteran of World War I.

Surviving are six daughters, Mrs. Bud (Beulah) Rung of Fort Erie; Mrs. Maelene Millard of RR 1 Vienna; Mrs. Bob (Betty) Rohrer, Mrs. Harold (Geraldine) Kaufman, Mrs. Norman (Dorothy) Hendrick and Mrs. Kenneth (Beatrice) Marr, all of Port Buwell; two sons, Bud Bradt of Fort Erie and Edward Bradt of Port Burwell; 23 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.  He was predeceased by five sisters and four brothers.

Resting at the Ostrander’s Funeral Home, Tillsonburg, where service will be held Wednesday, July 14 at 1:30 p.m., conducted by Mr. Harry Alward of the Free Methodist Church and Rev. Martin magnus of the Brethren in Christ Church, Fort Erie.

Pallbearers will be grandsons Richard Millard, Edward Bradt Jr., David Kaufman, Gerry Hendrick, Robert Cain and Douglas Marr.  Interment in Straffordville cemetery. Memorial donations to the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated by the family. 

Walter Peart Bradt

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Walter Peart Bradt was born on November 9, 1895 in Yarmouth, the son of Joseph Irving Bradt (1856-1954) & Mary Elizabeth Peart (1862-1947).  Joseph was born in Wainfleet Township, the son of Thomas & Elizabeth Bradt, but was a farmer living in Yarmouth when he was married on March 19, 1894 in Oneida, Haldimand Co., to Mary Peart, a resident and native of York in Seneca Township, Haldimand County.  She was the daughter of Thomas & Margaret Peart.  Joseph & Mary were living in Yarmouth in 1901, but by the 1911 census had moved to Malahide.  They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Walter Bradt was a farmer living at R.R. #4 Aylmer when he enlisted for service on April 30, 1918 in London.

Walter was married on July 18, 1929 to Elsie Marguerite McEown (1906-1981), the daughter of Leaman McEown of Aylmer.

Walter died on March 27, 1988 at the age of 72, and is buried with his wife in Aylmer cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, March 30, 1988:

WALTER BRADT

Walter Bradt, 92, of RR 4 Aylmer, a retired farmer, died at the Aylmer Nursing Home on Tuesday, March 29, 1988.  Mr. Bradt, a member of the Church of Christ in Aylmer, lived all his life in East Elgin.

He was born in Yarmouth Township on November 9, 1895, a son of the late Joseph and Mary (Peart) Bradt.  Mr. Bradt is survived by his son Ronald and his wife Aletha Bradt of RR 4 Aylmer; his daughter Mrs. Nancy (Charles) Campbell of London; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  His wife Elsie (McEown) Bradt died in 1981.  

Mr. Bradt was also predeceased by his brothers Thomas and Irving and his sisters Mrs. Margaret Garrod and Mrs. Mary Ackert.  Pastor Stephen Peltz of the Church of Christ will conduct the funeral service from the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home in Aylmer on Thursday, March 31 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Aylmer Cemetery.

Alfred James Brandow

3134403

Alfred Brandow was born on September 19, 1893 in Port Burwell, the son of Andrew Brandow & Eliza Walker.  Andrew was a fisherman, and was born about 1867, the son of William Brandow & Mary Meadows. He was married on December 6, 1891 in Port Burwell, to Eliza Walker, also of Port Burwell, the daughter of Ira Walker & Margaret Smith. 

Andrew and his family moved to Ridgetown where they are found on the 1901 census.  Eliza died after this date, and Andrew was married in New Sarum in 1905 to Rebecca Wallace Teeple. They moved to the Dunboyne area of Malahide prior to the 1911 census.  Andrew was a widower living in Malahide when he was married on October 29, 1921 to Pearl Vannatter of Aylmer, a widow, daughter of Benjamin Mitts & Martha Lyons.

Alfred was a teamster living at 509 Bathurst Street, London when he enlisted for service on June 24, 1918 in London.  He had served two years in the 30th Field Battery.

Alfred was married on April 16, 1930 to Henrietta Mae Dennis (1903-1982), daughter of Robert & Caroline Eleanor Dennis.  He died on November 20, 1952, and is buried in South Park Cemetery, St. Thomas.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, November 21, 1952:

ALFORD BRANDEAU, 59, IS CLAIMED BY DEATH

Native of Port Burwell Lived Here Many Years

Alfred Brandeau, 124 Chestnut street, a retired employee of the St. Thomas Bronze Company, died in the Memorial Hospital on Thursday morning, after a long illness, aged 59 years.

Born in Port Burwell, a son of Andrew Brandeau and the late Eliza (Walker) Brandeau, the deceased resided in St. Thomas and district most of his life. He gave up his position with the Bronze Company two years ago due to ill health.  He was an adherent of Central United Church.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Mae (Dennis) Brandeau; two sons, Charles and Lavern at home; his father, Andrew Brandeau, of Port Burwell; one brother, Andrew Brandeau, of St. Catharines; his stepmother, Mrs. Brandeau, Port Burwell; a step-brother, Geore Vanetter, Balaclava street, St. Thomas; and a step-sister, Mrs. Lockwood, of Aylmer.

The remains are resting at the L. B. Sifton Funeral Home where service will be conducted on Saturday at 2 p.m., by Rev. E. J. Roulston, of Central United Church.

Earl Leaman Brandow

3135145   

Earl Leaman Brandow was born on July 8, 1897 in Port Burwell, the son of Andrew Brandow & Eliza Walker.  Andrew was born about 1867, the son of William Brandow & Mary Meadows. He was married on December 6, 1891 in Port Burwell, to Eliza Walker, also of Port Burwell, the daughter of Ira Walker & Margaret Smith.  

Andrew and his family moved to Ridgetown where they are found on the 1901 census.  Eliza died after this date, and Andrew was married in New Sarum in 1905 to Rebecca Wallace Teeple. They moved to the Dunboyne area of Malahide prior to the 1911 census.   Andrew was a widower living in Malahide when he was married on October 29, 1921 to Pearl Vannatter of Aylmer, a widow, daughter of Benjamin Mitts & Martha Lyons.

Earl was a farmer living at R. R. #1 Dunboyne, not married, when he enlisted for service on May 14, 1918 in London.  He gives his date of birth as August 10, 1896.

The following article appeared in the Aylmer Express, March 11, 1943, when Earl’s brother Andrew of St. Catharines writes to the paper seeking contact with his father and siblings who were last known to be living in the Aylmer area twelve years ago:

HOPES TO HEAR FROM RELATIVES HERE

Andrew Brandow Jr. Is Wanting to Contact Relatives He Has Not Heard From in Twelve Years

The Express has been asked by Andrew Brandow Jr., of 23 Gerrard St., St. Catharines, Ontario, to make public the fact that he would like to contact his father, Mr. Andrew M. Brandow; his brothers, Alfred James Brandow, Earl Leamon Brandow and Hansel Ashley Brandow, and his sister, Leona Brandow.

If any one know of the whereabouts of these people Mr. Brandow asks that he would greatly appreciate it if they would send him their address.  He has not contacted his relatives for about twelve years, when they were living in this district.  He would like to hear from them.

Research has shown that one of the above mentioned brothers, Hartsell Brandow, died in London in 1944 and is buried in Aylmer cemetery, but there appears to be no marker. In his obituary, it states that his brother Earl is living in British Columbia.

Earl Lehman Brandow died in Quesnel, British Columbia on November 20, 1980 at the age of 87.

Alvah Brinn

3135164

Alvah Brinn was born on May 13, 1896 at Guysborough in Houghton Township, Norfolk County, the son of David J.  Brinn (1864-1920) & Amelia V. Stratton (1867-1926).  David was born in Houghton Township, the son of William & Ann Brinn, and was farming there when he was married on March 13, 1895 in Middleton township to Amelia Stratton, of Bayham, the daughter of Thomas & Ann Stratton.  The family is found on the 1901 and 1911 census in Houghton township. David & Amelia are buried in Guysborough cemetery.

Alvah was living at R.R. #6 Tillsonburg when he enlisted for service on May 14, 1918 in London.  He names his next of kin as his father, David, of Guysborough. Alvah returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on July 8.

Alvah was farming in Bayham township when he was married on February 7, 1923 in Tillsonburg to Vera May Garnham (1901-1951), of Houghton, the daughter of Henry Garnham & Jennie Hazen.

Alvah died in 1976 and is buried with his wife in Straffordville cemetery.

William Andrew Brinn

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William Brinn was born on December 2, 1892 in Vienna, the son of John N. Brinn (1857 – 1938) and his wife Emeline Ostrander (1864 – 1945). They are buried in Guysborough Cemetery.  William’s brother, John Franklin Brinn was killed in action on September 27, 1918.

William was living at Vienna employed as a dredger when he enlisted for service on July 18, 1918 in London.

He died in 1957 and is buried in St. Luke’s cemetery, Vienna with his wife Ellen J. (1897-1954).

Charles Orland Brooks

3310707

Orland Brooks was born on June 2, 1897 in Springfield, the son of Daniel Edgar Brooks (1869-1966) & Emily Josephine McCready (1874-1945).  Daniel was born in South Dorchester, the son of Charles Brooks & Charlotte Charlton, and was farming there when he was married on May 23, 1894 in Brownsville to Josephine McCready, a native of Walsingham, living in Dereham, the daughter of James & Mary Ann McCready.  They are buried in Kelvin United Cemetery, Windham Township, Norfolk County.

Orland was a farmer living in Windham Township when he was married at Scotland in Brant County on December 5, 1917 to Leta Salina Martin (1895-1959), of Burford Township, daughter of Marshall Martin & Emma Green.

Orland’s address is given as Kelvin, Ontario, and he was farming there when he enlisted for service on May 8, 1918.

Orland died in 1967 and is buried in Kelvin United Cemetery, Windham Township, Norfolk County.

Louis Brooks

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Louis Brooks was born on July 12, 1889 in Springfield, the son of Jesse Corless Brooks & Mary A. Silverthorn.  Jesse was born about 1844 in Elgin County, the son of John D. Brooks & Polly Corless.  Jesse and Mary lived near Calton in Malahide Township, but had moved to Wilton Grove in Westminster Township, Middlesex County by 1917.  They later moved to Saskatchewan.

Louis Brooks was a farmer living at RR #1 Wilton Grove when he enlisted for service on February 25, 1918 in London.

He returned from overseas on March 24, 1919, arriving in Halifax.

Louis died on May 23, 1975 in London, at the age of 87, and is buried in Woodland Cemetery, London.  His obituary appeared in the London Free Press, May 23, 1975:

BROOKS – At Westminster Hospital on Friday, May 23, 1975, Louis Brooks, in his 88th year. Survived by several nieces and nephews. Funeral service in the Evans Funeral Home, 648 Hamilton Road, on Saturday, May 24 at 11 a.m.  Interment in Woodland Cemetery. Rev. Allan Young, All Saints Anglican Church, officiating.

Roland Angus Brooks

190216

Roland Brooks was born on July 1, 1896 in Aylmer, the son of James Stanton Brooks (1863-1921) & Anna Marilla Scriver (1868-1928).  James & Anna are found in the 1901 Aylmer census where he is a plasterer, and in 1911 where James’ occupation is teamster. Following James’ death, Anna was married to Joseph Scott.  She was the daughter of James Scriver and Sarah Willis. James & Anna are buried in Orwell Cemetery.

Roland’s brother Fred Levern Brooks was killed in action on February 11, 1918.

Roland was living in Aylmer working as a butcher when he enlisted for service on March 31, 1916 with the 91st Battalion.  He belonged to the 30th Battery C.F.A., in Aylmer. He returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on June 13.  He was married to Ellen Clunas and lived in Aylmer before moving to London.

Roland died on August 15, 1964 in London, and is buried in Aylmer cemetery, with a military marker bearing the following inscription:

Roland A. Brooks  Private  C.M.G.C.  C.E.F.  15 Aug. 1964 Age 68 

His obituary and funeral notice appeared in the London Free Press, August 17, 1964:

BROOKS – At Westminster Hospital, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 1964, Roland Angus Brooks, of 945 Lorne Ave., in his 69th year. Beloved husband of Ellen Clunas Brooks and dear father of William, Thomas, Charles and Gerald, all of London; Mrs. Ross Miller (Margaret) of London; Mrs. B. William Little (Mary), of Sterling, Ontario; Mrs. Kenneth Wilson (Dorothy) of London; Mrs. Terrence King (Joan) of London; Miss Lynda Brooks, at home; dear brother of Walter and Clarence Brooks of London, and Mrs. Milton Ramsey of Sarnia. Also surviving are nine grandchildren. Resting at the Needham Memorial Chapel, 320 Dundas St., where funeral service will be conducted on Monday, August 17, at 1:00 p.m. Interment Aylmer cemetery.

ROLAND BROOKS – Service was held today at the Needham Funeral Chapel for Roland Angus Brooks, 68, of 945 Lorne Ave., who died Saturday at Westminster Hospital. Rev. Fred T. Darnell, of Egerton Street Baptist church, officiated. Burial was in Aylmer Cemetery. Pallbearers were Thomas and Larry Szajna, Charles Ouelltee, Terrence King, Kenneth Wilson, and William Little.

William Arthur Brooks

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William Arthur Brooks was born on March 23, 1897 at Glencolin in Malahide, the son of William Edward Brooks (1844-1925) & Violetta M. Teller (1870-1911). William Edward was a native of Malahide, the son of Jason L. & Eliza M. Brooks, and was a farmer living in Malahide when he was married on September 5, 1893 at Glencolin to Violetta Teller, of Glencolin, the daughter of John Teller & Sarah Jane Brown.  William & Violetta lived in the Glencolin area at lot 21, concession 8.  They are buried in Luton cemetery.

William Arthur Brooks was a farmer living at R.R. 4 Aylmer (Glencolin) when he enlisted for service on May 14, 1918.

 He married 2 Oct 1932 Lydia Margaret Simmons who was born 1908 and died 2007. William died 21 March 1979 at Rich Hill, Simcoe County, Ontario.

Clarence Roy Brown

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Clarence Roy Brown was born on September 24, 1896 in Bayham, the son of George Albert Brown (1858-1937) & Ida Alberta Hough (1864-1944).  George was born in Malahide, the son of William Henry & Christina Brown, and was farming there when he was married on December 13, 1882 in St. Thomas to Ida Hough, of Port Stanley, the daughter of Henry & Alice Hough.  The family is found on the 1901 and 1911 census in Bayham, where George was a fisherman.  George & Ida are buried in Union cemetery.

Clarence R. Brown’s attestation paper is not available for viewing.

He was living in Port Burwell when he was married on September 25, 1919 in Bayham to Bertha L. Smith (1900-1989), of Bayham, daughter of Bruce Smith & Louise Durdle.

Roy died on September 29,  1979 and is buried with his wife in Aylmer Cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, October 3, 1979:

CLARENCE ROY BROWN

Clarence “Roy” Brown, 83, of RR 1 Port Burwell, died Saturday, Sept. 29 at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital.  Mr. Brown was born in Port Burwell on Sept. 24, 1896. He was the son of the late George and Ida Brown.

Mr. Brown was a retired superintendent from McConnell’s Nursery. He was a member of the Lakeview Baptist Church, past president of the Vienna Lions Club and for 35 years was secretary-treasurer of the Lakeview Public School Board.

Surviving are wife, the former Bertha Smith; sons, Allan of Delhi and George of Clinton; daughters, Mrs. Kenneth (Marion) Mainprize of St. Marys, and Mrs. Marwin (Muriel) Walker of Latchford, and sisters, Mrs. Edna Parsons and Mrs. Marjorie Truam, both of London.  Also surviving are 17 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Mr. Brown was predeceased by one son, Max; brother, Harold and Albert, and sisters Mrs. Alma McConnell, Mrs. Lottie Sharard and Beatrice.

The funeral was held Tuesday, Oct. 2 from the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home with Rev. Gordon Woodcock of Aylmer Baptist Church officiating. Pallbearers were Harry Summers, Les Jones, Ray Baxter, Wyn Brown, Don McConnell and Mac Millard.  Flowers were carried by Harold Baughman, Cy Phillpott and Henry Mooseberger. Burial was made in Aylmer Cemetery.

Eugene Mansfield Brown

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Eugene Brown was born on November 24, 1895 at Corinth in Malahide, the son of Charles M. Brown (1864-1928) & Emma Matthews (1863-1917).  Charles was born in Malahide, the son of Isaac & Esther Brown, and was living there when he was married on March 2, 1887 in Houghton Township to Emma Matthews, a native of Malahide living in Houghton, the daughter of Thomas Matthews & Elizabeth Kennedy. They lived at lot 35, concession 9, Malahide, and are buried in Springfield cemetery. 

Eugene was a farmer living at Corinth when he enlisted for service on April 25, 1918 in London.

The Aylmer Express of May 23, 1918 contains an article where the Corinth Orangemen give Eugene Brown a send off prior to going into training:

CORINTH ORANGEMAN GIVEN ROYAL SEND-OFF

A royal send-off was given Eugene Brown, son of Charles Brown, Corinth, a member of the Orange Lodge, last Monday on the eve of his departure for London to report for military service. The members of the Order with their wives and friends of the young man, gathered at the Literary Hall and a splendid programme was entered into. During the evening a well worded address was read by Arthur Hardwick, of Aylmer, and Worshipful Master, Henry Foster, made a presentation of a gold emblamic ring, of the Royal Arch Degree. Addresses were given by Rev. McRoberts, J. W. Allen, Tillsonburg, Henry Foster, Bro. Ferris, of Tillsonburg, J. G. Turnbull, Ira Hayward. Instrumental numbers were rendered by Mrs. J. L. Brown, songs and readings by Miss Edna Ronson and Will Beattie. The hall was filled and a splendid evening enjoyed. Past County Master, A. W. Johnson, occupied the chair.

He was farming in Malahide when he was married on January 22, 1919 in Aylmer to Nora G. Nelson (1898-1984), a native of Malahide living in Bayham, the daughter of G.L. & Emma Nelson.

Eugene died in 1953 and is buried with his wife in Springfield cemetery.

Howard Scott Brown

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Howard was born on December 23, 1888 at Luton in Malahide Township, the son of Willard Wentworth Brown and Ruth Pritchard.  Willard W. Brown (1867-1949) was born in Malahide, the son of Walter Brown & Sabra Doolittle.  He was married on September 15, 1885 in Straffordville to Ruth Pritchard (1864-1940), born in Malahide, the daughter of Joseph Pritchard and Mary Esseltine.  Willard & Ruth are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Howard was living at R.R. #1 Dunboyne when he enlisted for service on June 10, 1916 in London.  He was serving as a Sergeant in the 30th Battery of C.F.A.  His occupation was machinist. 

The St. Thomas Journal of May 23, 1917 reports that Pte. Howard Brown of Luton has returned from duty.

Howard was married in Sandwich, Essex County on March 10, 1921 to Phoebe Osborn of Windsor, the daughter of David & Rose Osborn. He was a Provincial Police officer at the time, and was living in Walkerville, Essex County.

Howard died on November 12, 1977 in Windsor, and is buried in Windsor Grove Cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, November 16, 1977:

HOWARD BROWN

Howard Scott Brown, 89, of 1670 Olive Road, Windsor, died November 12, 1977 at Windsor Western Hospital Centre, I.O.D.E. Unit.  Mr. Scott was born in Elgin County.  He was a member of St. Paul’s United Church and a Past Master of the Orange Lodge and a veteran of World War I.

Mr. Scott was predeceased by his wife Phoebe Ann Brown in 1956.  Surviving are two sons, Alfred Howard and Gordon William of Windsor and two daughters Mrs. Earl (Pearl) Bullard of Windsor and Mrs. Jack (Betty Ann) Foley of Wainwright, Alberta; 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Funeral service was held Tuesday, November 15 from the Chapel of Walter D. Kelly Funeral Home, Windsor with Rev. Merrill J. James officiating. Burial was in Windsor Grove Cemetery.

Von Clemo Brown

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According to his attestation paper, Von Brown was born on June 4, 1893 in London, England, the son of Frederick Brown & Elizabeth Sturgeon. However, his obituary states he was born in Burslew, England on June 4, 1894. 

He emigrated to Canada at the age of 20, leaving Liverpool on the ship Tunisian, and arriving in Halifax on February 22, 1913.  The passenger list states his destination was St. John, New Brunswick.

Von Brown enlisted for service on October 12, 1915 in London.  He was a farmer and was single.  He names his next of kin as his father, Frederick, of 12 North Parade, Oxford, England.  He enlisted with the Depot Regiment of Canadian Mounted Rifles.  No address is given on the attestation paper.  

Von was farming in Bayham when he was married there on May 21, 1919 to Carrie R. Orton (1896-1974), of Bayham, the daughter of George W. Orton & Alma Knott.

Von died on February 14,  1979 and is buried with his wife in Richmond West Cemetery. His name appears on the Orton family monument with an 1896 year of birth; while a footstone beside it gives his date of birth as June 4, 1894.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, February 21, 1979:

VON C. BROWN

Von Clemo Brown of RR 1 Aylmer (Richmond) died Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Westminster Hospital, London, after a long illness.  He was 85 years old.  Mr. Brown was born in Burslew, England on June 4, 1894.  He was a retired farmer working previously as an electrician and carpenter.  He is the son of the late Frederick and Elizabeth (Sturgeon) Brown.

He was a member of Richmond United Church and formerly the Malahide and Bayham Baptist Church until its closing, and a life member and past president of the Colonel Talbot Branch, Royal Canadian Legion.  He was a former secretary-treasurer for the Richmond Cemetery.

He was predeceased by his wife Carrie (Orton) Brown in 1974, two brothers and two sisters.  Surviving is: son, Maurice of Calgary; daughter, Mrs. Bert (Phyllis) Von Konsky of California; brother, Roy, of New York; sister, Mrs. Amy Tisan of England and sister-in-law, Mrs. William (Bertha) Berdan of Richmond.  A number of nieces and nephews, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren are also surviving.

The funeral was held Saturday, Feb. 17 from Kebbel Funeral Home with Rev. Gordon Woodcock of Aylmer Baptist Church, the Legion padre, officiating.

Bearers were Don Fick, George Palmer, Mike Koleada, Mike Rokeby, Norm Honsinger and Denby Breen. Burial was made in the Aylmer cemetery.

Lieutenant-Colonel Walter James Brown

Lt.-Col. Walter James Brown is found on an Honor Roll unveiled at the Aylmer High School on May 23, 1918, listing students and former students who served overseas. 

Walter James Brown was born on July 15, 1873 in Malahide, the son of Nicholas Carter Brown (1826-1920) & Margaret Williams (1842-1877).  Nicholas was born in Malahide, the son of Walter Brown & Jemima Carter, and was a widower when he was married on December 25, 1867 in Aylmer to Margaret Williams, a native of Queenston living in Dereham Township, the daughter of James & Rebecca Williams.  Nicholas & Margaret are buried in Dunboyne Cemetery.

Walter James Brown was married on December 29, 1898 in Guelph to Nellie Dorothea Dieke (1878-1930).  He was married in 1931 Janet Margaret Darling Campbell.

Walter enlisted for service on December 7, 1914 in Toronto. He gives his occupation as journalist and names his next of kin as Nellie Dorothea Brown, of Aylmer.  He had served with the Canadian Field Artillery.  There is also an Officer’s Declaration paper dated March 29, 1918 in London.  Walter’s address is given at Wolesley Barracks, London, but his permanent address as Aylmer.  His wife is living at 583 Grosvenor Street, London.  He belonged to the 12th Brigade, C.F.A.  A list of previous service included the 4th Brigade, C.F.A.; 1st Brigade C.F.A. (1891-1893); 2nd Brigade C.F.A. (1900-1913); and 13th Brigade C.F.A. (1913-1916).

Col. Brown wrote a letter which was published in the Aylmer Express, January 20, 1916

FILTH, MUD & HOSTILE SHELLS

Three Things Hard to Get

Hardest Task is to Take Old Men, Women and Children Out of Their Homes

After Germans Have Shelled Them

Another Interesting Letter From Col. Brown, Received by Mr. Robert Wright, of Copenhagen

In the Field, 14-12-15

Mr. Robert Wright

Rural Route No. 2

Aylmer (West), Ont., Can.

Dear Mr. Wright –

I never thought when I left you the last time that it would be so long before I would write to you.  It is a long way from where I am sitting to where you and your family are.  You are in the land of peace and plenty while I am out here in Flanders helping to hold down a portion of the line.  It is winter with you and with us.  We live in farm houses or the ruins of farm houses when we can get them, and in holes in the ground when no houses are where we want them or otherwise available.  There is not much choice.  A house near the firing line is just something for German gunners to shoot at.  They rather like houses and churches, especially the latter as they fire at them constantly.  Not long ago one of our officers was quite pleased with himself as he found a house that was in perfect condition.  He moved his bed in beside the stove and fixed himself up comfortably and invited me to have a meal with him. I went.  He was in high glee, but –  there is always a but to life out here – the next day he was shelled out of his comfortable quarters and now lives as he says “on a manure pile”.

There are three things out here that are hard to get accustomed to, they are: filth, mud and hostile shells.  We live in daily contact with all three and do not find that we like any of them any better.

This part of the country produces tobacco, roots, potatoes and oats.  I saw one or two patches of Indian corn but it was very poor. The greatest crop appears to be chickory. Some wheat and barley are grown. Everybody keeps pigs and poultry but in this part the cattle are very ordinary, mostly a poor type of Bates Shorthorn. The horses are nearly all heavy draft and are splendid. One very seldom sees a poor horse.  The tillage of the land is very thorough.  The plowing is shallow, but a field is plowed twice or three times before a crop is put in. The first ploughing is shallow to turn under the stubble or sod and then when the weeds start the ground is ploughed again and turned under deeper. Every inch of ground is cultivated up to within a mile or two of the trenches.

Most of the farm buildings and practically all of the villages and towns are in ruins. The people still stay around, as they have no other place to go. It is one of our saddest tasks to take old men, women and children out of buildings after the Germans have shelled them.  Often they never know what struck them. We try our best to save them but often without result.

This war goes on day and night, week in and week out. It is continuous for over two hundred and fifty miles on this front alone. We fight on the earth, in the earth, under the earth, and in the air overhead.  Rifles, machine guns, field guns, heavy guns, bombs, grenades, poisonous gas, etc. etc. are all employed. Sometimes the noise is terrible. One of our chaps in writing home dated his letter “Somewhere in Hell”.  He was not far out.

I hope you are all well and that everything is going well with you.  I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Yours very truly, Walter James Brown

Another letter from Col. Brown was printed in the Aylmer Express, January 27, 1916:

COL. BROWN’S BRIGADE IN ACTIVE SERVICE FOUR MONTHS AHEAD

OF OTHER ARTILLERY BRIGADES

David Marshall, M.P., has received the following interesting letter from Col. Brown, which describes his movements since leaving Aylmer. Some twenty Aylmer boys are with Col. Brown’s brigade.

4th Brigade, C.F.A.

2nd Canadian Division

B.E.F., In the Field, 2-1-16

David Marshall, M.P.,

Aylmer, Ontario, Canada

Dear Mr. Marshall –

You were kind enough to take a deep interest in the organization of this Brigade at the beginning and I think it is due to you that I tell you of our progress to date.

On the 7th of December 1914, I assumed command of the overseas batteries of Western Ontario and started to whip this brigade into shape.  The difficulties were very great indeed. We lacked experienced officers, we lacked equipment and we were without horses. By the end of May we were in England and were inspected and found in a fair state of efficiency. In Canada we received no outside help in the matter of instruction.  Even in England we received very little. In Canada we acted as a remount station, training and fitting horses for other people.  In England our services in this respect were again called for and we did our best, but pointed out as we had in Canada that this was not our business.

By August we had all our horses, our men trained, and most of our equipment in hand. From December to August we put in the nine hardest months’ work any of us had ever put in. At the end of August we were sent to Trawsfynnd in North Wales for shell practice and were put through an extremely severe test by a Major-General of the British Army, who declared us fit for active service.  

While in Toronto I had not only the four batters and ammunition column of the Brigade, but part of the Divisional Ammunition Column and the Ammunition Park as well. When crossing the sea I was in command of the troops of our ship, i.e, 1661 in all. When we arrived in England, I was placed in command of all the artillery in the division and of six camps, including A.M.C., A.S.C. and supply units.  This gave me plenty to do and continued until August.

We came to France with the Division.  The other artillery brigades remained in England and will not be out till sometime this month. There is a good deal of satisfaction in knowing that we were ready and have actually put in four months on the firing line before the other units organized with us were ready.  We have also supplied the officers and men to man another artillery unit in the Division. We have had many of the finest compliments paid us since being in action and are on the finest terms with our infantry.  I tell you those facts that you may know that your interest in our welfare was not misplaced and has yielded abundant fruit.

I understand that I am to be given increased responsibilities in the near future.  I heard this from Canada and again since coming here, but have no official knowledge of the matter and cannot say what the authorities in Ottawa intend doing.  If I am given the chance I shall do my best.

Wishing you the best good luck during 1916, I remain, 

Yours very sincerely, Walter James Brown

Following the war, Lt.-Col. Brown lived in London and continued his military career as Commander of the 7th Field Brigade R.C.A., as OC the University of Western Ontario Contingent, Canadian Officer Training Corps and as Brigadier of the 1st Infantry Brigade. He died on July 18, 1959 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery, London.

His obituary appeared in the London Free Press, July 20, 1959:

HELPED GUIDE UNIVERSITY

COL. WALTER J. BROWN PASSES

Col. Walter James Brown, who retired in 1946 as bursar and executive secretary of the University of Western Ontario, died Saturday night at his home, 1006 Wellington St.  Born in Aylmer, he was named executive secretary of the university in 1920, becoming bursar in 1937. He also served as secretary of the board of governors.

After joining UWO, Col. Brown organized plans for rebuilding the university in 1920 which led to the erection of the new buildings in 1922.  In 1937-38, he prepared the plans for the university endowment campaign. He retired from the UWO post in January 1946.

Prior to his university appointment, he was secretary of the inter-collegiate department of the YMCA in Chicago; educational director for the YMCA first in Chicago, and later in St. Louis; general secretary of the National Sanitarium Association in Toronto; and founder and principal of the Canadian Correspondent College. For several years he was an editorial writer for the Toronto Globe and was a regular contributor to scientific, agricultural, literary and military magazines in Canada, the United States and Britain.

He was a member of the “Committee of Fifty” which in 1898 investigated the drinking problem in the United States and Britain. He prepared the scheme for the first travelling library system, adopted by the Ontario Legislature in 1901, and drew up for the Federal Government the Soldiers’ Land Settlement Scheme of 1919.

Col. Brown joined the first brigade of the Canadian Militia in 1891. He served through four years of the First World War, and returned to become commanding officer of the Western Ontario COTC contingent.  He was elevated to the rank of Colonel in 1926.

He received his early education at the Aylmer Collegiate Institute, inter attending the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph, the University of Toronto and the Chicago Law School.  On his retirement from the university, Col. Brown was chairman of the London Community Planning and Development Committee. He was also a former member of the Canadian Military Institute, a trustee of the National Council of the Citizen’s Research Institute of Canada, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries of London, Eng., and a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Society of Technical Agriculturists, the American Academy of Political Science, and a fellow and honorary corresponding secretary of the Royal Empire Society.

For several years, he was a warden of St. Paul’s Cathedral. In 1946, he was appointed to the Canadian section of the International Committee of Sponsors formed to assist the University of Caen.

Twice married, he is survived by his second wife, the former Janet Campbell; a daughter, Miss Margaret Brown, in Toronto; and a sister, Mrs. Cora Chase, of Grimsby.

The body is at the George B. Logan and Sons Funeral Home until Tuesday, at 3 p.m., when service will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, with the Very Rev. R. C. Brown, Dean of Huron, officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery.

Warren Lionel Brown

123138 

Warren Brown was born on September 12, 1891 in Yarmouth Township, the son of James Brown (1859-1930) & Janet Bearss (1861-1944).  James was the son of William & Annie Brown, and was living in Yarmouth when he was married on January 18, 1881 in Aylmer to Janet Bearss, of Malahide, the daughter of Daniel & Eliza.  They are buried in Necropolis Cemetery, South Dorchester.

Warren was living in South Dorchester when he was married there on June 25, 1913 to Eva Muriel Warwick (1893-1918) of South Dorchester, the daughter of James Warwick & Catherine Marshall.  

Warren was farming at Kingsmill when he enlisted for service on September 7, 1915 in London.

Warren was invalided home in 1917, and his return was reported in the Aylmer Express, May 17, 1917 in the Mapleton news column:

On Wednesday evening last a reception was held at the Church of Christ, Mapleton, in honour of Sergt. Warren L. Brown, who recently arrived home from France. A good musical programme was given after which Sergt. Brown was presented with a soldier’s Travelling Companion. The address was given by a. C. Coulter and the presentation was made by Miss Mabel White. Sergt. Brown went overseas with the 70th Battalion, and spent three months in the trenches. He was carried from the trenches on a stretcher, the latter part of last August, being very ill with trench fever and suffering from shell shock. While in the line he had many thrilling experiences, but escaped being wounded. At one time a shell burst above him and he received shrapnel through his cap and haversack and his water bottle was broken.

Following his service in the war, Warren & Eva moved to London where she died on March 10, 1918. Eva is buried with her parents in Mapleton cemetery. Warren was remarried on March 12, 1919 in London to Evelyn Myrtle Meyers, of London, the daughter of Jack Meyers & Selina Clement.

Warren died on January 20, 1937 and is buried in Necropolis cemetery, South Dorchester with his parents.  In addition to the family monument, a military marker bearing the following inscription marks his resting place:

123138 Private Warren L. Brown 58th Battn C.E.F.  20th Jan. 1937 Rest in Peace

His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, January 22, 1937:

L. BROWN NATIVE OF YARMOUTH CENTRE

War Veteran Had Lived in London For Many Years

Death came very suddenly early Wednesday morning to Warren L. Brown, of 196 Cambridge St., London, Ont., in his 46th year.  Mr. Brown was born at Yarmouth Centre but spent his early life near Kingsmill.  He served during the Great War in the 70th Battalion C. E. F., later moving to London where he has resided ever since.  Besides his widow he is survived by five children, Donald of Edson, Alberta; Harold, Lloyd, Wilfred and Marie, all at home; his mother, Mrs. James Brown, Aylmer; a sister, Mrs. A. C. Finch, Wilton Grove; two brothers, J. C. Brown, Windsor; and Dr. A. O. Brown, Vancouver, B. C.  The funeral was held on Friday afternoon from the Evans Funeral Home, London, to the Disciple Cemetery, Mapleton, with Archdeacon Sage, officiating. There were many floral tributes which attested to the high esteem in which he was held.  The pallbearers were E. Finch, A. Finch, nephews; G. Meyers, R. Meyers, J. Slaughter, and B. Oke.

His obituary also appeared in the Aylmer Express, January 28, 1937:

WARREN L. BROWN DIED IN LONDON

Former Kingsmill Man and War Veteran.  Mother is Mrs. James Brown, Aylmer

Warren L. Brown died very suddenly of a heart attack early Wednesday morning at the family residence, 196 Cambridge St., London, Ont.  He was in his 46th year.  He went overseas with the 70th Battalion C. E. F., and served in France during the war.

The deceased was born at Yarmouth Centre, the second son of Mr and Mrs James Brown. He spent his early life at Kingsmill, but moved to London after the war.  Besides his widow, he is survived by four sons and one daughter, Donald, of Edson, Alberta; Harold, Lloyd, Wilfred and Marie, at home; his mother, Mrs. James Brown, Aylmer; a sister, Mrs. A. C. Finch, Wilton Grove; two brothers, J. C. Brown, Windsor; and Dr. A. O. Brown, Vancouver.

The funeral was held on Friday afternoon from the Evans Funeral Home, to the Disciples’ Cemetery, Mapleton.  Arch-deacon Sage officiated.  There were numerous floral tributes, among them being a wreath from the Canadian Legion, and wreaths and sprays from the Richmond Hosiery.  The pallbearers were Arthur Finch, Earl Finch, George Meyers, Roy Meyers, Joe Slaughter and B. Oke.

Clayton Albert Bryce

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Clayton Bryce was born on December 11, 1896 at Kingsmill in Yarmouth township, the son of Norman Thomas Bryce (1864-1938) & Catherine Crawford (1864-1933).  Norman was a native of South Dorchester and was living there when he was married on December 1, 1885 in Ingersoll to Catherine Crawford.  They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Clayton was living at 26 Elysian Street, St. Thomas, employed as a railway brakeman when he enlisted for service on April 27, 1918 in London.

Clayton died on March 1, 1953 in St. Thomas, and is buried with his parents in Aylmer cemetery. His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, March 2, 1953:

A. BRYCE DIES IN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Native of Kingsmill Had Worked Both Here and in Moose Jaw, Sask.

A railroader of some experience, Clayton Albert Bryce, 602 Talbot street, died in the Memorial Hospital Sunday morning after a short illness. He was 56 years of age.  Born in North Yarmouth at Kingsmill, he was the son of Norman and Catherine Bryce, well known farmers of that district, and came to St. Thomas 41 years ago where he was employed with the Wabash Railroad. He went west to Moose Jaw where he worked for a time as fireman on the C.P.R., but returned to St. Thomas to take a position with the New York Central.  During the war he served overseas with the Army Construction Corps.

He was an adherent of the Presbyterian Church, and was associated with Unity Lodge, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen; the Pioneers of the New York Central; St. Thomas Branch, the Canadian Legion; St. David’s Lodge, No.302 A.F. and A.M., and the St. Thomas Shrine Club.

He leaves one sister, Mrs. J. H. Paterson, Portland, Ore.; a brother, Ernest J. Bryce of Fort Erie; and a niece, Mrs. Kelvin Symons, Port Credit.  Resting at the P. R Williams and Son Funeral Home where a service will be conducted Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., by Rev. J. K. West, of Alma Street Presbyterian Church, assisted by Unity Lodge 47 of the B of R. T. Interment will be in Aylmer cemetery.

Archibald Buck

3135224

Archie Buck was born on September 15, 1896 in Malahide, the son of Walter Smith Buck and Harriet Amelia Smithson, who lived at lot 16, concession 2.  Walter (1857-1920) was born in Walsingham Township, the son of James Henry Buck & Mary Susan Downs.  Walter was married on March 10, 1886 to Harriet Smithson (1863-1943), the daughter of William Smithson & Elizabeth (Lydia) Talbot.  They are buried in Luton cemetery.

Archie was farming at R.R. #2 Aylmer when he enlisted for service on May 14, 1918.  Following the war, he was married on March 31, 1920 in Malahide to Florence Trim, (1902-1933), who was born in England, the daughter of Ernest Trim & Gertrude Manner. 

 Following Florence’s death on May 26, 1933, Archie was remarried on March 23, 1935 in Brownsville to Mrs. Pearl Buck (1891-1960), the widow of James Roy Buck, a first cousin of Archie. She was the daughter of Robert Dalby.

Archie died on October 31, 1956 and is buried in Luton cemetery beside his first wife Florence.

His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal on November 1, 1956:

ARCHIE BUCK WAS MALAHIDE FARMER

Aylmer – Archie Buck, R.R. 5 Aylmer, died at his residence on Wednesday evening. He had been in ailing health for the past three months.  Born on Concession 2, Malahide on Sept. 15, 1896, Mr. Buck was a son of the late Walter Buck and Harriet Smithson.  He had farmed all his life in Malahide Township and at one time served on the Mount Salem and Dunboyne school boards. He was a member of the Mount Salem United Church.  He is survived by his wife, the former Pearl Dalby, of Brownsville; two daughters, Mrs. Clarence (Mildred) Crosby, R.R. 2 Aylmer; and Mrs. Stanley (Audrey) James, R.R. 6 Aylmer; three brothers, Morley Buck, R.R. 2 Aylmer; William Buck, St. Thomas; and Gordon Buck, R.R. 5 Aylmer; three sisters, Mrs. George (Lilly) Lightfoot, R.R. 2 Aylmer; Mrs. Grace (Dora) Baughman, R.R. 4 Aylmer; and Miss Mary Buck, R.R. 5 Aylmer. Also surviving are four grandchildren Russell Crosby and Cheryl, Dean and Roger James, and a number of nieces and nephews. Mr. Buck’s first wife, the former Florence Trim, died 23 years ago, and a sister, Miss Florence Buck, also predeceased him.  Resting at the Hughson Funeral Home, Aylmer, from where service will take place on Saturday at 2 p.m. Mr. D. E. Manning, of the Malahide United Church circuit, will officiate.  Interment will be made in the Luton cemetery.

 

James Roy Buck

3130108

James Roy Buck was born on July 11, 1897 in Aylmer, the son of James Henry Buck and Lucinda Nahrgang, who lived on lot 33 & 34, concession 5 in the early 1900’s. James Buck (1862-1935) was born in Malahide, the son of James Henry Buck and Mary Susan Downs.  He was married in New Hamburg on December 19, 1893 to Lucinda Nahrgang (1868-1945) of Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, the daughter of John & Mary.  James & Lucinda are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Roy Buck was living at R.R. #1 Aylmer when he enlisted for service on December 4, 1917 in London.

He married Pearl Dalby (1891-1960), a native of Brownsville, and was living in Thorndale in the 1930’s.  He died at Toronto General Hospital on March 14, 1934 from tuberculosis, where he had been a patient ten days.  He was living in Putnam, Ontario at the time.  He and his wife Pearl and an infant son Roy (1932)  are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Roy’s obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, March 22, 1934:

The death occurred on Wednesday evening of last week in Toronto of Roy Buck in his 37th year after a period of two weeks’ suffering in the hospital with an abscess on the brain.  He had been in ill health all winter, spending a few weeks here at the home of his father-in-law, Robert Dalley. With his wife (nee Pearl Dalley) they farmed near Nilestown, but moved to Putnam this winter. Besides his wife he leaves to mourn his loss, his parents, Mr and Mrs James Buck, one sister, Mrs. James Veedy, all of London; and two brothers, Clayton, near Aylmer, and Harold, of London. The funeral was held on Saturday afternoon from the residence of Robert Dalley and thence to the United Church, Brownsville, with Rev. Bartlett of Brownsville, and Rev. Livingston, of Putnam, conducting the services. Burial was in the Aylmer cemetery, with Harry Louch, Henry Downing, Prentice Foster, Harry Graham, Herbert McClintock and Wallace Best as pall bearers.

John Clayton Buck

3135225

Clayton Buck was born on January 20, 1895 in Malahide, the son of James Henry Buck and Lucinda Nahrgang, who lived on lot 33 & 34, concession 5 in the early 1900’s. James Buck (1862-1935) was born in Malahide, the son of James Henry Buck and Mary Susan Downs.  He was married in New Hamburg on December 19, 1893 to Lucinda Nahrgang (1868-1945) of Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, the daughter of John & Mary.  James & Lucinda are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Clayton Buck was farming at R.R. #1 Aylmer when he enlisted for service on May 14, 1918. He was married on November 20, 1918 in Aylmer to Vera Leone Shackleton (1901-1996), who was born in Malahide, the daughter of Clarence Benjamin Shackleton & Sylvia Ann Bearss.  

Clayton Buck died on August 31, 1986 at the age of 91,  and is buried in Aylmer cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, September 3, 1986:

CLAYTON BUCK

Clayton Buck, 91, of 53 Clarence St., Aylmer, died at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Saturday, August 31, 1986.  He was born in Malahide Township on January 30, 1895 son of the late James and Lucinda (Nahrgang) Buck and came to Aylmer in 1936.  He was a retired carpenter and a member of St. Paul’s United Church, Aylmer.

He is survived by his wife Vera (Shackelton) Buck; son Wilfred Buck and daughter Mrs. Sylvia Metcalfe, both of London; four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.  He was predeceased by brothers Roy and Harold and sister Mrs. Mary Furlonger.

The Reverend Norman Jones of St. Paul’s Untied Church conducted the funeral service from H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 2. Burial followed in Aylmer Cemetery. Pallbearers were Allen Pressey, Bill Hull, Mike Koleada, Stan Poole, Morris Kennedy and George Jukes.

Freeman Edward Burger

2458301

Freeman Burger was born on September 22, 1887 in Port Burwell, the son of William E. Burger (1857-1936) & Merlies Milne (1861-1926). William was born in Houghton Township, the son of Isaac & Synthia Burger, and was living in Port Burwell when he was married there on June 2, 1879 to Merlies Milne, of Port Burwell, the daughter of James & Sarah Milne.  They are buried in Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Port Burwell.

Freeman was a labourer living in Bayham when he was married on October 9, 1905 to Jessie Butcher (1879-1951), of Houghton, the daughter of Joseph Butcher & Mary West. 

He was living in Port Burwell when he enlisted for service on April 13, 1917 in St. Thomas.  He had served three years in the 17th Regiment in the United States. He joined the 25th Regiment C.E.F.

Freeman died in 1946 and is buried with his wife in Trinity Anglican cemetery, Port Burwell.  His monument records his year of birth as 1876.

Charles Alfred Burgess

216589

Charles Burgess was born on April 26, 1890 in Burham, Kent, England, the son of James & Elizabeth Burgess.  The family is found on the 1901 census in Wouldham, Kent living at 1 Paddock Cotts.  Charles emigrated to Canada about 1907 and settled in Winnipeg where he is found on the 1911 census, working as a book keeper in a factory.

He was living at 140 Notre Dame Ave. East, Winnipeg when he enlisted for service there with the 100th Battalion on February 21, 1916.  He names his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. J. Burgess, of 354 Kennedy Street, Winnipeg. He was a clerk and was not married.

Following the war, he moved to Aylmer where he was a baker from 1929 to 1950.  He died on January 10, 1974 and is buried in Aylmer Cemetery but no marker is visible.  There is a marker for his wife Elsie (1891-1958).  Charles’ obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, January 16, 1974:

CHARLES A. BURGESS

Charles Alfred Burgess of Aylmer died at Westminster Hospital, London, on January 10th.  He was 83 years of age. Born in England on April 26, 1890, he was a baker in Aylmer from 1929 to 1950.  He was a member of Trinity Anglican Church, Aylmer; Malahide Masonic Lodge No. 140, A.F. and A.M., and Col. Talbot Branch 81, the Royal Canadian Legion.

His wife, the former Elsie Norine Drake, died in 1958.  He is survived by two sons, Donald Burgess of Stratford and William Burgess of Burlington; a daughter, Mrs. Phillip (Noreen) Major of Phoenix, Arizona; seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The funeral was held at H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home on January 14th, conducted by the Rev. R. A. C. Mills of Trinity Anglican Church.  Members of Col. Talbot Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion acted as pallbearers. Burial was in Aylmer Cemetery.

Wilbert Francis Burks

3139269

Wilbert Burks was born on October 29, 1893 at Mount Elgin in Oxford County, the son of John Henry Burks & Cynthia Ann Porter.  John was born in England, the son of Henry & Mary Burks, and was living in Dereham Township when he was married there on June 30, 1875 to Cynthia Porter, also of Dereham, the daughter of David & Eliza Porter.  They are buried in Mount Elgin Cemetery, Dereham Township.

Wilbert was a farmer living at RR #1 Springfield when he enlisted for service on July 10, 1918 in London.

He was living at Springfield when he was married on April 5, 1923 in London to Nellie Ward Grant (1900-1977), of 122 Wortley Road, London, a teacher, the daughter of Nicholas Grant & Sarah Hunter.

Wilbert (Wib) Burks lived at lot 10, concession 10, South Dorchester. He died on October 23, 1975 and is buried with his wife in Aylmer cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, October 24, 1975:

F. BURKS

Wilbert Francis Burks of RR 2 Springfield passed away at the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Thursday, Oct. 23, in his 82nd year. Born in Oxford County, he was a retired general farmer, who had lived most of his life at RR 2 Springfield. He was a member of the Springfield Baptist Church. He was a son of the late John and Cynthia (Porter) Burks.

He is survived by his wife, the former Nellie Grant, and two sons, Grant, of RR 2 Springfield, and Wilbert, of Toronto. Also survived by one sister, Mrs. Clara McLaughlin of Dereham Centre, and seven grandchildren.

Resting at the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home in Aylmer for service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, the Rev. Randy Evans of Springfield Baptist Church will officiate. Interment will be in Aylmer Cemetery.

Sgt. William Nelson Burn

123461

William Burn was born on December 2, 1877 in Tillsonburg, the son of Matthew Thomas Burn (1855-1907) & Emeline Taylor (1853-1930).  Matthew was born in England, the son of William & Maria Burn, and was a butcher in Tillsonburg when he was married on July 12, 1876 in Otterville to Emeline Taylor, a native of Paris, Ont., living in Otterville, the daughter of Nelson & Eliza Taylor.  Matthew & Emeline are buried in Tillsonburg cemetery.

William was a merchant living in Tillsonburg when he was married on January 6, 1904 in Bayham to Mary Alice Smith (1883-1944), of Port Burwell, the daughter of Charles Harvey Smith & Rachel Marr.

He enlisted for service on September 13, 1915 in St. Thomas. He names his next of kin as his wife, Mary Alice, of Port Burwell.  His occupation was a butcher.  He returned home from the war on January 25, 1919, landing at Halifax. His destination was home to his wife in Port Burwell.

William died on October 30, 1963 and is buried with his wife Mary Alice (1883-1944) in Tillsonburg cemetery. An obituary could not be found in the Tillsonburg newspaper.

John Ebenezer Burnham

2265853

John Burnham was born on September 7, 1899 in Essex County, the son of Howard Burnham & Mary Paulina Holmes (1863-1905).  Howard was born in Malahide, the son of Ebenezer Burnham & Amelia Garner, and was farming there when he was married on September 11, 1889 in Malahide to Mary Holmes, a native of Bayham living in Malahide, the daughter of John & Laura Holmes.  The family moved to the Town of Essex, Essex County in the 1890’s, where Howard was employed as a factory worker (1901 census).   They returned to Malahide where Mrs. Burnham died in 1905 and is buried in Luton cemetery.  Howard was remarried to Sarah Baughman, and moved to Port Burwell.  A son, Harley Edmond Burnham, was killed in action in September 8, 1916.

John was living in Port Burwell working as a horticulturalist when he enlisted for service on June 8, 1917 in London.  He had served in the 30th Battery militia.

John was married on September 30, 1925 to Ethel Armstrong (1901-1994), of Lakeview.  John died in January 1961 and is buried with his wife in Aylmer cemetery.  The inscription on his monument records his year of birth as 1901.

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, January 11, 1961:

BURNS FATAL J. BURNHAM

A large number of friends and relatives attended the service for John E. Burnham, 14 Chestnut street, well-known Aylmer greenhouse operator, at the Hughson Funeral Home Saturday afternoon.

Mr. Burnham died from severe burns received when gasoline ignited in his greenhouse storage room on Wednesday noon of last week. He was in critical condition from the moment of the accident. 

Mr. Burnham was born in Essex, 60 years ago and was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Howard Burnham, of Malahide. He lived all of his life in Aylmer and district.  He was an adherent of the United Church.

Mr. Burnham is survived by his wife, the former Ethel Armstrong; two sons, John A. Burnham, St. Thomas and Donald H. Burnham, Aylmer; two daughters, Miss Ruth Burnham at home, and Mrs. Alvin (Jean) Grigg, of Hamilton; one sister, Mrs. Hetty Garner of RR 6 Aylmer; five grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

The service was conducted by the Rev. Fred Bayes of St. Paul’s United Church with Mrs. James Wright presiding at the organ.  Pallbearers were Mahlon Hale, Gordon Smith, John Tuff, Frank Nicholson, George Watson and Ron Quittenden.

The many beautiful floral tributes were carried by D. Hillier, Jack Broderick, Harvey Leslie, John Black Sr., Nelson Smith, Wray Firby and John Black Jr., of London Friends and relatives attended from Hamilton, Detroit, St. Thomas, Ingersoll, London, Aylmer and vicinity.

William George Burtenshall 

189474

William Burtenshall was born on June 12, 1896 in Shoreham, Brighton, Sussex, England, the son of William George & Emma Burtenshall.  

He emigrated to Canada and was a farmer in Port Burwell when he enlisted for service on November 11, 1915 in Aylmer.  He gives his address as “care of J. W. Bennett, Port Burwell”.  He names his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. Fred Baker, of 12 Elder Road, Brighton, England. He enlisted with the 91st Battalion.

Following the war, he returned to the Aylmer area where he was farming when he was married on December 20, 1922 in Aylmer to Matilda Pearl Porter, of Aylmer, daughter of John Porter & Eveline Wiley.

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, April 11, 1979:

WILLIAM GEORGE BURTENSHALL

William George Burtenshall, of 30 Frances St., Tillsonburg, died on Wednesday, April 4, at Tillsonburg and District Memorial Hospital after a long illness. He was 82 years old.  Mr. Burtenshall was born in Shoreham, Brighton, England on June 12, 1896. Before residing in Tillsonburg where he has lived for 19 years, he lived in Aylmer where he was employed at the Carnation Milk Co., Ltd., and the Royal Canadian Air Force Station. Mr. Burtenshall was a member of Colonel Talbot Branch 81 of the Royal Canadian Legion. He was a World War I veteran.The funeral was held Friday, April 6 from Kebbel Funeral Home with Rev. Gordon Woodcock of Aylmer Baptist Church officiating. Burial was made in the Aylmer cemetery. Bearers were Mike Koleada, Joe Fischer, Bill Greer, Don Black, Bill Lammiman and Glen Ives.

A photograph printed in the Aylmer Express, November 22, 1972 honoring World War I veterans who were members of the Legion in Aylmer includes “Bill Burtenshire”.  This is believed to be an error for “Bill Burtenshall”.

William George Butcher

400920

William Butcher was born on April 30, 1898 in Warminster, Wiltshire, England, the son of Edward & Emily Butcher.  Edward & Emily are found on the 1891 census in Warminster, Wiltshire with their elder children.  On the 1901 census, William is living with his older siblings in Warminster.  William emigrated to Canada at the age of 11, leaving Liverpool on the ship Canada, and arriving at Portland, Maine on March 12, 1910.  The passenger list records his destination as “care of Mr. Sheppard, Talbot St., Aylmer West”. On the 1911 census, he is living in Aylmer with his sister, Mary E. Butcher (1885-1951), wife of Sidney E. Sheppard (1886-1953) who are buried in Aylmer cemetery. They are the parents of well-known Aylmer resident, the late Raymond Sheppard.

 He enlisted for service on May 10, 1915 in London.  His occupation is given as “cutter”.  He was single and a member of the 30th Battery in Aylmer.  He names his next of kin as Mrs. A. Sheppard, of Aylmer.

A letter from William to his sister in Aylmer was printed in the Aylmer Express, July 6, 1916:

AYLMER BOY HAD LUCKY ESCAPE

Pte. Will Butcher is Now Able to Sit Up, and Has Written His Sister,

Mrs. S. Shepherd, of This Place, Telling How He Got Hurt

My Dear Sister –

Just a line to let you know that I am getting on fine, and am able to sit up now. No doubt you have heard by now, but is was not for the want of keeping my head down that I got my wounds. I had been into the trenches two days, and the Germans started an awful bombardment, which lasted all day, so far as I know.  About 8:30 a.m. on June 2nd, a shell came through the parapet and killed four and wounded two.  I was lucky enough to be one of the two who got off with wounds.

I had to go under an operation for my head. They took out some bone an inch long, and some shrapnel, and put four stitches in.  I have a dent in my head and a crooked forefinger on the right hand, and the wounds in my right arm are all healed up now.  I counted all my wounds that were worth counting, and they numbered eleven.  It was nice here when I came in first.  I had to be fed.

Well, I must close now. Sorry I could not write before, but my hands were bandaged up so and my head in such a state that I could not.
Your loving brother,

Pte. W. G. Butcher, NO. 400920, C.M.R.

Edward East Ward, Edmonton Military Hospital, London, N.

Mrs. Shepherd has also received a very assuring note from the Red Cross Society stating that her brother is progressing favorably.  His wounds were mostly in the hands and arms. The note was signed by Miss Redmond, formerly of St. Thomas, Ontario.

A photo of William, with the following caption, was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Pte. Wm. Butcher was born in England 19 years ago and enlisted with the 33rd Batt., but was later transferred to the C.M.R. He was wounded in June last by a piece of shrapnel and put out of commission for a couple of months. He has recovered sufficiently to be put to work again. His sister, Mrs. S. Sheppard, with whom he made his home, still lives in Aylmer”.

William was invalided home to Aylmer, as reported in the Aylmer Express, May 3, 1917:

RECEPTION FOR PTE. BUTCHER

Returned Soldier Welcomed Home by A.Y.P.A. of Trinity Church

On Monday evening last the A.Y.P.A. of Aylmer Trinity church held their annual election of officers for the ensuing year.  At the close of the business meeting a reception was tendered for Pte. William Butcher, lately returned from the far-off battle line in France and Belgium. Pte. Butcher was severely wounded and for a time it was though fatally so, by a German shell. He has since been in the hospitals and convalescent homes in England for nearly a year, and was sent home to recover completely. It was necessary to operate and remove a piece of his skull, and he has several pieces of shrapnel still in his body.

It seems appropriate that the reception should have taken place on Monday, as that day was the 19th anniversary of Pte. Butcher’s birthday. Before enlisting he was an active member in both the choir and A.Y.P.A. and the rector in speaking a few words of welcome on behalf of the church, stated that although a vast space separated the boys at the front from the loved ones at home, they were constantly thought of and remembered in their prayers. In closing, he expressed the wish that the future would be one of health and prosperity for Pte. Butcher.

Mr. John Davey also spoke a word of welcome to the returned soldier on behalf of the choir, as also did the untiring president of the Society, Mr. Geo. Howe. Mr. A. H. Backus and Mr. J. M. Wrong stated that they thought it was their duty to welcome Pte. Butcher home and thank him for the noble part he has played in this great conflict. During the evening an excellent paper was read from the “Canadian Nurse”, by Mrs. C. S. Bridgman, president of the local Red Cross Society, on the last few hours of that noble, heroic English nurse, Edith Cavell. A hearty vote of thanks was tendered Mrs. Bridgman for her kindness in addressing the young people.

At the close of the addresses the young ladies in attendance served a most dainty lunch, after which an enjoyable evening was brought to a close by singing the National Anthem.

It is believed William  moved to Grand Haven, Michigan. The Aylmer Express of June 10, 1937 reports the death of Mrs. William G. Butcher, of Grand Haven, Michigan, age 33. The 1930 Michigan census shows a William G. Butcher, age 32, born England, emigrated 1909, a salesman, with wife Laura, age 25, born Michigan; with sister-in-law Emma Hussey. They are living in Spring Lake Township, Ottawa County, Michigan.  Grand Haven is in Ottawa County.

W. Butler

An article in the Aylmer Express, September 13, 1917 reports the return of Pte. G. W. Butler, of Aylmer.  Unfortunately, very little information can be found on him, including an attestation paper.  There is an engagement reported in the Aylmer Express, July 10, 1918, between William G. Butler and Hazel Staples, of Toronto, the marriage to take place on July 18. The marriage record states that George William Butler, age 27, is a native of England, living in Toronto, an operator, son of William Butler & Clara Oakley.  He was married in Toronto on July 18, 1918 to Hazel Beryl Staples, of Toronto.  The article about Pte. Butler’s return from overseas is as follows:

AYLMER MAN BRINGS HOME ONE OF KAISER BILL’S IRON CROSSES

Pte. G. W. Butler got Cross from German officer after hot fight.

Ptes. F. L. Procure and G. F. Harvey have also Returned Home

Three Aylmer men were among those who reached London, Ont., from England last Friday and got home that night, Ptes. G. W. Butler, F. L. Procure and G. F. Harvey. They had a very rough voyage, taking 14 days to cross from Liverpool to Canada. Because his age would not permit him going to France, and Pte. Harvey was returned because he was too young, not being 18 years old yet, although he spent some months in the trenches in France, where he was wounded and has spent the past months in an English hospital.

Pte. W. G. Butler, whose family have been living in Aylmer since he enlisted with the 91st Battalion in 1915, is able to get about with the assistance of canes, he being wounded severely in both feet while on active service in France.

He went into the trenches and had served considerable time there when he was moved to the Somme, where he took part in the famous sugar refinery engagement. While there and at Courcelette, which is situated only about 500 yards from the refinery, he says he, with a party of other men, took six German officers prisoner, and killed one German captain, cutting him in two pieces. After this officer had been killed, he said, he made a search of his pockets and found a diary and some papers. He took his money and cigars, as well as some very fine gold-tipped cigarettes, which he has kept as souvenirs. This officer had also been awarded the iron cross, which Pte. Butler has with him. When at the sugar refinery he says, on one occasion the Canadians captured the German dressing station, and after taking the officers prisoner, they compelled them to dress the wounds of the Canadian soldiers for a period of four of five days.

The Canadians were making further advances, he says, on September 15, 1916, and had gained their objective, when they noticed the Germans making a counter-attack. Pte. Butler and the other men of his party, who were in charge of a machine gun, immediately got into a shell hole, but his feet were exposed and the Germans got both of them with machine gun bullets. He is now able to walk however, and it will not be long before he will be alright again. One companion of Pte. Butler was blown to pieces, a second had his leg blown off, and another lost a portion of his arm and other serious injuries. He says it was a terrible experience, but he would not have missed it, and is glad to be able to say he has been through it.

Herbert Edward Butler

189014 

Herbert Edward Butler was born on March 9, 1893 in London, England. He emigrated to Canada  in 1903 from the Barnardo Home in England, on the ship Canada, departing from Liverpool on March 20, 1903 and arriving in Halifax on March 28.  His age given in this immigration record was nine years.  He is found on the 1911 census in Yarmouth township, as a domestic living with Duncan & Millie Somerville.

Herbert was living in Sparta working as a farm labourer when he was married in St. Thomas on April 12, 1912 to Violet Brown.  She was born in Malahide on March 9, 1893, the daughter of Willard W. Brown (1867-1949) & Ruth Pritchard (1864-1940), but was living in Sparta when married.  Herbert stated on his marriage record that he was a “Barnardo boy” and that “my parents live in England and have no guardian in this country”.

Herbert was a farmer living in the Aylmer area when he enlisted with the 91st Battalion in St. Thomas on October 26, 1915.  His photograph with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, September 21, 1916: “Pte. Herbert Butler, 189014, 12th Batt, Army P.O., London, England. Pte. Butler was born in England in 1893, and came to this country thirteen years ago. Mrs. Butler and three small children reside in Aylmer. He had no military experience and enlisted for overseas with the 91st last October. His only brother has been on the firing line for the past year and he also has an aunt who is matron of a Red Cross hospital in France. Pte. Butler and family have lived in Aylmer for the past three years. Pte. Butler has written a very interesting letter to Mrs. Butler which will be found on page two of this issue”

Although the above caption states he is writing to Mrs. Butler, he addresses letter to his mother, and also mentions his father, so it is possible his parents later joined him in Aylmer.  The letter is as follows:

Pte. Herbert E. Butler, 189014 C. Co. 36th Batt.

West Sandling Camp, August 27th, 1916

Dear Mother – How are you and the kiddies?  I hope you are keeping well.  I don’t hear from you very often and it makes me worry about you. It seems to take so long for your letters to come. I don’t doubt but what you write often, but the mail gets mixed up and your letters are a month old when I get them, but I trust you are all right for you are a healthy bunch. I am glad you are and only hope you keep so.

We are having a lot of rain at present, every day, but we can look for a lot here now. I got the Advertiser you sent, that sure was some fire. We never heard anything about it here. I’ll bet that paper has been read by a hundred fellows and it’s still being read, if it is a month old. I had a letter from Swackhammer and he is hearing from Alfie right along. I also received those papers that you sent on July 6th, some mail service over here, isn’t there?  I have not heard from Harold lately but expect a letter every day. He takes a long time to think about it. He is now Quartermaster Furrier Sergeant (draw a breath) and is getting more pay. He says it will buy socks for the baby and I guess that is about all it will do.

Now I will tell you what a time I had on pass.  I left here on Thursday noon and got in London about 3:30 p.m., went to the Maple Leaf Club for Canadians and got a bed for the night and then went out for a ride in the motor buses all over the central part of London. That night I went to the Prince of Wales theatre on Picadilly and saw a real show. Next morning I took the underground railway to Baker street and went through Mde. Tussaud’s Wax Works. Everybody of note is there in life size, and as natural as can be.  The British are sure some aviators as we seem them in their practices every day. They have a “battle plane” with the propellor behind the planes instead of in front, and believe me they can handle it alright.  I saw one fellow turn three loop the loops one after another the other day. They sent one machine up with a target trailing along behind and another one goes up and blows the devil out of the target with a machine gun. I have been within fifty yards of them and have seen them starting out and alighting both. I wouldn’t miss what I’ve seen for the world, Dad.
Well, I must ring off with best love to mother, Jessie and Dad.
Your affectionate son, “Dinner”.

Herbert & Violet moved to Niagara Falls, Ontario where they lived at 192 Bridge Street. They later moved to Buffalo, New York in 1928 where she died on August 10, 1930.  She is buried in Aylmer cemetery.   They had at least three children: William Herbert Butler (born May 2, 1914 in Malahide), Violet Margaret (born 1916 in Aylmer; died 2003 in Richmond Hill, Ontario; married Henry Graham Love), and Howard Roy Butler (1912-2004; who was married to Elsie Maebelle Boxall in 1937)

Border crossing records show that Herbert returned to Ontario in 1933.  The record states that he had lived in Canada from 1902 until 1928 in Sparta, St. Thomas and Aylmer.  His occupation in Buffalo was a janitor, but his intended occupation in Canada is a farmer.  His destination is RR 6 Luton, the home of his father-in-law, William W. Brown.

An earlier border crossing record in 1912 shows Herbert going to Detroit from Sparta, at the age of 19, where he was a farm labourer.  He gives the address of his next of kin in England as his mother, Mrs. Margaret Butler, of Edgeworth Road, London, England.

When his son Howard was married in 1937, Herbert was living in Toronto. Information found about his daughter Violet shows that Herbert died in Markham, Ontario, but no date is given.

Richard Butterwick

189231 

Richard Butterwick was born on March 22, 1877 in Vienna, the son of James Butterwick (1847-1932) & Lucy Elizabeth Gilbert (1855-1909).  James was the son of William & Sophia Butterwick and was farming in Malahide when he was married on January 14, 1870 in Vienna to Lucy Gilbert, of Bayham, the daughter of Henry William & Louisa Gilbert. James & Lucy are buried in Sparta cemetery.

Richard was farming in Sparta when he was married on March 16, 1901 in Oxford County to Iva Ann Meadows (1877-1947), of Malahide, the daughter of Alfred Meadows & Ann Gilbert.

There are three attestation papers for Richard.  The first one, dated September 28, 1915 in St. Thomas, states he is a labourer living at 20 Barnes Street, St. Thomas.  His service number is 189231.

The second attestation paper is dated June 26, 1916 in Windsor with the service number 226332.  He is a gardener living at 31 Devonshire Street, St. Thomas and he states he has never served before.

The third attestation paper is dated June 11, 1917 in St. Thomas with the service number 2458316.  He is a labourer living at 11 Balfour Street, St. Thomas.  He had served four months in the 91st Battalion but was discharged due to a weak back. He belongs to the 25th Militia.

Richard & Iva had at least four children: Ida Kathleen (1902); Anna Evelyn (1904-1911), Harry Gilbert (1906) & James Alfred (1909).

Richard died on January 30, 1965 and is buried with his wife in St. Thomas Cemetery, West Avenue. His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, February 1, 1965:

BUTTERWICK DIES AT AGE 87

The death of Richard Butterwick, 221 Talbot Street, occurred at his late residence on Saturday morning after a short illness.  He was born in Vienna, Ont., 87 years ago, the son of the late James and Lucy Butterwick, and had made his home in St. Thomas for the past 59 years. In later years he had been a gardener and had retired two years ago. He was a member of the 91st Battalion Association.

Mr. Butterwick is survived by one daughter, Mrs. George (Kathleen) Dennis, 7 Penwarden Street, and a son, Harry G. Butterwick, also of 7 Penwarden Street. Five grandchildren and several great grandchildren also survive.

At rest at the P. R. Williams and Son Funeral Home and the funeral will be held from there on Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock. Rev. R. D. Harmer, of Centre Street Baptist Church will officiate and interment will be made in the St. Thomas Cemetery. St. Thomas Branch 41 Royal Canadian Legion will conduct a memorial service at the graveside.

Leo Carl Cable

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Leo Carl Cable was born on December 9, 1888 at Straffordville in Bayham Township, the son of John D. Cable & Barbara Phillips (1865-1891).  Barbara is buried in Guysborough cemetery in Bayham.  Leo was living with his grandparents Joseph & Thurza Phillips on the 1901 census in Dereham Township, Oxford County.

Leo was living in Aylmer, employed as a clerk, when he enlisted for service on March 31, 1916 with the 91st Battalion in St. Thomas.  He was a member of the 30th Battery, and names his next of kin as his grandfather, J. D. Phillips, of Aylmer. He sailed for England on June 29, 1916 and was appointed Lance Corporal on July 10, 1916.  He was transferred to the 39th Battalion on July 15, 1916 and to the 21st Battalion on September 10, 1916.  He reverted to the rank of Private at his own request on September 10, 1916, and proceeded to France the next day.  He received a shell wound to the right shoulder on April 2, 1918 and invalided to England.  He was transferred to the 6th Reserve Battalion on June 14, 1918, and again appointed Lance Corporal on July 26, 1918.  

A letter from Leo to his Grandmother was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 21,1916:

France, Nov. 12, 1916:

Dear Grandmother –
I received a registered from you yesterday that was dated over two months ago and one the other day when I was in the front line.  We have been very busy as the rain has caused the trenches to cave in considerably and there is always lots of work to do besides. When we took over this part of the line, the majority of the boys were all new at the job but we are getting broken in very nicely.

We have one of the original first officers with us. His name is Mr. Cottam (since killed, Ed.). He was our platoon commander but now he is second in command of our company. We are now billeted in a village a little way back. There are 14 of us in a room upstairs and the family are downstairs. Some of them sleep in the cellar, that seems to be the safest place. They are very friendly and want us to sit downstairs with them. We do not understand each of very well but we are getting better at it all the time.

One of the boys got a parcel from home today and gave me a piece of homemade cake. The boys are all good fellows and we get along fine together. We had about a week’s rain, the first of this month but for a few days the sun has been shining and has dried the mud up pretty well. The people say that the winter will soon start but if it does not get any worse than it is now I guess we can stand it all right.

You can tell Ted Richards and York McConnell that I will write to them as soon as I can but we are kept busy day and night, but I have not forgotten them. There have no casualties in our company since we joined, so you see we have been pretty lucky. At times we are not able to hear a sound and would hardly know a war was on, but at other times we can hear the big guns open up and one would think the buildings would all tumble for miles around. We were working about 200 yards from some big guns that were shooting today. We could feel our clothes press closer against our legs caused by the concussion of the air. Must close now as it is getting time for bed. Hoping you all keep well, Leo Cable

Oh, say! You can send me a pair of homemade mitts, if you mail them right away, as I do not know how long the winter lasts over here. Don’t worry about me not keeping well as I have not even had a cold yet.  Leo.

A photo of Leo with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Pte Leo Cable, 190172, A. Co. 21st Batt., was born in Bayham 27 years ago. Is a grandson of Mr and Mrs T. D. Phillips of Aylmer. Pte. Cable went overseas with the 91st, and has been in the trenches about 3 months”

Leo returned from overseas on March 31, 1919, arriving in St. Johns, Newfoundland.  A photograph with the following caption appeared in the Aylmer Express, April 3, 1919:

“LC-CPL Leo Cable, M.M., who returned home from overseas yesterday morning. He enlisted with the 91st Battalion, Elgin’s own, and was in France many months, where he did valiant service, winning the M.M. [Military Medal].  He was wounded last May in the shoulder and has been in the hospital in England the biggest part of the time since. Before enlisting he was a popular clerk in Stratton & Martin’s store.”

The citation for the Military Medal reads as follows:

“August 15th-18th, 1917 – For conspicuous bravery and resourcefulness. Under intense shell fire, he, in addition to carrying on as a stretcher bearer, volunteered and acted as a runner at a most critical time when the regular service had been exhausted. At great personal risk he went to the assistance of an advanced party whom he saw buried by a shell, and although exposed to shell and machine gun fire, persistently persevered in unearthing them, dressed the wounded and personally supervised their evacuation”.

He returned to Aylmer and was an accountant when he was married on July 26, 1921 in Aylmer to Florence May Davis (1889-1949), a native and resident of Aylmer, the daughter of J. Davis & Mary Thomson.  

Leo moved to Battle Creek, Michigan in the 1920’s, but returned to Aylmer.  He died on January 21, 1977 and is buried with Florence in Aylmer cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, January 26, 1977:

LEO CABLE

Leo Carl Cable of 34 Dufferin Street, Aylmer, died at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Friday, January 21, following a long illness. He was 88 years of age. Mr. Cable was born in Staffordville on December 9, 1888 and was a son of the late John Cable and the former Barbara Phillips.  He was a retired farmer and merchant and had lived in Aylmer since 1945. Previously, he lived in the U.S.A. for 10 years.

He was an adherent of the United Church of Canada and was a member of Malahide Masonic Lodge No. 140, A.F. & A.M.  During the First World War, he served in the 91st Battalion.

His wife, the former Florence Davis, died previously. He is survived by one son, Davis Cable of Sarnia; two daughters, Mrs. Wilfred (Barbara) Smith of Aylmer and Mrs. Bernard (Joan) Hinch of Sarnia; 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. The funeral service was held at H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home, Aylmer on Monday, January 24, conducted by the Rev. Canon Robert A. C. Mills of Trinity Anglican Church, Aylmer.

Pallbearers were Jim Hinch, Randy Barker, Robert Cable, Gary Cable, Douglas Cable and John Smith. Burial was in Aylmer Cemetery.

Harry Clare Cade

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Harry Cade was born on May 28, 1897 at Avon in South Dorchester Township, the son of Alvin Lorenzo Cade (1864-1947) & Lillie Clement (1866-1918).  Alvin was the son of John & Elizabeth Cade, and was farming in South Dorchester when he was married on November 18, 1886 in Avon to Lillie Clement, also of South Dorchester, the daughter of Daniel & Maria Clement.  Alvin & Lillie are buried in Avon cemetery.

Harry was a carpenter living at Avon when he enlisted for service on September 25, 1915 in Woodstock.

He returned from overseas on January 25, 1919, arriving in Halifax.  He returned to Avon where he was farming when he was married on March 15, 1922 in Verschoyle to Velma Elnora Armes (1899-1978), of Mossley, the daughter of Thomas Edward Armes & Nellie Frances McCready.

Harry died on February 3, 1948 and was buried in Dorchester Union Cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the Ingersoll Tribune, February 4, 1948:

HARRY C. CADE PASSED IN 51ST YEAR

Widespread regret was expressed in town and the surrounding district over the death of Harry Claire Cade, which occurred on Tuesday evening at his home, 151 Church Street, in his 51st year. Mr. Cade who had conducted a barber shop in Ingersoll for the past 20 years, came here from Avon, where he had previously been engaged as a carpenter. He was born in Avon, his parents being the late Alvin and Lily Clement Cade. He served overseas for 4 years during World War I, enlisting with the 71st Battalion and later transferring to the 44th Battalion. He was a member of Trinity United Church, Ingersoll Branch, 119 of the Canadian Legion and Canadian Order of Odd Fellows. He had been in failing health for the past 4 years. Left to mourn the passing of a beloved husband and father are his widow [nee Velma Arms], one daughter, Eleanor and one son, Llewellyn, both of Ingersoll. Also surviving are four sisters, Mrs. H. Wyatt [Margaret], Avon; Mrs. I. P. Clifford [Maria] of Thorndale; Misses Mary Cade of Ingersoll; and Amanda Cade of Toronto; and one brother, Leo [Jimmie] of Ingersoll. The funeral will be held on Friday afternoon from the Preston T. Walker Funeral Home, where service will be conducted at 2:30 o’clock. Interment will be made in Dorchester Union Cemetery

Robert Llewellyn Cade

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Robert Llewellyn Cade was born on May 18, 1891 at Avon in South Dorchester Township, the son of Alvin L. Cade (1864-1947) & Lillie Clement (1866-1918).  Alvin was the son of John & Elizabeth Cade, and was farming in South Dorchester when he was married on November 18, 1886 in Avon to Lillie Clement, also of South Dorchester, the daughter of Daniel & Maria Clement.  Alvin & Lillie are buried in Avon cemetery.

Robert Llewellyn Cade was a carpenter living at RR #1 Springfield when he enlisted for service in the Canadian Engineers on July 18, 1918.  He returned from overseas on July 12, 1919, arriving in Halifax.

He was not married, and died on February 8, 1921 in Springfield at the age of 29, from electrocution after touching a live wire. He is buried with his parents in Avon cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, February 10, 1921:

FATAL ACCIDENT AT SPRINGFIELD

Avon Man Electrocuted When He Touched Hydro Wire. Was Engaged in Moving Building

Llewellyn Cade, age 28, a returned soldier, was instantly killed about 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, in Springfield, by coming in contact with a high-voltage hydro wire, while engaged in moving a cheese factory building from Avon to Springfield. At the time of the accident, Cade was on the roof of the building engaged in lifting the wires, but whether he deliberately took hold of the hydro wire or accidentally touched it is not known. Medical assistance was called and after investigation the coroner declared an inquest unnecessary, death being purely accidental. Deceased was unmarried and made his home in Avon. The funeral will take place from the residence of his father, Alvin Cade, this afternoon, the 10th inst., at 2 o’clock. Interment will take place in the Avon cemetery.

Alexander Campbell

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Alexander Campbell was born on March 17, 1877 in Wallacetown, the son of John Henry Campbell & Mary Lamont. John Campbell was born about 1841 in the United States, the son of Henry & Mary Campbell, and was living in Orford Township, Kent County when he was married there on September 19, 1867 to Mary Lamont, also of Orford, a native of Scotland, daughter of Archibald & Catherine Lamont.

Alex was living in Kingsmill when he was married on November 16, 1898 in St. Thomas to Sarah Jane Baker, a native of England living in St. Thomas, the daughter of Elijah & Hannah Baker. 

Alex lived in St. Thomas before moving to Aylmer, where he was residing when he enlisted with the 91st Battalion. His attestation paper is not available for viewing.

A letter from Alex was printed in the St. Thomas Journal, September 2, 1916:

HEARS BETS MADE ON LENGTH OF WAR

AYLMER, Sept. 2 (Special) – The following is a letter from Pte. Alex. Campbell, of Aylmer, and formerly of St. Thomas, received by his wife who resides on John Street south, here:

“West Sandling Camp, Aug. 12 –

Dearest Wife and Family: I received your letter and was glad to hear you are well. No, I haven’t seen Ray as our Battalion is all broken up, but hope to see him soon. I am in the 12th Battalion and Ray is in the 36th Battalion. I don’t think I will pass for the firing line. I am very lame and the roads are hard on me, but I don’t know yet.

There is a heavy fight going on. They say here the war will soon be over. One man bet $5000 it would be over by September 20th. It seems awful to see men bet that way. I hope and pray the war will soon end. The people here are fine people. They are good to me. The old ladies put me in mind of your mother. They are good old women. The poor old men and old women mourn for their lost sons. I tell them to look up, God will think of them and comfort them.

If men in Canada would only see these people they would soon enlist. They have good homes in Canada, nothing to think of like they have there. I say God bless these people.

Well, dear wife, I took in the meting at the Salvation Army the other night. We had a good meeting. There were lots of people there. We have a Salvation Army camp. The army people are doing good work, they treat you so well too. They ask the men if they are willing to give their lives for their king and country. How many are willing to give God a place in their heart.

Remember me to all my brothers and sisters and your brothers and sisters, and to all my friends. Tell them to write to me.  Well, dear wife, kiss my little Gordon for me and the rest of them. Tell them papa will be home some day. Don’t worry. Put your full trust in God. He will help us all when we are in trouble. From your loving husband, Alex.  Write every week.

Pte. Alex Campbell, 91st Batt., C.E.F. (A. Co.); Army P.O., London, England.

Alex returned from overseas in 1917, arriving in Halifax on March 1.  The passenger list gives his residence as Aylmer, and the reason for being returned to Canada was given as “flat feet”.

An article regarding Alex’s return, along with a photograph in the same issue, appeared in the Aylmer Express, March 15, 1917:

AYLMER SOLDIERS RECEIVE HEARTY WELCOME HOME

Ptes. Leman Hawley and Alex Campbell Returned Home Last Week

Both Sufferers from Rheumatism – Citizen’s Band, 30th Battery, Cadets and Hundreds of Citizens Welcome Returned Men

The homecoming if Aylmer and Malahide soldiers, who have done their “bit” has so far always been a pleasant occasion. But at the same time, there is a feeling of sadness when we think of the brave lads who will never return. Every returned man has received a warm reception here, with but one or two exceptions, of which no notice whatever was received of their return.

[the article begins with Pte. Hawley’s reception]

Pte. Campbell Returned Saturday

On Saturday morning another telegram was received announcing that Pte. Alex Campbell, whose home is in Aylmer, would arrive home on the 12:45 G.T.R. train at noon. A procession was formed, and headed by the Band and Cadet Corps met him at the depot, and he was given a public reception at the Town Hall. Mayor Wright presided, and after three cheers were given for Pte. Campbell, addresses of welcome were given by Rev. T. J. Mitchell, pastor of the Baptist church; ex-mayor Wagner, J. M. Wrong, and A. H. Backus, who on behalf of the citizens of Aylmer, welcomed Pte. Campbell home, who also did his “bit” in this great struggle.

Pte. Campbell enlisted with the pioneers of the 91st Battalion, and shortly after arriving in England was taken with rheumatism. He simply could not stand the climate, and kept growing worse all the time. After suffering for some months without relief he was sent home to see if our Canadian climate would benefit his health. Much to his disappointment he was not allowed to go to France. Both these returned men have families.

Alexander died on March 26, 1959 and is buried with his wife in Union Cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, March 26, 1959:

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL DIES IN HOSPITAL

A retired C.N.R. car department (London) employee, Alexander Campbell, 16 Lydia street, St. Thomas, passed away at the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Thursday morning at the age of 82.

Born in Wallacetown, March 17, 1877, he was the son of the late Mr and Mrs John Campbell. Mr. Campbell, who lived in St. Thomas for most of his life, served in World War I with the 91st Battalion. His wife, the former Sarah Jane Baker, predeceased him in 1947. He was a member of the Pentecostal Assembly.

He is survived by two sons, Walter Campbell, 136 Alma Street, and Gordon Campbell, 16 Lydia Street; two daughters, Mrs. Frank (Louise) Roberts, 14 Lydia Street, and Mrs. Walter (Eveline) Polhill, London; 17 grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

The remains are resting at the L. B. Sifton Funeral Home where Rev. Gordon Johnstone of the Pentecostal Assembly will conduct the funeral services on Saturday at 2 p.m. Interment will be made in Union Cemetery.

Trevor Samuel Campbell

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The name Trevor Campbell is found on an Honor Roll unveiled at the Aylmer High School on May 23, 1918, listing students and former students who served overseas.

Samuel Montrevor Campbell was born on February 25, 1898 at lot 10, concession 2, Lobo Township (Komoka), Middlesex County, the son of John Samuel Campbell & Ella M. McKenzie.  

Trevor was living with his parents at R.R. 8 St. Thomas when he enlisted for service in Toronto on July 24, 1918.  He was a farmer and was not married. He had served three months in the R.C.B.

Trevor was married on August 23, 1930 at Yarmouth Centre to Della Kathryn James.  Trevor died on March 2, 1975 and is buried in Elmdale Cemetery, St. Thomas. His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, March 3, 1975:

TREVOR S. CAMPBELL

Trevor S. Campbell of RR 6 St. Thomas, passed away at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Sunday, following a lengthy illness.  He was in his 78th year.  Born in Lobo Township, son of the late John S. Campbell and the late Matilda McKenzie Campbell, he was a retired farmer in Yarmouth Township where he had farmed for the past 45 years.  He was a member of Yarmouth Centre United Church.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Della James Campbell; one brother, Earl R. Campbell of Hamilton; one sister, Miss Mildred V. Campbell of Toronto; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Resting at the William Funeral Home, 45 Elgin Street, from where the funeral will be conducted Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. by Rev. W. P. Smetheram of Yarmouth Centre United Church. Interment in Elmdale Memorial Park. Friends will be received at the funeral home from Tuesday afternoon on.

George Whitney Canning

190208

George Whitney Canning was born on July 30, 1886 in Parrsboro, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, the son of Frederick W. Canning (1858 – 1928) & Catherine Parsons (1863-1932).  The family moved to Ontario about 1887 and were living in Brooke Township, Lambton County on the 1901 census where Frederick was a farmer.  By 1911, they were living on Talbot Street West in Aylmer. Frederick & Catherine are buried in Sparta Cemetery.

Whitney Canning was a blacksmith living in Aylmer when he was married in Detroit on December 21, 1910 to Lillian May Russell of Detroit.

He and Lilian made their home in Aylmer, where he was living when he enlisted with the 91st Battalion on March 31, 1916.  He belonged to the 30th Battery C.F.A. in Aylmer.

A photo of Whitney with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Pte. G. W. Canning, son of Mr and Mrs F. Canning, of Aylmer, enlisted with the 91st Batt., and went overseas in June, 1916. His wife resides in Aylmer. He is now in France and when last heard from was enjoying good health”.

George Whitney & Lillian lived in Michigan for a few years following their marriage, where two children were born: Frederick (ca 1912) and Lillian (ca 1915).  They returned to Ontario, where two more children were born to them: Edna (ca1917), and Gordon (ca 1921). They returned to Detroit about 1923 where another daughter, Kathleen, was born about 1924.  The family is found on the 1930 census in Detroit where Whitney is a toolmaker in an auto factory.

Edward Joseph Carrel

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Edward Carrel was born on January 18, 1895 in les Villets, Parish of Forest, Guernsey Island, part of the Channel Islands off the coast of England.  He was the son of Joseph Edward Carrel (1860-1940) & Mary Jane Norman (1869-1937).  The family is found on the 1901 census living on Military Road, Forest, Guernsey Island.  Joseph was born on Jersey Island, the son of Edward Carrel.  Mary Jane Norman was born in St. John on Jersey Island, the daughter of John Norman.  Joseph & Mary were living at Mount Durand, Guernsey Island in 1918, but later emigrated to Canada in 1922, settling in Springfield.  They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Edward emigrated to Canada in 1913, and was a farmer living at RR #1 Springfield when he was enlisted for service on May 15, 1918 in London.  He lists as his father as next of kin, of Mount Durand, Guernsey Islands.  Edward served with the Canadian Engineers building railroads to get supplies to the front.  He was wounded and was invalided to a hospital in London, England.  He returned to Canada in 1919.

Edward was living in Springfield when he was married on October 29, 1919 in Tillsonburg to Adele Louise Nant (1897-1985), of Brownsville, daughter of Thomas Nant & Emma Alley.

Edward lived at lot 19, concession 8, Malahide. He died on July 12,  1980 and is buried with his wife in New Delmer Cemetery, Delmer, Ontario. 

An account of their 50th wedding anniversary appeared in the Aylmer Express, Nov. 5, 1969:

COUPLE WED FIFTY YEARS

Mr and Mrs Edward Carrel of RR 4 Aylmer observed their 50th wedding anniversary at their Aylmer home. Some 75 friends and relatives came from London, Strathroy, Ingersoll, Brownsville and the Aylmer area to help the well-known couple celebrate.  Mr and Mrs Carrel were married in the Methodist Church in Tillsonburg, and moved to the Aylmer area shortly after being married.  Farming all their married life in the area, Mr. Carrel retired a number of years ago.  “We’ve made a lot of friends in this area in the past 50 years”, said Mr. Carrel. “We plan to stay here”.  The couple have one daughter and two sons, Mrs. Max Firby of Aylmer, Jack Carrel of Springfield and Tom Carrel of RR Aylmer.  Mrs. Carroll said that they had met under somewhat unusual circumstances. “He was leading two horses home from the Springfield Fair when I called to him and asked if I could help lead the horses”.  Although they had not known each other before, they learned later that they were born from the Guernsey Islands.

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, July 16, 1980:

EDWARD J. CARREL

A funeral service was conducted from the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home, July 14 for Edward Joseph Carrel. Burial was in New Delmer Cemetery. Rev. Cecil Jardine of London officiated at the service.

Mr. Carrel, of R.R. 4 Aylmer, died at the Memorial Continuing Care Centre in St. Thomas on Saturday, July 12. He was 85. He was born on Guernsey Island on January 18, 1895 and was the son of the late Joseph Edward and Mary Carrel. Mr. Carrel was a retired farmer who had lived most of his life in the Springfield and Aylmer areas.

He is survived by his wife, the former Adele Louise Nant. He is also survived by Jack Carrel of Straffordville; Thomas and Mrs. Max (Rosie) Firby, both of R.R. 4 Aylmer.  A brother, Edmund of Canton, Mass., U.S.A.; Bill of Windsor and Frank of Goderich; and Mrs. Elsie Gavey of Aylmer. Also survived by eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

The pallbearers were Jack Dykxhoorn, Glenn Johnston, Lloyd Johnson, Doug Anderson, Gilbert Hiepleh and Martin Bauman. The flowers were carried by the grandchildren.

Joseph Edward Carrel

54211 

Joseph Edward Carrel was born on March 12, 1892 in the parish of Forest, Guernsey Island, part of the Channel Islands off the coast of England.  He was the son of Joseph Edward Carrel (1860-1940) & Mary Jane Norman (1869-1937).  The family is found on the 1901 census living on Military Road, Forest, Guernsey Island.  Joseph was born on Jersey Island, the son of Edward Carrel.  Mary Jane Norman was born in St. John on Jersey Island, the daughter of John Norman.  Joseph & Mary were living at Mount Durand, Guernsey Island in 1918, but later emigrated to Canada, settling in Springfield.  They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

It is interesting to note that Joseph Edward Carrel had a brother Edward Joseph Carrel, who also served in the war.

Joseph emigrated to Canada in 1912 and was a farmer in the Springfield area when he enlisted for service on January 18, 1915 in St. Thomas.  He had served two years with the 2nd Battalion of Royal Guernsey Militia.  He served with the 18th Battalion C.E.F. 

Joseph and his wife Millitza (Millie) Jehan were married in 1917 in Guernsey.  Following the war, they remained in Guernsey until 1921 when they returned to the Springfield area with their eldest son Joseph Edward.  They arrived in Halifax on April 18, 1921 on this ship Saxonia, sailing from London, England. 

Joseph died on May 24, 1958 and is buried with his Millie (1889-1983) in Aylmer Cemetery. In their plot is also a military marker bearing the following inscription:

“Joseph E. Carrel  Private  18 Battn. C.E.F.  24 May 1958, age 66″

His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, May 26, 1958:

JOSEPH E. CARREL FUNERAL TUESDAY

AYLMER – A veteran of two World Wars, Joseph Edward Carrel, 32 Chestnut street, died in Westminster Hospital, London, on Saturday afternoon. He had been in ailing health for a number of years.

Born on the Guernsey Channel Isle 66 years ago, he was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Joseph Carrel.  Mr. Carrel came to Canada in 1913 and farmed in the Springfield district until he retired in 1942.  He had lived in Aylmer for the past 16 years. 

He served with the 18th Battalion in World War I, and in World War II from September, 1939 to September, 1940. He later served with the Elgin Reserve Regiment. Mr. Carrel was a member of St. Paul’s United Church, Aylmer.

He is survived by his wife, the former Millitza Jehan; two sons, Joseph and Walter, of Springfield; one daughter, Mrs. Carl (Agnes) Smith, Culloden; four brothers, Edward, Aylmer; Edmund, Canton, Mass.; William, Windsor; Frank, London, Ont; five sisters, Mrs. Eva Callienne, London; Mrs. Cecil (Elsie) Gavey, Aylmer; Mrs. Mary Dodd, Mrs. Ada Tostivan and Mrs. Annie Heamun, all of the Guernsey isle; six grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Resting at the Hughson Funeral Home, Aylmer, from where service will be held on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev. T. Garnet Husser, of St. Paul’s United Church, will officiate. Interment will be made in the family plot at Aylmer cemetery.

Audrey Harold Carter

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Harold Carter was born on April 29, 1900 at Vienna, the son of Henry Carter (1860-1938) & Mary Ann (Annie) Elizabeth Saxton (1866-1925).  Henry was born in New South Wales, Australia, the son of John Carter & Sarah Ann Hayes, and was a farmer living in Malahide when he was married there on March 3, 1886 to Annie Saxton, of Bayham, the daughter of John Saxton & Emily Brown. The family is found on the 1901 census in Vienna, but by the 1911 census they had moved to London. Henry & Annie are buried in Mount Pleasant cemetery there.

Harold was a tailor living with his parents at 213 Cathcart Street, London when he enlisted for service on September 1, 1915 in London.  He had served two months with the 7th Fusilier Guard.  He enlisted underage, giving his date of birth as April 29, 1897.  Harold fought at Vimy Ridge and was later wounded.

He was living in London working as a secretary in army work when he was married on July 1, 1919 in Dutton to Hazel Irene Draper, of London, the daughter of Thomas Draper & Bertha Wernham.

Harold died on September 19, 1989, and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London.  His obituary appeared in the London Free Press, September 20, 1989:

CARTER

Suddenly at Victoria Hospital, South St. Campus, London, on Tuesday, September 19, 1989, A. Harold Carter of London, in his 90th year. Dearly loved husband of Inez (Thomas) Carter. Dear father of Marcelle Ladd, Bill and his wife Gene, Murray and his wife Marion, Sylvia and her husband Don Dimell, all of London. Dear brother of Cora Hawley of Strathroy and Lena Mitz of London. Also loved by his 12 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Predeceased by his first wife Irene (Draper) Carter (1961), a sister Stenna Emerson and a brother Alex. Friends will be received by the family from 2-4 and 7-9 pm Wednesday at the A. Millard George Fuenral Home, 60 Ridout St. South. The funeral service will be conducted at Wesley Knox United Church, 91 Askin St., London, on Thursday, September 21 at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Kenneth R. Emmons officiating. Interment Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 245 Pall Mall St., London, N6A 9Z9 would be appreciated by the family.

Ezra Lorne Carter

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Ezra Carter was born on April 23, 1896 at Kingsmill in Malahide, the son of John Carter (1852-1927) & Mary E. Cox (1858-1934).  John was born in Hertfordshire, England, the son of George & Caroline Carter, and was a farmer living in South Dorchester when he was married on March 5, 1879 in Malahide to Mary E. Cox, of Malahide, the daughter of Richard & Catherine Cox.

Ezra was a farmer living at Kingsmill when he was married on May 22, 1918 at Clear Creek in Houghton Township, Norfolk County to Grace Mae Elvidge (1895-1975), of Clear Creek, the daughter of George Elvidge & Elizabeth McGregor.

He enlisted for service on June 18, 1918 in London.

Ezra died on May 12, 1964 in Lambeth, and is buried with his wife in Aylmer cemetery. His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, May 13, 1964:

EZRA J. CARTER DIES SUDDENLY

LAMBETH – The death of Ezra Lorn Carter, of R.R. 2 Lambeth, occurred at his home on Tuesday after a sudden illness. He was 68. Survivors include his wife, the former Grace May Elvidge; two sons, Stewart of Windsor, and Ralph of Lambeth; two brothers, George, Windsor; Andrew, London; one sister, Mrs. Alfred (Martha) Cooper, Toronto.

Resting at the McFarlane and Roberts Funeral Home, Lambeth, and service will be held on Thursday at 2 p.m. Burial will be made in Aylmer cemetery.

John Alexander Carter

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Alex Carter was born at Dunboyne in Malahide Township on February 19, 1894, the son of Henry Carter (1860-1938) & Mary Ann (Annie) Elizabeth Saxton (1866-1925).  Henry was born in New South Wales, Australia, the son of John Carter & Sarah Ann Hayes, and was a farmer living in Malahide when he was married there on March 3, 1886 to Annie Saxton, of Bayham, the daughter of John Saxton & Emily Brown.  The family is found on the 1901 census in Vienna, but by the 1911 census they had moved to London. Henry & Annie are buried in Mount Pleasant cemetery there.

Alex was employed as a steam fitter and living with his parents at 213 Cathcart Street, London when he enlisted for service on August 25, 1915 in London.

Following the war, he returned to London and resumed his occupation as a steam fitter, and was married in London on April 13, 1920 to Mabel Robinson, a native of Thamesville living in Komoka, the daughter of William J. Robinson & Florence Ethel Fortner.

Alex died in Sarnia.

Lawrence Lee Cartwright

Lawrence Cartwright’s name appears on the cenotaph in Port Burwell. He  was born on May 20, 1887 in Bayham, the son of George Warren Cartwright (1852-1931) & Susan Jane Wilson (1857-1929).  George was born in Bayham, the son of Joseph Cartwright & Angeline Storey, and was farming there when he was married on October 28, 1874 in Straffordville to Susan Wilson, of Malahide, the daughter of Bradford Wilson & Sarah Elizabeth Boyd.  George & Susan are buried in Calton cemetery.

Lawrence moved to Detroit where he was working as a shipping clerk in an automobile factory.  He is enumerated with his parents on the 1911 Bayham census, but his residence is given as Detroit.  He later moved to Flint, Michigan where he was living when he registered for the United States Draft in 1917. He was living at 1921 Avenue B., Flint, and was working as a grocery clerk.

Lawrence continued to live in Flint, where is found on the 1920 census, a foreman in an auto factory.  He was still single.  On the 1930 census for Flint, he is married to Elizabeth O., a Michigan native, and was an auto salesman for Durant Motors.  Information found in genealogical postings on the Internet give Lawrence’s wife’s name as Lillian Agnes Brown.  He had at least one daughter, Susan.  Lawrence died on September 1, 1956 in Flint, Michigan.

Hugh John Cascadden

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Hugh Cascadden was born on December 28, 1899 in Bayham, the son of John Henry Cascadden (1858 – 1908) & Edith Mandeville (1867 – 1944).  John was born in Bayham, the son of Hugh & Laura Cascadden, and was living in Inwood, Brooke Township, Lambton Co., when he was married there on February 8, 1884 to Edith Mandeville, also of Inwood, the daughter of Sylvester Mandeville & Malvina Parker.  They moved to London, where John died in 1908 at 57 Palace Street.  Edith was remarried in 1912 in Stratford to Edwin Burrows.

Hugh Cascadden was a cabinet maker, probably living with his mother, Mrs. Edwin Burrows, at 128 Bay Street, Stratford, when he enlisted for service on August 26, 1915 in Stratford.  He had served five months in the 28th Perth Regiment.

Hugh arrived in England on the ship California on November 1, 1915, and served as a private with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles in the 40th Canadian Reserve Battalion in Flanders and France between June 7, 1916 and September 20, 1916.  In September of 1916 it was learned he was underage, and he was returned to Canada.  He was discharged on November 13, 1916 in London because of his minority.  

By 1919, Hugh had moved to Toledo, Ohio, living at 217 Tenth Street, when he received his final military pay of $179.90.  In 1920, Hugh was living at 638 Coplen Avenue, Detroit, with his wife Annie and her sister Marie Schmitt.  He and Annie later moved to Toledo where they were living at 3425 Stickney Avenue on the 1930 census.  Hugh & Annie had three children: Lorne (1921 – 1988); Marion (born 1922), and an infant who died at birth in 1925.

Hugh died on June 11, 1946 in Toledo, and is buried in Calvary Cemetery there.

William Austin Cascadden

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William Austin Cascadden was born on May 29, 1891 at Inwood in Brooke Township, Lambton County, the son of Benjamin W. Cascadden (1861-1935) & Susannah Luce (1867-1950).  Benjamin was born in Bayham, the son of Hugh & Laura Cascadden, and was employed as a stave packer at Inwood when he was married on June 24, 1889 at Oil City in Enniskillen Township, Lambton County to Susanna Luce, a native of Delaware township living in Komoka, the daughter of Joseph & Nancy Luce.  Benjamin & Susanna are buried in Richmond West cemetery.

William enlisted for service on April 13, 1915 in London.  His address is not given on the attestation paper, but he was a blacksmith and had served five years in the 1st Hussars.  He names his next of kin as his father, Benjamin, of (south of?) London.

William died on November 2, 1952 and is buried with his parents in Richmond West cemetery. His obituary from an undated clipping, follows:

FORMER AYLMER MAN, W. E. CASCADDEN, DIES

Moved Recently From Aylmer to Richmond

William E. Cascadden died at his residence, Richmond, Ontario, Sunday evening, Nov. 2, after a long illness. Born in Komoka, Ontario in 1891, the late Mr. Cascadden was a well known resident of Aylmer until a few months ago when he moved to Richmond. He was a member of the Aylmer Baptist church, and of the Aylmer Branch of the Canadian Legion.

The late Mr. Cascadden, the son of the late Mr and Mrs B. J. Cascadden, was unmarried. He is mourned by an uncle, Albert E. Luce, Port Burwell, and an aunt, Mrs. Louis Varley, Guelph.  Funeral services will take place at the Hughson Funeral Home, Aylmer, on Tuesday at 2 o’clock. Rev. R. Cochran will conduct the service. Interment will follow in Richmond cemetery.

Floyd H. Caswell

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Floyd Caswell was born on November 7, 1893 in Bayham, the son of Charles Caswell (1861-1925) & Emma Murphy (1868-1928).  Charles was a tinsmith, born in Tillsonburg, the son of Asa Caswell & Mary Gilmore, and was living in Straffordville when he was married on October 26, 1887 in Bayham to Emma Murphy, and native and resident of Straffordville, daughter of Samuel Murphy & Hannah Davis.  Charles & Emma retired in Tillsonburg, are buried in Straffordville cemetery.

Floyd was a clerk living in Straffordville when he enlisted for service on February 25, 1918 in London.

When his mother died in 1928, Floyd was living in Warren, Michigan. He died in December 1965 in Michigan.

 

Dr. Alfred Hans Warring Caulfield

Alfred Caulfield was born on November 27, 1879 in Bayham, the son of Hans James Caulfield & Elizabeth Jane (Jemima) Brasher. Hans was the son of Hans & Mary Ann Caulfield and was a clerk living in Eden when he was married on June 11, 1872 in Vienna to Elizabeth Jane Brasher, of Vienna, the daughter of Samuel & Elizabeth Brasher. Hans was a merchant in Eden when Alfred was born.  They later moved to Toronto.

Alfred was a physician and a member of the Toronto Light Horse when he made an officer’s declaration as a Captain on April 13, 1915 in Toronto.  He names his next of kin as H. J. Caulfield of 1 Nantin Ave.

Dr. Caulfield returned from overseas in 1918, arriving in Halifax on February 13.

Dr. Alfred Caulfield died on May 2, 1940 in his 60th year.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, May 3, 1940:

ALFRED CAULFIELD WAS BORN IN ELGIN

Was Internationally Known Authority of Diseases of Chest

TORONTO, May 3 – Internationally known authority in diseases of the chest, Dr. Alfred Hans Waring Caulfield, died yesterday at his home in his 60th year. He had been in ill health for some time. He suffered a severe heart seizure last Sunday.

One of the foremost pathologists in Canada and the United States, he was a past president of both the American Association of Allergy and the American Association for the study of asthma. He was author of a number of authoritative medical works.

Born in Vienna, a village in Elgin County, Ontario, Dr. Caulfield graduated in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1904. During the First Great War, he served in England and France with the Canadian Army Medical corps.  He is survived by his widow, and a son.

 

Percival (Percy) Norman Caven

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Percy Caven was born on March 27, 1890 at 28 Marion Street, Toronto, the son of Albert Edward Caven (1861-1945) & Mary Jane Congdon (1866-1959). Edward was born in Port Credit, the son of James R. Caven & Elizabeth Giles, and was the driver of a railway train in Toronto when he was married in Etobicoke Township on January 9, 1889 to Mary Jane Congdon, of Etobicoke, the daughter of James Congdon & Elizabeth Gastle.   By 1911, Edward was farming in Malahide on lot 17, concession 9,  where is found on the census there with his family.  About 1912, they moved to St. Thomas.

 He and his wife died in London, and are buried in Woodland Cemetery there.

Percy Caven was a student minister on the Malahide Circuit about 1912.  He later moved to Toronto to continue his studies, and was living at 57 Charles Street West, Toronto when he enlisted for service there on January 25, 1917.  He names his next of kin as his mother, Mary, of 21 Elysian Street, St. Thomas.  He had been a private for two years in the C.O.T.C.

A letter from Percy was printed in the Aylmer Express, August 16, 1917:

PERCY CAVEN DELIGHTED WITH ENGLAND

Former Pastor of Malahide Methodist Circuit with Div. Sig. Co., in Training in England

Gives British Navy Credit in Handling Submarine Menace

The following letter from the above popular pastor who is so well known not only in South Malahide, but in Aylmer and Springfield, will be of interest to all our readers. It was written to Mr. R. H. Lindsay, of Copenhagen, who receives letters from several Malahide boys at the front, Basil Prideaux, Harry Ealey, G. F. Daley, Frank Betts and Carl Lindsay Sanders, which are often read at the Sunday school.

July 22nd, 1917

Mr. Lindsay, Copenhagen, Ont.,

Dear Mr. Lindsay –
As you have been on my mind for some time past I thought that I should put some of my thoughts on paper. Possibly you are still in a mood of welcoming a letter, poor or good, that is most certainly the attitude of the soldier. I am not certain which bugle call the average soldier answers with more alacrity, i.e., the “mail call” or the “cook-house call”, both sound like music to me.

After seven months service in the army I can say that I like the life very well.  It has its unpleasant sides it is true, but much of that is compensated by other features (interesting to a student of human nature at least).

I like England very much. It’s green hedges, in place of unsightly rail or barbed wire fences, adds much to the general picturesqueness of the landscape. While at Crowborough camp I saw a considerable part of the surrounding district and the crops looked splendid when we moved here a week past. Now we are situated on the sea-coast on the side of a steep hill overlooking the town and the English channel beyond it. There is a larger town here but no better community thereby. There are two Methodist churches, one is a primitive Methodist, the other a Wesleyan. My chum and I attended service last Sunday evening. That is the second service I’ve attended since leaving Canada. The other service was a Presbyterian service in Edinburgh, Scotland, one month ago when I was on a weeks’ leave to Scotland. That was a glorious week. When things all go “askew” and I am in danger of losing my temper I turn my thought to those pleasanter pictures hung on “memory’s walls” to detract from such disturbances. Scotland and her hospitable folk rank very high in my estimation.

While travelling north of Edinburgh I visited Sir Walter Scott’s famed district, “The Trussocks”. I saw Ellen’s Isle in Lock Katrine as written about in “Lady of the Lake”. Yet I must say that when many of these Scotch or English cities and districts are stripped of their romantic or historical interest, much of our Canadian scenery would far outbid this scenery. Nature has showered Canada with much real beauty.

I suppose you are as interested as ever in the industrious bee family. I still have an interest in the product, but it is something you see little of over here. I guess sugar is too scarce. The food situation over here is not so acute as when we arrived first, in May. With all the fault-finding one must not discount the wonderful work of our Admiralty in overcoming the enemy’s submarine menace. Anyone who has crossed on a transport this year will verify it too.

Trusting that this will find you all quite well. Give my best regards to all the family, big and little, remembering me to any who remember me still, as I often think of the happy times I spent with the people of Malahide. I hope God’s blessing abides with you in your S.S. work.

Sincerely, Percy N. Caven.

Lance-Corporal Percy Caven returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on April 10.   He became an ordained minister and was married in 1925 to Olive Beatrice Lindsay (died 1979), daughter of W. James Lindsay. They had at least one son, Douglas Norman Caven.

Rev. Percy Caven died on July 22, 1945. His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, July 23, 1945:

REV. PERCY N. CAVEN PASSES IN LONDON

Former St. Thomas Resident and Pastor of Grace Church for a Time

Rev. Percival Norman Caven, B.A., M.R.E., former minister of Hyatt Avenue United Church, died at his residence, 274 Ridout street south, London, Sunday night following a lengthy illness. He was in his 56th year. He was born at Toronto, the son of Mr and Mrs Edward Caven, of London, Ont., former residents at 22 Isabel Street, St. Thomas. He lived here with his parents for a time and was active in young people’s work at the First United Church. He graduated from the University of Toronto and took post graduate work at Boston University. He held charges at St. Laurent, Quebec, Montreal and at Hyatt Avenue Church in 1941, retiring because of ill health in 1942.

In the greater part of a year he was pastor of Grace United Church, St. Thomas, giving up a year’s study at Boston to fill out the unexpired term of Rev. W. J. Ashton, who was forced to retire because of illness.

Mr. Caven is survived by his wife, Olive Beatrice, a son, Douglas, at home; one brother, Roy of Windsor; a sister, Mrs. Bert Walsh, London; and his parents.  The body is resting at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, London, with service to be held there in the chapel Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev. J. A. Agnew will officiate. Interment will be in Woodland cemetery.

 

Roy Wilmot Caven

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Roy Caven was born on May 26, 1898 at 88 Marion Street, Toronto, the son of Albert Edward Caven (1861-1945) & Mary Jane Congdon (1866-1959). Edward was born in Port Credit, the son of James R. Caven & Elizabeth Giles, and was the driver of a railway train in Toronto when he was married in Etobicoke Township on January 9, 1889 to Mary Jane Congdon, of Etobicoke, the daughter of James Congdon & Elizabeth Gastle.   By 1911, Edward was farming in Malahide on lot 17, concession 9,  where is found on the census there with his family.  About 1912, they moved to St. Thomas. He and his wife died in London, and are buried in Woodland Cemetery there.

Roy Caven was a student living with his parents at 21 Elysian Street, St. Thomas when he enlisted for service with the 91st Battalion on June 9, 1916 in St. Thomas. 

Roy returned from the war on February 5, 1919, landing in Halifax.  He married Hazel Malissa Chandler (1892-1954).  Roy moved to Windsor and died there on January 24, 1963. His obituary appeared in the Windsor Star, January 25, 1963:

CAVEN – Roy W., 64, of 863 Marentette Ave., died Thursday at Grace Hospital. Mr. Caven was born in Toronto and lived in Windsor 40 years. He was a salesman for 25 years with the Borden Co., and served with the 91st Infantry Battalion in World War I.  His wife, Hazel, died in 1954. Surviving are: a step-daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Zinck, of Windsor; a sister, Mrs. Gertrude Walsh, of London, and a granddaughter, Mrs. Robert Grant (Betty) of Windsor. Funeral Saturday at 3 p.m. from the Anderson Funeral Home, 895 Ouelette Ave. Rev. David R. Stone officiating.

Walter Alexander Chalk

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Walter Chalk was born on August 2, 1897 in Vienna, the son of Stanley Lewis Chalk (1859-1935) & Sarah Melissa Hotchkiss (1863-1915).  Stanley was born in Bayham, the son of Charles Chalk & Susannah McDonald, and was farming in Houghton when he was married on March 4, 1885 in Bayham to Sarah Hotchkiss, of Bayham, the daughter of John S. Hotchkiss & Catherine Losee.  They are buried in St. Luke’s cemetery, Vienna.

Walter was living in Port Burwell employed as a clerk when he enlisted for service on April 13, 1918 in London.  He had served seven months in the 24th Kent Regiment of Militia.

Walter moved to Detroit about 1919, where he is found on the 1920 census with his brother Oliver and family. He is employed as a collector for a furniture store.

There is a Walter A. Chalk buried in Delhi Cemetery (1898-1965). There is also a military marker there with the following inscription: “1 Cdn. Inf. Pte W.A. Chalk 1898-1965″

 

George Roscoe Chambers

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George Roscoe Chambers was born on December 26, 1899 in Watford, Lambton County, the son of Albert Chambers (1864-1932) & Elva A. Parker (1867-1946).  Albert was born in Elgin County, the son of George Chambers & Sarah Brooks, but was living in Lambton County when he was married on June 16, 1897 in Dunboyne to Elva Parker, a native and resident of Malahide, the daughter of George Parker & Susan Stover.  They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

George Chambers was a farmer living in Aylmer when he enlisted for service on January 8, 1916.  He belonged to the 30th Battery C.F.A.

George was married on June 27, 1923 in St. Thomas to Erie Grace Precoor (Aug. 1, 1905 – Nov. 18, 1982), the daughter of Frank H. & Amelia May Precoor, and was a native of Aylmer.

George died April 1, 1962 and is buried in Aylmer cemetery.

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, April 4, 1962:

GEORGE R. CHAMBERS

Ill for several months, George R. Chambers of R.R. 5 Aylmer, died at his home on Sunday. He was 62.  Mr. Chambers, who was a retired general and tobacco farmer, was born at Watford. He was a son of the late Albert Chambers and Elva E. Parker.  He came to this area when an infant and spent practically all his life in the vicinity of Aylmer and Dunboyne, retiring in 1947.  He was a member of St. Paul’s United Church and during World War I served with the 91st Battalion in Canada.  Surviving are his wife, the former Erie Precoor; two sons, George A., of R.R. 5 Aylmer, and James A., at home; two daughters, Mrs. Keith (Elva) Pressey, of Corinth; and Mrs. Wayne (Dorothy) Underhill at home; one brother, Bert of Simcoe and four grandchildren.  Service was held at the Jas. H. Barnum Funeral Home this (Wednesday) afternoon with interment in the Aylmer Cemetery. Mr. Murdock Morrison of the Malahide United Church conducted the service.

 

David Jickling Chapman

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David Chapman was born on May 27, 1875 in Heacham, Norfolk, England, the son of Alfred & Mary Chapman.  The family is found on the 1891 census in Heacham, where Alfred was a coal dealer.  By 1901, David was married to May Parker (1878-1953), a native of Little Ashfield, Suffolk. They were living at #3 Seapey’s Cottage on Malthouse Lane, where David was employed as a carter.  They had one son David J., born in Heacham about 1896.

David, his wife and two children Eva (age 10) and Flora (age 8) emigrated to Canada on the ship Royal Edward sailing from Bristol and arriving in Halifax on March 20, 1912.  They settled on concession 9, Malahide, where David was a farmer.  They later lived in the Copenhagen area.

David enlisted with the 91st Battalion on March 31, 1916 while living in Aylmer.  He suffered from myalgia and was discharged for medical reasons. He arrived back in Canada on October 5, 1916, landing in Halifax. He returned to Malahide and was living at lot 10, concession 5 in the 1920’s.  Another daughter, Helen Margaret (1918-1920) was born after they emigrated.

David died on December 26, 1958 and is buried with his wife in Aylmer cemetery.  Following is his obituary from an undated clipping:

DAVID J. CHAPMAN 91ST BN. VETERAN

AYLMER – David J. Chapman, 335 Elm Street South, Aylmer, died in St. Thomas on Friday evening in his 85th year. He had been in ailing health for the past year.  Born at Heacham, Norfolk, England, he was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Alfred Chapman. He came to Canada in 1912 and was a mail carrier on R.R. 2 Aylmer, for 34 years. He retired from general farming 12 years ago. Mr. Chapman was a member of Trinity Anglican Church. He served with the 91st Battalion in World War I and was a life member of the Colonel Talbot Branch 81 of the Canadian Legion.

He is survived by one son, Mac Chapman, Aylmer; one daughter Mrs. Thomas (Flora) Stanyer, of Aylmer; and a foster son, Albert Browning, of Aylmer. His wife, the former May Parker, died in 1953, and a daughter Mrs. Eva Franklin died in 1957.

At rest at the Hughson Funeral Home, Aylmer, where a Canadian Legion service will be conducted by Rev. Ronald Matthewman at 3:30 on Monday afternoon. Interment in Aylmer cemetery.

Another obituary from an undated clipping gives some additional details:

DAVID CHAPMAN LAID TO REST

A well-known citizen, David J. Chapman, 335 John street south, was laid to rest in the family plot in Aylmer cemetery on Monday afternoon, Dec. 29. He died in St. Thomas on Friday, Dec. 26.  Mr. Chapman was in ailing health for a year.

He was born in Heacham, Norfolk, England, on May 27, 1874, and was 84 years of age.  His parents were the late Mr and Mrs Alfred Chapman. He came to Canada in 1912 and about 12 years ago retired as a farmer. For 34 years he carried the mail on rural route No. 2 out of Aylmer, gaining the respect of a wide circle of friends throughout his many years on the job.

A member of Trinity Anglican Church, Mr. Chapman was also a life member of Colonel Talbot Branch No. 81 of the Canadian Legion. He was a veteran of World War I, having served with the 91st Battalion.

His wife, the former May Parker, died in 1953. Surviving are his son, Mac, of John street south, Aylmer; one daughter, Flora, Mrs. Thomas Stanyer of Aylmer; also a foster son, Albert Browning, Aylmer; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Rev. Donald Matthewman of Trinity Anglican Church conducted the service. During the service, Mrs. Reginald Wellwood sang “The Lord’s Prayer” with Mrs. James Wright at the organ.  Pallbearers were Jack Harvey, Huron Sears, Robert Sutherland, Bruce VanPatter, George Watson and Bert Hemphill.  The attending officers and members of Colonel Talbot Branch 81 of the Canadian Legion acted as flower bearers and conducted the graveside service.  The funeral was largely attended with friends and relatives present from London, St. Thomas, Aylmer and surrounding district.

Harold Leslie Charles

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Harold Charles was born on September 26, 1890 in Burford, the son of Frederick James Charles & Lucinda Daniel. Frederick was a native of Burford, the son of John M. & Susan Charles and was married on November 26, 1873 to Lucinda Daniel, also of Burford, the daughter of George & Cordelia Daniel.

Harold was living in Springfield employed as a liveryman when he enlisted for service on December 8, 1915 in St. Thomas with the 91st Battalion.  He names his next of kin as his sister, Mrs. T. H. Whittington, of Princeton, Ontario.  He had served five years with the 25th Brant Dragoons.

Following the war, Harold moved to Arthur in Wellington County where he was a farmer.  He was married on June 30, 1920 in Guelph to Edna Irene Stevenson, of Guelph, the daughter of William J. & Annie Stevenson.

Harold died on September 30, 1962, and is buried in Ayr Cemetery, N. Dumfries Township, Waterloo Co. His obituary appeared in the Kitchener-Waterloo Record, October 1, 1962:

HAROLD L. CHARLES

AYR – Harold Leslie Charles, 72, of Ayr, died Sunday at Westminster Hospital, London, Ont., after a lengthy illness. He was retired but had worked for years as a herdsman and livery worker.

Mr. Charles was born Sept. 26, 1890 in Burford, son of the late Mr and Mrs Frederick Charles, and was the last surviving member of his family. He came to Ayr 30 years ago after living at Elmira, Guelph and Windsor.  He was a member of Knox United Church and formerly of the Ayr branch of the Canadian Legion.

His wife, the former Edna Stephenson, died April 29, 1960. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Clair (June) Harmer of Plattsville, and Mrs. Griffiths (Anna) Lloyd of Willowdale; and four grandchildren.

The body is at the Ball Funeral Home where Rev. W. J. V. Buchanan will conduct the funeral Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. Burial will follow in Ayr Cemetery.

Norman Garfield Charlton

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Norman Charlton was born on January 8 (or 9), 1883 at Springfield in South Dorchester, the son of Sylvester Charlton (1855-1940) & Hannah Elizabeth Hewer (1860-1935).  Sylvester was born in South Dorchester, the son of Peter Charlton & Betsy Brooks, and was a farming there when he was married on December 17, 1878 in Brownsville to Hannah Hewer, of Dereham, the daughter of John & Hannah Hewer. They are buried in Springfield cemetery.

Norman was a farmer living in Springfield when he was married on June 10, 1903 in Oxford County to Edna Estella Rutherford (1883-1962), of Dereham, the daughter of Thomas Rutherford & Almira Scott.

Norman was employed as a traveler and living in Tillsonburg when he enlisted for service on December 23, 1915 in Tillsonburg. An Officer’s Declaration dated October 26, 1916 in London also exists.  He was a Lieutenant in the 188th Overseas Battalion, and belonged to the 22nd Regiment.  He had served three weeks in the 71st Overseas Battalion.

He returned from overseas on May 30, 1919, arriving in Portland, Maine.

Norman died in July1958 and is buried in Springfield cemetery.  His wife Edna is buried in the New Delmer cemetery, Delmer, Ont.

Norman’s obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, July 31, 1958:

CHARLTON RITES HELD

SPRINGFIELD – The funeral of Norman Charlton, a native of Springfield, was held Wednesday afternoon of last week from the Bedford Funeral Home in Toronto.  Interment was made in the family plot in the Springfield cemetery.  Rev. George A. Shields, of St. John’s United Church, Springfield, conducted the graveside service.  Pallbearers were Austin Dawes, Stewart Dawes, Fred Charlton, Mac Charlton, Wilfred Charlton and Lloyd Tracey.  A member of an old Springfield family, Mr. Charlton was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Sylvester Charlton. He served in World War I and on his return operated a taxi business in Windsor.  Later he moved to Toronto where he carried on a real estate business for more than 20 years.  After retiring he devoted much of his time to the growing of flowers.  He was 71 and an adherent of the United Church of Canada. Surviving are his daughter, Mrs. L. (Elizabeth) Ross in Michigan; one son Benjamin Charlton of Toronto, and his brother, Milton S. Charlton in Springfield.

Ross Norval Charlton

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Ross Charlton was born on May 21, 1897 in Springfield, the son of Simon Peter Charlton (1868-1948) & Sarah Alberta Hewer (1872-1961).  Simon was born in South Dorchester, the son of Sylvester Charlton & Melinda Brooks, and was living there when he was married on December 8, 1892 in Delmer to Alberta Hewer, of Delmer, the daughter of Thomas & Clarinda Hewer. They are buried in Springfield cemetery.

Ross was farming at RR #3 Springfield with his parents when he enlisted for service on May 15, 1918 in London.  He arrived home from overseas on March 6, 1919, landing in St. John’s, Newfoundland. His return was reported in the Aylmer Express, March 13, 1919 under the headline “Another Royal Welcome to Springfield Heroes”:

“On Tuesday evening a mammoth crowd gathered at the city hall to do honor to a returned man, Private Ross Charlton, who returned on Saturday night. The evening was spent in dancing and games until a very late hour. It is an understood fact that when S. P. Charlton starts anything it has to be done right. Tuesday evening’s performance proved that”.

Ross  was farming in South Dorchester when he was married on January 21, 1920 in Aylmer to Olive Merle Anger, of Aylmer, the daughter of Wilford Anger & Elizabeth Swance.

Ross died on June 6, 1963 and is buried in Springfield cemetery.  His obituary follows:

ROSS CHARLTON DIES IN HOSPITAL

SPRINGFIELD – Ross Charlton, of Springfield, passed away at the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital on Tuesday morning in his 67th year.  He was born on the 11th concession of South Dorchester Township and was a son of the late Simon Peter and Alberta Charlton.  Mr. Charlton was a carpenter by trade and worked for many years at Hamilton and in the Springfield district.  He was an adherent of St. John’s United Church, Springfield.  He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Joe (Marjorie) Costello, of Stoney Creek, Ont., and Miss Helen Charlton, St. Thomas; one sister, Mrs. Martin (Mildred) Proud, of Toronto; one brother, Stanley Charlton of Springfield.  Resting at the Shaw Funeral Home, Springfield, where the funeral service will be held on Thursday at 2 p.m., conducted by Rev. Jean Donaldson, of St. John’s United Church. Interment in the family plot in Springfield cemetery.

John Chilcott

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John Chilcott was born on June 2, 1896 in Shurton, Somersetshire, England, the son of John Chilcott.  He emigrated to Canada and was a farm labourer living in Corinth when he enlisted for service on April 24, 1918 in London.  He names his next of kin as his father, John Chilcott of Honibere, Stogursey, near Bridgewater, England.

John was married to Flossie Mitts Thompson (1897-1975), the widow of Cecil Thompson who died in 1943.  Flossie was the daughter of Peter Mitts & Cerinda Pearson.

John died on January 31, 1989 at the age of 92,  and is buried with his wife and her parents in Richmond West cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, February 1, 1989:

JOHN CHILCOTT

John Chilcott, 92, of RR 4 Corinth, died at Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, January 31, 1989. He was born in Shurton, England on June 2, 1896 and came to Canada in 1913.  He lived in Aylmer until 1975 when he moved to Corinth.  He was a member of The People’s Revival Church, Ingersoll.

Mr. Chilcott is survived by son Roy Thompson of London; sisters Evelyn and Nell of England; grandchildren Earl Thompson of Paris; Cheryl and her husband John Peters of RR 4 Aylmer; Ramona and Ron Vinnai of RR 1 Straffordville.  He was predeceased by wife Flossey May (Mitts) Chilcott in 1975 and granddaughter Vallerie Sibley.

The Reverend R. H. Gillam of the The People’s Revival Church, Ingersoll, will conduct the funeral service at H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home, Aylmer on Thursday, February 2 at 1:30 p.m. Burial will follow in Richmond Cemetery.

William Robert Chipchase

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William Robert Chipchase was born on March 5, 1892 in Aylmer,  the son of Albert Chipchase & Henrietta McConnell.  Albert was a house painter.  He and Henrietta were married in Aylmer on September 28, 1889.  Albert was born in Sutton, Yorkshire about 1866, the son of William Chipchase & Margaret Milthorp. The family is found on the 1881 England census in Harrogate, Parish of Pannal, Yorkshire, living at 8 Dunoilan Terrace.  Albert emigrated to Canada about 1884.  His wife Henrietta was born about 1867, the daughter of Robert  McConnell & Amy Powers.  Albert & Henrietta moved from Aylmer by 1906 and were living in Ingersoll.  They are found there on the 1911 census.  By 1916, they were living at 75 Shade Street, Galt. Later records give their address as 131 Forest Road, Galt.  Albert Chipchase died in Preston on March 8, 1927.

William’s brother Ernest Chipchase was killed in action on August 13, 1918. 

William was living at 41 Oak Street, Galt, with his parents, and was employed as a painter when he enlisted for service on March 15, 1918 in London.

He was living in Galt when he was married on April 14, 1924 in Woodstock to Clara Barnum, a native and resident of Ingersoll, the daughter of Timothy Barnum & Caroline Webber.

William died in 1977 and is buried with his wife in Ingersoll Rural Cemetery.

 

Maurice Lee Chiverton

534699

Maurice Lee Chiverton was born on December 23, 1885 in Aylmer, the son of William Francis Chiverton (1844-1912) & Ada Cecelia Dennis. William was born in Malahide, the son of William Chiverton & Deborah Ann Hughes.  William was living at lot 32, concession 4 Malahide when he died in 1912.

Maurice was living with his mother at 228 Maitland Street, London, a chiropractor & osteopath, when he enlisted for service in London on May 19, 1916. He returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Boston on May 29.

Dr. Chiverton was married in 1931 to Gladys Wanless Evans (1897-1980).  He died in 1978 and is buried with his wife in Mayhew Cemetery, Camden Twsp., Kent County.

Alwynne Raymond Christie

190232 

Alwynne Christie was born on August 20, 1877 in Malahide, the son of Gideon Robert Christie, merchant, and his wife Ada E. Miller.  They were married in Malahide township on March 2, 1876.  Gideon was born on Shetland Island in 1846, the son of Robert & Margaret, and emigrated to Canada in 1847.  Ada Miller was born in 1853, the daughter of Benjamin & Nancy Miller.  Both she and Gideon were residing in Malahide when they were married. They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Alwynne was a merchant living in Aylmer when he was married on August 20, 1902 in Aylmer to Jennie Elizabeth Maguire (1877-1942), a native of Wallaceburg, also living in Aylmer. She was the daughter of Allan D. Maguire & Augusta Featherstone.

Alwynne enlisted for service with the 91st Battalion on April 6, 1916.  He had been a member of the 30th Battery in Aylmer for two years.

A letter from Alwynne to his wife and family was printed in the Aylmer Express, August 17, 1916:

BANDSMAN A. R. CHRISTIE MEETS OTHER AYLMER BOYS IN ENGLAND

91st Batt. is Broken Up – Having Hard Training

Mrs. A. R. Christie has received the following interesting letter from her husband, Bandsman A. R Christie, son of Mr and Mrs G. R Christie, with the 91st Battalion, “Somewhere in England”. Before enlisting for overseas, Bandsman Christie was the popular quartermaster-sergeant with the 30th Battery, C.F.A.:

July 26, 1916

Dear Wife, Kids, and all the Rest of the Folks –

Well, I haven’t heard from any of you yet, but am looking for a letter some day this week. Last week we were certainly kept busy with musketry, bayonet drill, and squad drill from early till late.  Yesterday (Monday) we started making entrenchments, barbed wire barricades and entanglements, and digging ourselves in with a trenching tool.  It is a tool that is carried on the belt, at least the handle is, and the spade and pick part of the tool is carried in a sack to hold it, and hangs right over the seat of the pants.

We have been split all to pieces, and have been changed from one company to another three times during the past week.  There is a possibility that we may get altogether separated shortly.  Today Major Madden, who is now connected with another battalion, came in our hut (we now are living in huts instead of tents), and asked for the names of all the bandsmen who had not been taken on strength of this brigade band. He stated that the Brigadier-General said that all bandsmen, who enlisted as bandsmen had the privilege of being transferred to some brigade band at the base in France, providing they were competent; so there are five out of fourteen of us who have put in our names for a transfer at the earliest opportunity, consequently there is a pretty fair chance that I may yet get connected with another band.  I hope it goes through OK, because it is sure some work in the ranks where a fellow has not been used to it.

Last night 200 of us were on duty learning trenching, etc., all night long, just as though we were at the Front. We had to carry all our heavy marching kit from our camp to the place where we went to put in the night. We were not allowed to talk, and were warned that a severe penalty would be meted out to anyone who dared to sleep.  We were not allowed to smoke, either – tough luck that was for us, eh?  We were marched back to camp again at 5:30 this morning, and allowed to sleep in the rest of the morning.  This evening at then o’clock we had to go back to the same place and take further training.

Tomorrow we have to put in another day of it. Then I think the next course is a few days learning bombing. That means how to make and throw bombs.  Some of our bunch who had been taking this course while we were taking the trenching course, say that they enjoy the bombing course, as it is interesting and they have a lot of real nice instructors, men who have served their time at the Front.

I have only been out of our camp which is called West Sandling (I understand that we are now allowed to tell the name of our camp) three times since coming here. The other drummer who was in the 91st with me, went down to Hythe, about 40 minutes walk, one night after seven and was back at nine o’clock. We dare not be out after 9:30.  Then last Sunday afternoon we went down to Folkelstone about six miles away.  It is a very pretty place, with a big promenade high up on the cliffs fronting the Straits of Dover.  We were walking along when someone called me.  It was George Swaddling, who used to live in Aylmer, then a little while after another fellow said “Hello, Wyn”, and I turned to see John Branion. The first day I got here at this camp, Ernie Higginbotham was at the gate when we marched in. He was with the 33rd. The first Sunday we were in England at our other camp (Otterpool), Don Benson came over to see us. It seems like a bit of home to meet up with any of the other Aylmer boys. We are at present attached, at least A Company and a part of B Company, to the 12th Battalion, forming a part of the 3rd Brigade.

Continue to address my mail to Bandsman A. R. C., 91st Battalion, Army Post Office, London, England. All mail so addressed will always follow, no matter where I am.

I hope you are all well. In spite of the hard training I am feeling good, and have not had a cold since coming over.

I forgot to tell you about my third trip out of camp. It was last Friday night after a terror of a hard training day.  Just before four o’clock the sergeant-major came over and called out 24 of us for picket duty.  We had to go down town to Hythe, and march around the streets from 6 to 11 o’clock to see that order was kept; so it was not a very easy job.  Our feet were certainly tired when we got back, but had to be up at 5:30 the next morning to work.

Oh, yes, about this band business.  If we are transferred to any bands, we are liable to be placed, one here and one there, in bands which are stationed at the base camps in France.  It will be a mighty good thing if we can only land it.

They are sure doing some hard fighting now, and it begins to look as though we had the Germans started back.  We all hope so, because the sooner it’s over the sooner we will be allowed to get back home.

Another letter, to his father, was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, September 7, 1916:

August 14th, 1916

Dear Dad and all –
Got your letter the other day. I think I have done remarkably well in writing home, particularly when you consider there is the same routine drill of day by day. It is not like as though a fellow was hanging around sight-seeing. All the sight-seeing we get is on our route marches through the country and the same words describe them all.

Just at present, we are in quarantine for mumps, two of our hut having been found with them day before yesterday morning. This morning another hut three doors down has been found with a case, so there is another hut placarded up.

You can tell John Hutchinson that I begin to think that we will lose out on our view re Verdun, as I think our Frenchmen have got them backing up now.

Oh, say, here’s something I’ll bet you can’t believe (nor anybody else for that matter), and I think you had better have the assertion framed and hung up in the back shop. It is this.  I have been the first one up, dressed, washed and shaved, and blankets folded every morning since landing in England, up to the present time, no matter when Reveille blew at three or five-thirty. I can hardly believe it myself and sometimes wonder if I’ll wake up and find it only a dream. I’m nearly always the first to bunk in too.

Thank Mr. Charlton for myself and the rest to whom I distributed the papers, for his kindness in sending them. We all certainly enjoy reading anything in the reading line. A paper is pretty well worn out by the time it goes the rounds.

I have received only one letter from Jennie yet, and the two from you. You’ve got a hanged sight more people around there to talk to than I have here. Another thing you speak about is the life and excitement with which I am surrounded. Well you say you worked on a railway section once and I think that will explain our life and excitement pretty well to you.

It is a good thing there are Y.M.C.A’s, Salvation Armies and Church Rests, I’ll tell you, because we often feel the better for some addition to our rations for a change and things are certainly out of sight in price here, even though the above-mentioned places to keep their prices as reasonable as they can. Take an egg sandwich (small) costs 5d, and we are not flush with pay money. I don’t think that at the present that one man in four has a penny to rattle and for us who are in quarantine we don’t get any pay for two weeks yet and I have just drawn $12.50 since leaving St. Thomas. I have helped out three fellows who were broke, to the extent of 4s each and still have 2 pounds, 5s left, so think I have kept down pretty well.

Don’t know when I will be able to get away to see Jennie’s cousin, but it will be some time yet anyway. She lives somewhere about 325 miles from here. You ask if there was anything wanted. You bet there is, BRIER TOBACCO.

(Would like a piece of pumpkin and a piece of apple pie, some roast beef and green peas, and some mashed potatoes, but guess they wouldn’t keep till they got here in good condition).

Matches here are expensive, just double what they are home, and darn poor matches they are, too.  This morning papers certainly show up good for news.  We all hope the big push keeps going. You really get more news there than we do, as the papers here are held more closely to the mark by the censor.

Guess this is all for now. Don’t know how long we will be quarantined here and don’t care either. Mr. Kinghan had two church services with us yesterday. He is under quarantine too, as he has been eating in our hut. So long for the present,

WYN

Excerpts from a letter from Wyn to Mrs. Christie, dated October 22, was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, November 9, 1916:

“I had just got this letter started when the hut door opened and in walked the two Prideaux boys who used to live at Copenhagen and who came over with the 55th or 56th Battery. With them were Simon Elgie, of Jaffa, Dick Wright, Will Dunning and Clifford Mossey of Kingsmill, and so I quit writing and went over to West Sandling camp, which is just across the gully from our camp, to see Jack Dunning, who came here with the 96th Highlanders about two weeks ago. The Prideaux boys said that they ran across Fred Rogers who has just arrived with some western battalion. Well, the Prideaux boys went back to their camp about four o’clock and the other boys stayed to supper with us. We had some macaroni and tomato soup all steamed together, with tea and bread and margarine, a kind of substance that is used here instead of butter. It answers the purpose not too badly. Percy Crawford, I guess I told you, just got out of quarantine a couple of weeks ago and yesterday morning started upon his musketry course at the ranges. He sleeps in the second hut from mine.

This week I am doing kitchen maid’s work or as they call it here hut orderly work. We have to sweep and scrub the hut floors, table and seats every morning, get all the meals in the tins from the cook house, then wash up the china (enamel) bowls and plates after each meal.  We get the morning work done at about 10:30, and the after dinner work done at 2:30, and the supper work over by six o’clock, so that I can finish this letter before supper at five o’clock.

Claude Orton was transferred from the 36th to an artillery battery at Shorncliffe as a horseshoer. He expected to have gone to France a week ago but the Sergeant Major of his battery put up a kick to headquarters and got him pulled off the draft as they were short of horseshoers and in fact Claude is the only real genuine one he did have, the others are only greenhorns. So Claude is still there. I haven’t seen him since but Dick Wright has seen him a couple of times.

Our side seems to be doing well at the front. I think we can begin to see somewhere near the finish. You over in Canada cannot realize what war is. We, here, have some little idea and a good idea of what it is like on active service.

I’ll tell you now that I dropped 23 pounds in weight after coming here as I went down from 162 to 139, but the last three weeks it has not been so hot, in fact this last week has been quite cold, and as we have finished all our courses, we are not being worked so hard as we were the first two and one half months and I have been picking up fast and now weigh 153 and am as hard as nails. I can stand more than I ever thought I would be able to stand when I left Canada. I have never fallen out of any drill or route march yet, or any other training and have a clean sheet for everything, and I tell you a person has to do pretty well to get through this brigade without some demerits.”

A photo of Wyn with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Pte. A. R. Christie, son of Mr and Mrs G. R. Christie is well known to residents of this community, as he has spent his life here. He was connected with the G. R. Christie Co. previous to enlisting with the 91st Batt. His wife and three children reside on Harvey street. He is still in England but expects to reach France early in the new year”.

A photograph and article about Wyn and his brother Ewart (who was later killed in action), appeared in the St. Thomas Daily Times, June 14, 1917:

AYLMER BROTHERS IN KHAKI

Mr and Mrs G. R. Christie, of Aylmer, have good reason to be proud of their two sons, shown in the cut above. On the left is seen Lieut. Ewart Christie of the signalling department, Canadian Engineers; on the right is Sapper Alwynne R. Christie, both of whom are at Crowborough, Sussex, England. A. R. (Wyn), the elder, was one of the first Canadians to offer his services at the opening of the Boer War, but being very young at the time, and slightly under the required height, was rejected, much to his disappointment.

Shortly after the outbreak of the present war, Wyn joined the home guard and was made sergeant, and was the leading spirit in keeping up the drill and in securing recruits until a year ago, when even the claims of a wife and family and the comforts of home were not sufficient to prevent him doing what he considered his duty for his country, and he enlisted in the 91st at St. Thomas and left with that battalion for England.  On account of rheumatic ailment this young patriot has been refused admission to the firing line in France, much to his chagrin and disappointment.

Lieut. Ewart Christie, who was a university student in the engineering department, had many obstacles to overcome, but was equally determined to do his bit. He enlisted in the 177th Battalion, Simcoe County, and went overseas last September in response to a call for a number of officers, and while still in England, is doing excellent work in his department. Recently Wyn has become transferred tot he engineering department, so the brothers are now together. None have donned the khaki and gone overseas who have had more vim, energy and patriotism than have the Christie brothers.

Wyn Christie returned from overseas in 1917, arriving in New York, New York on December 19.

Wyn Christie died in Aylmer on September 30, 1928 at the age of 51.  He is buried in Aylmer cemetery. In addition to his name appearing on the family monument, there is a military marker bearing the following inscription:

190232  Private Alwynne R. Christie 91st Batt’n C.E.F  30th Sept. 1928 Rest in peace

His obituary, accompanied by a photograph in uniform, appeared in the Aylmer Express, October 4, 1928:

A. R. CHRISTIE PROMINENT AYLMER MERCHANT PASSES

Popular Citizen, Bandsman, Soldier, is Mourned in Aylmer

Hundreds of Citizens Attend Funeral in the Baptist Church

Alwynne Raymond Christie, one of Aylmer’s popular business men, and one of the best known citizens of East Elgin, died at his home on Harvey street, Saturday evening, September 29th in his 52nd year. He had not been in good health for some years, but since February last his condition became much worse and despite the best of care and medical skill, he grew steadily worse. His was a happy disposition, for he always made the best o f everything and bore his sufferings without complaint, and until the last met his friends who called, with a smile.

“Wynne” was a son of Mr. G. R. Christie, who more than fifty years ago founded the clothing and shoe business in Aylmer, now known as the G. R. Christie Co. Wynne was associated with his father in business ever since he was a lad attending school, and with the exception of a couple of years he managed a branch store in Tillsonburg, and during the term of his service overseas with the Canadian troops in the Great War, he spent his entire life in Aylmer. He was prominent in Odd Fellowship, having held all the offices in Aylmer Lodge No. 94 I.O.O.F., and Aylmer Encampment. He was a member of the Avalon Rebekah Lodge and of the Ancient Mystic Order of Good Samaritans, St. Thomas. For twenty-five years he was drummer in the Aylmer Citizens’ Band, prominent in orchestra work, and went overseas as drummer in the 91st Battalion Band. He was Orderly Sergeant in “D” Company of the Elgin Regiment and a member of Aylmer Post, Canadian Legion, taking an active part in all community enterprises for the welfare of Aylmer and this district.

Surviving are his widow, three sons, Kenneth, of Detroit; Alwynn and Harold, at home; his parents, Mr and Mrs. G. R. Christie; and one sister, Mrs. E. H. Smith, Aylmer. His only brother, Lieut. Ewart Christie, was killed in action on September 22nd, 1918 in France.

The funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon. A short service was held at the house at 2 o’clock and a public service at the Baptist Church at 2:30. Members of the several lodges, the regiment, the Legion, and the Citizens’ Band attended in a body and followed the bier in procession from the house to the church. The church was filled with citizens of the community who came to pay their last tribute of respect to one whom they honored and admired. Miss Dora McConnell presided at the organ. The Baptist choir led in the singing of the hymns and Mr. H. M. Hambidge sang a most appropriate solo. Rev. J. S. LaFlair, of Woodstock, a former pastor of the Baptist church, as in charge, and was assisted by Rev. H. Edgar Allen, the pastor. The casket was draped with the Union Jack and beautiful flowers from the family and the several societies which attended, surrounded it. The pallbearers were Messrs. E. A. Richards, F. D. King, Walter Orton, Harry Paupst, George Dalley and Dr. E. Baker. The flower bearers were members of the Legion who were in uniform, and were A. Foster, E. Higginbottom, M. Kaiser, C. McCabe, W. E. Harris and W. J. Wakeling.

Interment took place in the family plot in the Aylmer cemetery and the funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Aylmer. Members of the Societies paid their last tribute of respect by dropping a twig of evergreen into the grave.

The aged parents and family have the sympathy of the community in their bereavement. During the hour of service all places of business in town were closed.

Among those from out of town who attended the funeral were: Mr and Mrs Kenneth Christie, Detroit; Mr and Mrs A. Maguire, Wallaceburg; Mrs. Wm. Schuyler, Mr and Mrs Jas. Schuyler, Mr. Frank Schuyler, Mr and Mrs H. H. Schuyler and Mr and Mrs Borland, of Simcoe; Mr and Mrs John Christie, Salford; Thomas Christie, Culloden, Charles Christie, Ingersoll; Mr and Mrs Emerson Moulton, Ingersoll; Dr. Caron, Detroit; Mrs. John Gibson, Windsor; Mr and Mrs Emrick, Tillsonburg. 

Eber James Chute

7269

Eber James Chute was born on September 30, 1878 in Aylmer, the son of John Henry Chute (1854-1914) & Catharine Matilda Wall (1856-1920). John was born in Malahide, the son of William & Margaret Chute, and was living in Malahide when he was married on December 10, 1873 to Catharine Wall, who was born in Owen Sound to James & Caroline Wall, and living in Malahide at the time of their marriage.

Eber enlisted for service on January 30, 1915 in St. Thomas.  He was a labourer living in Aylmer, and not married.  He names Catherine Chute of Aylmer as his next of kin, but his relationship to her was not stated.  He had served seven years in the 99 Enf., as a Color Sergeant.

He was found to be medically unfit for service and was discharged on February 25, 1915.

The Aylmer Express of February 17, 1921 contains a notice of a sale for Eber J. Chute at lot 15, concession 7, Dingle Street.  It is possible that Eber left the area around this time.

Elmus Arthur Chute

865881

Elmus Chute was born on December 2, 1899 in Houghton Township, Norfolk County, the son of James Albert Chute (1851-1919) & Rachel McConnell (1863-1905).  Albert was born in Bayham, the son of Sidney Chute & Phoebe Williams, and was a widower farming in Houghton when he was married on October 25, 1890 in Luton to Rachel McConnell, of Malahide, daughter of John D. & Lavina McConnell.  Albert & Rachel lived near Frogmore and are buried in Kinglake Cemetery, Houghton Township.

Elmus moved to Dauphin, Manitoba and was farming there when he enlisted for service on December 7, 1916 in Brandon, Manitoba.  He joined the 181st Battalion.  He returned from the war on March 7, 1919, landing at St. John’s, Newfoundland. 

He was living at Kinglake when his father died on April 8, 1919.  Elmus was married to Emily Fisher and moved to Brantford where they had eight children: Jennie Evelyn, Irena Pearl, George Albert, Vera Jean, Clarence Arthur, Ruth Emily, Shirley Rose and Richard Alan.

Elmus died on December 22, 1952 and is buried with his wife in Mount Hope Cemetery, Brantford.

Charles Ernest Chute

384 / 410230 

Ernest Chute was born on May 20, 1897 in Malahide, the son of Ernest Ney Chute (1860-1930) & Rosabel Teetzel (1870-1956).  They lived in the Lakeview area of Malahide.  Ney was the son of Charles Chute & Tamer McConnell, and was a county constable.  Following his death at Lakeview in 1930, his widow was married in 1932 to Harry Bate, also of Lakeview.  Ney & Rosabel are buried in the Teetzel family plot in Fingal cemetery.

Ernest’s birth registration gives his name as “Frank Ernest”, while the 1901 census lists him as “Charles” and his obituary contains the name “Charles Ernest”. 

Ernest Chute enlisted for service on two occasions.  His first attestation paper is dated January 16, 1915 in St. Thomas, giving him a service number of 384.  He enlisted with the 33rd Battalion while living at Lakeview.  It is not known if he was discharged [see below], but a second attestation paper is dated September 8, 1915 at Niagara, with a service number of 410230.  It states he had served five months in the 33rd Battalion C.E.F.  An article in the St. Thomas Journal, June 4, 1916 states “Sergt. Ernest Chute now in active service in France with the 35th Battalion. Sergt. Chute enlisted with the 33rd Battalion at St. Thomas and was discharged later owing to rheumatic trouble. He soon afterwards became fit and again offered and was accepted for overseas service. Sergt. Chute, who is but 18 years of age, is the only son of Constable Ney Chute, of Lakeview in Bayham township, and is a nephew of Justice Teetzel, the well known Ontario jurist.”

A letter from Ernest was printed in the St. Thomas Journal, August 4, 1916, accompanied by a photograph:

PTE. ERNEST CHUTE, LAKEVIEW SOLDIER HAS NARROW ESCAPE

Thrown to Opposite End of Dugout by Heavy Shell Explosion

A Moment Later Another Shell Bursts Twenty Feet from Where He Had Been Standing

A Letter Home

Lakeview, Aug. 4 – Pte. Ernest Chute, now on the firing line, in a letter to his father, County Constable Ney Chute, says:

“Things are rather quiet now, quite different to what they were a few weeks ago. We had just finished a 16 day period in the trenches when we were called up again for another 16 days. Came near getting a blighty the last time. Fritz was bombarding our position very heavily one afternoon and I stuck my head out of the dugout where I had taken refuge in order to see where a shell was bursting, just in time to get blown back to the other end when another light power struck within twenty feet from the mouth of the dugout. About thirty pounds of dirt was thrown in the door by it.  We then did 32 days at the front line with two day interim. We are going up again on Thursday night. Am going to see Colonel Brown in a few days and you may get a surprise before long. Tell dad that I have not yet contemplated joining the British navy although I sometimes whistle, ‘All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor’.

Another letter from Ernest was published in the Aylmer Express, October 26, 1916:

SOLDIERS ARE WELL FED

Hard to Get Souvenirs Writes Sgt. Ernest Chute

In a recent letter to his mother, Mrs. Ney Chute, of Lakeview, Sergt. Ernest Chute, who has been in the fight for months, tells some interesting details of doings over the pond.

Canadian Base Hospital, Oct. 1.

Dear Mother and All –

Just received a bundle of letters the other day with four from home, dating from August 10th to 30th.  I suppose H. L. and Spencer think they had some experience. Well no doubt it would be rather startling in that neighborhood.

I don’t know just when I will be going back up the line, but no doubt it will be some time soon. I certainly hope we will be able to keep the Huns on the move now that we have them started.  Don’t expect to be able to send home any souvenirs until I get to England again, as all these things have to pass the censor and most souvenirs of any intrinsic value are not allowed through the mail.

We get fed pretty well considering there are so many to be fed. We get tinned goods mostly, such as meat, vegetables, bully beef, jam or marmalade, also bacon, bread and butter, by name at least, and if we require more, of course we can procure some quite easily, excepting of course when we are in action.

Of course I am not allowed at any time to state the whereabouts of the unit, but the Canadians are usually all on the same front, with certain exceptions which cannot be mentioned.  

I do not know whether or not I will be going back to the same company, which I understand has suffered slightly during the recent activities.

I don’t know when I will be back in it again, but will write again soon.

Yours affectionately, Ernest.

Ernest’s return from overseas was reported in the Aylmer Express, November 8, 1917 and November 15, 1917:

November 8, 1917:

PTE. ERNEST CHUTE INVALIDED HOME

About one o’clock Sunday morning Mr and Mrs Ney Chute were awakened by a violet ringing of their door bell. Mr. Chute scrambled into his clothes and opened the door and there stood his only son, Ernest, who had just returned from a two years’ service at the front. Though he has fought in many heavy battles he has never been wounded, but owing to rheumatic fever and a severe attack of pleurisy, he has been invalided home. At the Sunday morning service here [Lakeview] Rev. Mr. Smith made congratulatory illusion to Pte. Chute’s safe return and requested “Home Again” should be sung. Ernest brought many souvenirs home with him. After a quiet stay at home for ten days, he will go to London Hospital for further treatment. Though he has been in the hospital for a number of weeks in England, he is not yet well, although looking stalwart. He has nobly done his “bit” and now will soon get his discharge. The ocean trip, though rough and windy, was uneventful. No U-boats were seen.

November 15, 1917:

PTE. CHUTE GIVEN HEARTY WELCOME

Pte. Ernest Chute was tendered a very hearty welcome home by the whole community giving him a surprise party at his home on Wednesday evening last. Ernest was whistling a tune at the piano when a perfect chorus of honks from numerous autos cut the silence of the night, but Ernest has so long been accustomed to battle noises that the small uproar was not noticed by him, and great was his surprise to see the throng enter his home laden with baskets of good cheer. After a social half hour, Mr. Syd McDermand took charge of a program of music and short addresses delivered by Messrs. G. Chalk, H. L. McConnell, A. Willis and W. Haggan. The chairman made a very eugolistic speech when introducing the program, speaking in glowing terms of Pte. Chute’s noble service at the front, and voiced the pleasure of all in welcoming him home. All the speakers spoke in similar strain. After piano music by Miss I. Haggan, and a duet, ‘Cone on ye Canadians’, by Misses M. McDermand and D. McConnell, the chairman called on Pte. Chute, who modestly disclaimed any honor due him and thanked all for their presence and kind attention. Songs were sung by the Male quartette and Miss A. Chute, and piano music by Miss Dora McConnell, when all joined in singing ‘Home again from Foreign Shore’. Ernest brought home numerous souvenirs of the battlefields, which were viewed with much interest by the guests. Though Pte. Chute has had many hair breadth escapes he has not been wounded, though still suffering somewhat from pleurisy and rheumatism. He goes to London military convalescent hospital this week for further treatment, when it is expected his health will soon be restored.

Mention of Ernest is made in the Lakeview news column in the Aylmer Express, December 13, 1917:

“Pte. Ernest Chute has been spending a week with relatives in New York City. He is now at the Sanitarium at Byron, near London and expects to be home at Christmas, as it has been ascertained that the danger of tuberculosis is entirely past and he will soon be rested and well once more”.

Ernest became a chiropractor  and was married on December 16, 1928 to Mabelle O’Leary of Jacksonville, Florida, according to a notice which appeared in the Aylmer Express, December 20, 1928 in the Lakeview news column: “The marriage of Dr. Ernest Chute, only son of Mr and Mrs Ney Chute, to Miss Mabelle, only daughter of Mr and Mrs T. D. O’Leary, at Jacksonville, Fla., took place at the family residence, Sunday afternoon, December 16th.  Congratulations to the bridegroom, who is an old Lakeview boy, and war veteran.

He was later married to Emma Irene Cowan.

Ernest died on October 25, 1939 at Tuscon, Arizona in his 43rd year.

Ernest’s obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, November 2, 1939:

ERNEST CHUTE DIED IN ARIZONA

Native of Lakeview and Veteran of Great War

Lakeview, Nov. 1st – The death occurred in the Veteran’s Hospital, Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday, Oct. 25th, of Charles Ernest Chute, only son of the late Constable Ney Chute and Mrs. Harry Bate, of this place.  Mr. Chute was in his 43rd year. He had been in poor health for a number of years, the result of being gassed in the last Great War.  He enlisted in 1914 in the 33rd Battalion, St. Thomas, and was later transferred to the 38th in London, and was among the first Canadian volunteers to go overseas. He was also among the first Canadians to leave England for France. After the Armistice he served in a Medical Corps in France before returning to his home here.  Later Mr. Chute attended Chiropractic School at Toronto and Buffalo, where he graduated and practiced for some time.  He also practiced in Jacksonville, Fla., and Los Angeles, in California, where he was forced to give up that work on account of poor health and seek a more suitable climate.

The funeral was held at Tucson with full military honors at the graveside. The Canadian flag draped the casket. Chapel services were in charge of Rev. Frank Jones, of Tucson Presbyterian Church.  He is survived by his wife, who was formerly Miss Emma Irene Cowan, R. N., of Spokane, Wash.; his mother, Mrs. Harry Bate, and sister, Mrs. Frank Brackenbury, both of Lakeview; two aunts and an uncle, Miss Rette Chute, of Aylmer, Miss Sarah Teetzel of Hamilton, and Dr. J. J. Teetzel, of the Barbadoes, West Indies.  Mrs. Chute, who is quite ill, will remain in Tucson for the present.

Gilbert Chute

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photo courtesy of Elgin County Archives

Gilbert Chute was born on October 15, 1890 at Mount Salem in Malahide, the son of John Henry Chute (1854-1914) & Catharine Matilda Wall. John was born in Malahide, the son of William & Margaret Chute, and was living in Malahide when he was married on December 10, 1873 to Catharine Wall, who was born in Owen Sound to James & Caroline Wall, and living in Malahide at the time of their marriage.

Gilbert was a farmer and enlisted with the 91st Battalion in St. Thomas on November 24, 1915.  He had served one year in the 39th Regiment. He returned from overseas on January 18, 1919, arriving in Halifax.

An article in the St. Thomas Daily Times, April 24, 1917 listing Aylmer men who were wounded includes Gilbert Chute, who received a gunshot wound to the face. He was admitted to No. 13 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, on April 14.

Gilbert was transferred from the 91st Battalion to the 38th Battalion where he fought in the battles of Vimy Ridge and Hill 70.

Gilbert died at the Hotel Dieu hospital in Windsor on May 22, 1922 at the age of 30 years.  He died from meningitis following an operation on April 1.  He had lived in Essex County for about two years and was a machine hand. His death certificate also records that he was a soldier in the Canadian Army.  He was buried in Aylmer cemetery, but there is no monument. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, May 25, 1922:

The remains of Gilbert Chute, a former resident of Aylmer, were brought here yesterday on the 1:18 Wabash from Windsor and laid to rest in the Aylmer cemetery. Deceased died in that city after an illness from brain fever. W. H. Chute, of Malahide, is a brother. The late Mr. Chute was a member of the 91st Battalion and served overseas.

Harold Samuel Chute

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Harold Samuel Chute was born on December 28, 1893 in Aylmer, the son of William Chute (1854-1929) & Charlotte Pugsley Smith (1859-1912).  William was the son of William & Margaret Chute, and was a widower living in Aylmer when he was married on March 21, 1893 in Aylmer to Charlotte Smith, the widow of Thomas J. Smith.  Charlotte was also living in Aylmer, but was born in Walpole Twsp., Haldimand Co.,  the daughter of Edward Pugsley & Lydia Shoup.  William was a stationery engineer, and died in Toronto in 1929.  He is buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Harold was employed as a clerk when he enlisted for service on August 16, 1915 in Toronto.  He enlisted with the 83rd Battalion.

A letter from Harold was printed in the Aylmer Express, August 31, 1916:

HAROLD CHUTE IS IN THE TRENCHES BUT 40 YARDS FROM THE ENEMY

In a letter to his brother, Albert Smith, of London, Harold Chute, son of Mr and Mrs W. H. Chute, of Aylmer, writes of his experiences in the first line trenches.

With the British Expeditionary Force,

Field, August 9, 1916

Hello Albert –

Was pleased to received your letter toady, of 21st July.  I am very glad to know that you passed your exam all right.  I guess you must be having weather in Canada very much like what we are having here.  It has been terribly hot today, and I suppose I noticed it more because we were marching about twelve miles with all our personal belongings and 170 rounds of ammunition on our backs. Don’t think I ever ate so much dust in my life.

Yes, I guess I can say that I know what real war is. Part of the trenches we have held are as close as forty yards to that of Fritzy. There are some wonderful sights around the front line at night. The hundreds of flares going up on all sides, the flash of the big guns, the rifles, and machine guns is a sight I shall never forget. The fireworks at the Exhibition aren’t in it at all.

I have been in a few pretty warm places and had some close shaves, but have escaped all right so far.  One morning I was out behind the supports, and had just started to shave, when I heard one of the big shells coming. I just had time to drop when it burst within twenty feet of me. Maybe I didn’t move out of there some.  I almost forgot to take my razor.

Well, of course, there are lots of other things I should like to tell you, but we are not permitted to write much.  Yes, France is war, wine and women, but about all I have seen so far is war; and the results of it.  No doubt you have seen in the paper where the Canadians are holding the line.

Write often. Best wishes from – Harold. 

A photo of Harold with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Sergt. Harold Chute is the son of Mr. Wm. Chute of Aylmer, and was born here twenty-three years ago. He enlisted with the 83rd Batt, O.O.R., and Toronto and went overseas in April last. He received a slight wound in the hand in October but has since returned to the firing line”.

Notice of Harold’s return from overseas was printed in the Aylmer Express, March 22, 1917:

Corp. Harold Chute, son of Wm. Chute, of this place, returned home on the late G. T. R. train Tuesday night. No one knew he was coming, and his return was a complete surprise to his father as well as to his many friends here. Some months ago Harold was shot in the left arm, by a machine gun, and he is still carrying the injured member in a sling. Corp. Chute enlisted as a private, and while in training he was promoted tot he rank of Sergeant, but when the various battalions were broken up so many non-commissioned officers were required and instead of remaining in England as an instructor, as so many sergeants did, he reverted to the ranks and went to France to fight as a private. Thus his present stripes have been earned on the battlefield.

Harold was a salesman living at 162 Macdonnell Ave., Toronto when he was married on July 3, 1918 in Toronto to Christiana Emily Yule, a native of England living at 12 Ottawa Ave., Toronto, daughter of James Edward Yule & Florence Emily Hanslow.

Russell Dewey Chute

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Russell Chute was born on November 19, 1897 at Mount Salem in Malahide, the son of Emery Chute ( c 1875-1914) & Lydia Berdan.  Emery was born in Malahide, the son of John Chute & Catharine Wall, and was married on April 12, 1898 in Aylmer to Lydia Berdan, also a native and resident of Malahide, the daughter of Jacob & Lydia Berdan.  Emery & Lydia farmed on the 2nd concession of Malahide.

Russell was a farmer living at Aylmer when he enlisted for service on January 8, 1916 in St. Thomas.  He lists his next of kin as his mother, Lydia, in Embro, Ontario, and gave his date of birth as November 9, 1897. He returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on July 8.

Russell died on April 27, 1970 in St. Thomas, and is buried in Aylmer cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, April 29, 1970:

RUSSELL CHUTE DIES SUDDENLY

Russell Chute, 70, R.R. 8 St. Thomas, died at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital Monday after suffering a heart attack at his residence.

A retired farm laborer, Mr. Chute, who was born in Malahide Township, was at one point a fireman for the Wabash Railway. He lived most of his life in the Elgin County area, and served overseas in World War One with the 91st Battalion.

Son of the late Henry and Lydia (Berdan) Chute, he did not marry.  Surviving are two sisters, Miss Winnifred Chute, of Sarnia, and Miss Flossie Chute, of Port Huron.

Resting at the L. B. Sifton Funeral Home, St. Thomas, for service Thursday at 1:30 p.m., with Rev. J. L. Petrie, padre of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 41, officiating. Burial will be at Aylmer Cemetery, Aylmer.

Charles Richard Clark

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Charles Clark was born on December 23, 1886 in Seaforth, Ontario, the son of Richard & Margaret Clark.  He was a barber living in Seaforth when he enlisted for service with the 161st Battalion on February 11, 1916 in Seaforth.  He belonged to the 33rd Huron Battalion.

Following the war, he came to Aylmer in 1924 and operated a barber shop until 1950.  He was married on August 3, 1925 to Eva Bianca Harp, daughter of Samuel Harp of Aylmer.

Charles died on February 19, 1958 and is buried in Aylmer Cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, February 20, 1958:

CHARLES R. CLARK DIES IN AYLMER

AYLMER – Charles R. Clark, 211 Talbot street east, well-known barber here for many years, died at his home Wednesday evening. He had been in ailing health for the past five years, and seriously ill for two months.  He came to Aylmer in 1924 and purchased the barber business from the late Ed Johnson, which he operated until 1950. Prior to moving to Aylmer he lived for several years in Windsor.

He was bailiff of First Division Court, County of Elgin. He served with the 47th Battalion of the Huron Regiment overseas from 1914 to 1918.  He was a life member of Colonel Talbot Branch 81, Canadian Legion, and a member of St. Paul’s United Church, Malahide Lodge 140, A.F. and A.M., and was Past Patron of Verdun Chapter O.E.S.

Mr. Clark was the son of the late Mr and Mrs Richard Clark, of Seaforth. He is survived by his wife, the former Bianca Harp; one sister, Mrs. Annie Pinkney, Goderich, and a number of nieces and nephews. Resting at the Hughson Funeral Home, from where services will be held at 2:00 o’clock Saturday afternoon. Legion Padre, Rev. T. Dale Jones, of Trinity Anglican Church, will conduct the service assisted by Rev. T. Garnet Husser, of St. Paul’s United Church. Interment in Aylmer cemetery.

 

Glen William Clark

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Glen Clark was born on August 22, 1896 in Bayham, the son of William Clark (1868-1941) & Sarah Jones.  William was born in Bayham, the son of John Clark & Mary Hill, and was farming there when he was married on March 18, 1891 in Tillsonburg to Sarah Jones, also of Bayham, the daughter of Michael & Phoebe Jones.  They moved to the Talbotville area and later St. Thomas.

Glen was a farmer living at RR #7 St. Thomas when he enlisted for service on March 23, 1916 in St. Thomas, with the 91st Battalion.  His brother, Guy Hanford Clark, was killed in action on October 30, 1917.

A photograph of Glen, with the following headline and caption, appeared in the St. Thomas Daily Times, September 15, 1917:

“91st SOLDIER NOW ON HEADQUARTERS’ STAFF – Pte. Glen Clarke, son of Mr and Mrs William Clarke, Talbotville, who left for overseas with the 91st Battalion, and who is now attached to the headquarters’ staff in France. A letter from Pte. Clarke appears on the soldiers’ page in today’s issue. The above picture was taken in France.”

A letter from Glen was printed in the St. Thomas Journal, January 11, 1918:

PTE. GLENN CLARKE WRITES FROM FRANCE

Thanks Talbotville Patriotic Workers For Gift

Hears of Brother’s Death

Mrs. Nellie Vann, secretary-treasurer of the Patriotic Society at Talbotville, received the following letter from Pte. G. W. Clarke, Brigade Observer, brother of Corporal G. H. Clarke, recently reported killed in action on October 30:

Dear Mrs. Vann and Friends of the Patriotic Society:

Again I must try to thank you all for the lovely box received a few days ago. I cannot express my sincerest thanks to you for your kindness shown to me this Christmas time, and during the past year. I certainly appreciate your kindness very much, and I can assure you I enjoyed it, as well as the rest of the boys of the section, which is the usual manner.

Well, Nellie, I am real well, other than the old fashioned cold, which is very customary out here. I must say I am tip-top at the present time. We are attending Divisional Schools, taking another observing course. No doubt you know that I am now transferred from the battalion observers to the Brigade Observers. I seemed to be very lonely for a time, as I had just gotten so well acquainted with the battalion boys and we had such an A-1 lot of fellows, too, and we used to have some good times, and Guy being wounded made matters much worse for me, but I guess that is the life of a soldier. Oh, well, as I sincerely hope he is in Blighty, having a good rest, as I seem to feel sure that he is all right.

I suppose the Talbotville people are making their usual Christmas arrangements just now, at any rate a long time before this reaches you.

The weather here is quite cold, although considering the climate it is fairly dry. I have not seen any of the lads of our bunch for some time, neither Jack nor Roy Wallis, but one gets moved around so much there is hardly a chance to look up the fellows.

I am afraid that I have made my letter rather long, so will close and again accept my sincere thanks for your boxes sent at all times, and your kind wishes. Kindest regards to all, sincerely, Glenn

P.S. – Oh, Nell, just now received word that poor Guy has gone. Poor mother, my heart aches for her at this time.

Glenn served with the 12th Reserve in England, and the 75th Battalion in France, and with the Army of Occupation.  He fought in the battles at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens, Arras, Drocourt, Canal du Nord, Cambrai, Valenciennes and Mons. He was discharged in June 1919.

Following the war, Glen returned to St. Thomas where he was an auctioneer living at 91 Scott Street when he was married on May 29, 1922 in St. Thomas to Ruby Steinhoff, of Verschoyle in Dereham Township, the daughter of Thomas Steinhoff & Lillian Simmons.

Glen died on August 7, 1949. A military marker for Pte. Glen W. Clark is found in South Park Cemetery, St. Thomas.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, August 8, 1949:

GLENN W. CLARK DIES IN LONDON HOSPITAL

Former St. Thomas Auctioneer Injured in First World War

The death of Glenn William Clark, formerly of St. Thomas and Toronto, occurred on Sunday afternoon at Westminster Hospital, London, Ont., following an illness of two year, in his 52nd year.  Born at Eden, Ont., son of the late William Clark and Sarah (Jones) Clark, he was widely known as an auctioneer, operating auction rooms here for many years and setting up business in Toronto several years ago. Mr. Clark went overseas with the 91st Battalion and was wounded in action while serving with the 4th Battalion. He was a patient at both Christie Street Military Hospital and Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, and Westminster Hospital in London. He was a member of Knox Presbyterian Church. Surviving the deceased is a sister, Mrs. J. M. (Nina) Colling, 18 Dufferin Avenue, Chatham, wife of Rev. J. M. Colling, minister of Park Street United Church in that city. A brother, Guy Clark, who also served in the First World War, was killed at Passachendale in 1917 and his mother, Mrs. Sarah Clark, died on March 29 of this year. At rest at the L. B. Sifton Funeral Home where the funeral will take place on Wednesday morning at eleven o’clock in charge of Rev. H. S. Rodney, Knox Presbyterian Church. Interment will be in South Park Cemetery.

 

William Edward Clark

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William Edward Clark was born on September 22, 1896 in Stoke Charity, Hampshire, England.  He is found on the 1901 England census in that parish with his widowed mother, Elizabeth.  She later married Herbert T. Gibson in 1912 in Hampshire, England.

William came to Canada at the age of 18, sailing from Liverpool on the ship Victorian, and arriving in Montreal on May 8, 1914. The passenger list gives his destination as Aylmer, where he will work as a stableman on a farm.  William’s mother and stepfather also emigrated to the Aylmer area, but not at the same time.

William enlisted for service on December 16, 1916 in Ottawa.  His occupation was a groom, and he lists his next of kin as his mother, Elizabeth Gibson of R.R. #1 Aylmer, Dunboyne. In the 1920’s they were living at lot 35, concession 1, Malahide.

Herbert Gibson (1886-1964) and his wife Elizabeth (1867-1952) are buried in St. Luke’s cemetery, Vienna.

William moved to Windsor, where he died on February 6, 1950.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, February 7, 1950:

WILLIAM E. CLARK PASSES IN WINDSOR

Former Resident of Aylmer Worked at Ford Plant

WINDSOR, Feb. 7 – William Edward Clark, 53, 2633 Turner Road, died in Grace Hospital Monday following a long illness.  Mr. Clark was born in England and had lived in Windsor for 25 years after moving from Aylmer, Ont. He was employed at the Ford Motor Company of Canada.  He was a member of St. Paul’s Anglican Church and the Sons of England.

He is survived by his wife, May; his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Gibson, and stepfather, Bert Gibson, of Port Burwell; one brother, Percy, Port Burwell; and one sister, Mrs. Edith Davies, Port Burwell.

The body is resting at the James H. Sutton Funeral Home, 937 Ouellette Avenue.

John Edward Clark

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John Clark was born on March 10, 1895 at Springfield in Malahide Township, the son of George Robert Clark & Elizabeth Ann Ryan.  George was born in Malahide, the son of George & Catherine Clark and was a farmer there when he was married on January 3, 1883 in Caledonia to Elizabeth Ryan, of Caledonia, the daughter of Thomas & Rebecca Ryan.  The family moved to Kearney in the Parry Sound District.

John was a farmer living in Kearney, Township of Bethune, Parry Sound District when he enlisted for service on June 3, 1918 at Niagara on the Lake. No further information is known.

Lewis Fisher Clarke

Lewis Clarke was born in Malahide Township on October 24, 1882, the son of Charles E. Clarke (1854-1910) & Amy Fisher (1854-1935).   Charles Clarke was a farmer, and was also born in Malahide, the son of Lewis & Deborah Ann Clarke.  He married Amy Fisher in Yarmouth on September 1, 1874.  She was the daughter of Lewis & Elmira Fisher.  Charles & Amy are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Lewis Clarke was a photographer living in Aylmer when he was married on January 3, 1905 to Constance Hope Scott, the daughter of Joseph E. & Elizabeth Scott.

Lewis joined the 30th Battery C.F.A. in Aylmer and enlisted for service on November 8, 1916 in London.  He was a Lieutenant.

The St. Thomas Journal of February 2, 1915 contains a photograph of Lewis with the following caption: 

“Lieut. Lewis F. Clarke, well-known Aylmer photographer, who left Monday for Toronto where he will be attached on the staff of Lt.-Col. W. J. Brown, commander of the 6th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. Lieutenant Clarke has been very active in the organizing of and training of troops in Aylmer since the outbreak of the war. His recent appointment is a tribute to his efficiency and ability.

Another article dated November 22, 1916 with the same photograph, also from the Journal, states: “Lieut. L. F. Clarke, of Aylmer, who has been promoted tot he O.C. of No. 3 Section Division Ammunition Column with headquarters in London, which will go overseas as a unit in the 5th Canadian division”

The Journal of February 16, 1918 reports that Lieut. Clarke of the 63rd Battery, and a widely known Aylmer man, has been transferred to the staff of the 64th Battery in Guelph.

Lewis died in Windsor on March 22, 1954, and is buried in Windsor Grove Cemetery. His wife Constance Hope Clarke Beall (Aug. 17, 1883 – Jan. 16, 1964) is buried in Aylmer cemetery with her parents. His obituary appeared in the Windsor Star, March 25, 1954:

CLARKE – Lewis Fisher, 71 years, passed away March 22, 1954. Late of 1030 Dougall Avenue. Dear father of Edmund of California; Mrs. Dorothy McLarty of Lansing, Michigan. Brother of Mrs. Florence Sherk of Miami, Florida. Five grandchildren, six great grandchildren. Funeral Friday, march 26, 1954 from Albemy J. Janisse & Son Funeral Chapel, 411 Sandwich Street East at 2 p.m. Rev. H. R. Nobles officiating. Interment Windsor Grove Cemetery. Deceased was a member of I.O.O.F. Mocha Temple Shrine, London and Moore Sovereign Consistory, Hamilton.

 

Robert Ernest Clarke

Robert E. Clarke was born in 1898 in County Down, Ireland, the son of Thomas Clarke.  He served during the war with the Enniskillen Fusiliers, an Irish regiment. He emigrated to Canada at a later date and lived in the Orwell area.  He and his wife Amy Boal (1901-1980) are buried in Necropolis Cemetery, South Dorchester. 

 Robert died on March 29, 1953.  His obituary follows:

ROBERT E. CLARKE, OF ORWELL, PASSES

Veteran of Two Wars Dies in His 55th Year

AYLMER – Robert Ernest Clarke of Orwell, died Sunday afternoon at his home. He was 54 years of age last Christmas Day. Mr. Clarke was seriously ill for eight days though he did not enjoy good health for several years.  Born in County Down, Ireland, a son of the late Mr and Mrs Thomas Clarke, the departed man came to Canada 32 years ago and located in Yarmouth Township where he since resided. Fifteen years ago he went to Orwell. A veteran of two wars, Mr. Clarke served in World War I with the Enniskillen Fusiliers and in World War II he was with the Western Command (Winnipeg) of the R.C.A.F. He was a member of Colonel Talbot Branch 81 of the Canadian Legion, Aylmer, and had been an employee of the former Aylmer Steam Laundry, now Aylmer Cleaners and Dryers.  Surviving are his wife, the former Amy Boal; two sons, George of St. Thomas and Gerald at home; one daughter, Doreen, at home; a brother, Hugh Clarke, in Lanarkshire, Scotland; a sister, Mrs. Margaret Orr, County Down, Ireland; and a granddaughter, Linda Darlene Clarke, of St. Thomas. At rest at the James H. Barnum Funeral Home, Aylmer, where service will be held Tuesday at 3 p.m. Interment Necropolis Cemetery, Mapleton. Rev. T. G. Husser, of St. Paul’s United Church, Aylmer, will officiate.

Frederick Burton Clay

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Frederick Clay was born on January 12, 1896 in Collingwood, the son of Moses & Martha Elizabeth Clay.  They were living in Owen Sound on the 1901 and 1911 census, but moved to Port Burwell after that date.

Frederick was a fisherman living in Port Burwell when he enlisted for service on May 15, 1918.  He names his next of kin as his mother, Lizzie, of Port Burwell.

Frederick was living in Port Maitland, Dunn Township, Haldimand County when he was married on November 30, 1920 in Dunnville to Mamie Sophia McKee, of Dunn Township, daughter of John Wesley McKee & Caroline Elizabeth Thompson.

No further information is known.

 

John Edgar Clement

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John Clement was born on April 16, 1893 at Avon in South Dorchester, the son of Henry Clement (1856-1926) & Jessie Margaret Joliffe (1865-1914).  Henry was born in England, the son of Daniel & Mariah Clement and was farming in North Dorchester township when he was married there on March 8, 1882 to Jessie Joliffe, also of North Dorchester, daughter of Richard & Margaret Joliffe.  They are buried in Avon cemetery.

John was a school teacher living at R.R. #1 Springfield when he enlisted for service on March 13, 1918 in Kingston. He returned from overseas on June 4, 1919, arriving in Quebec.

He was a farmer living in Springfield when he was married on July 23, 1919 at Cooper in Hastings County to Ann Jane Cassidy (1896-1978), of Cooper, the daughter of James Cassidy & Victoria Blair.

John died on October 10, 1928 in his 36th year from leukemia, at lot 5, concession 7, South Dorchester, where he had been living for nine years.  He and his wife are buried in Avon cemetery.

Ray Clement

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Ray Clement was born on October 4, 1888 in Caradoc Township, near Strathroy, Middlesex County, the son of George Clement (1851 – 1932) & Margaret Fanny Louisa Clement (1850 – 1913).  George Clement was the son of Abraham Clement & Lucinda Mulholland, and was born and residing in Beverly Township, Wentworth Co., when he was married on February 16, 1870 in Beverly to Louisa Clement, a resident and native of Caradoc Township, daughter of Charles Clement & Martha Little.

Ray moved to Aylmer where he was employed as a clerk when he enlisted for service on January 4, 1918 in London.

He was a merchant in Aylmer when he was married on September 18, 1919 in Strathroy to Freda Hawkins, of Strathroy, daughter of Frank Hawkins & Sarah Inch.

Ray was in partnership with W. R. Pierce in the furniture and undertaking business in Aylmer until 1921 when the partnership was dissolved.

Ray died on May 12, 1959 in Tampa, Florida, and is buried in Strathroy cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Strathroy Age Dispatch, May 14, 1959:

RAY CLEMENT

Funeral services will be held on Monday at 2 p.m. in the Denning Bros. Funeral Home for Ray Clement, and interment will be in the Strathroy cemetery. Rev. G. C. Billings, of First Baptist Church, will officiate.

Mr. Clement died suddenly Tuesday in Tampa, Florida. He was born in Caradoc Township, son of George and Louise Clement. For many years he was an employee of Strathroy Cabinets, and recently operated an upholstering business. 

Surviving are his wife, the former Freda Hawken; a son, George of Toronto; two daughters, Eileen of Florida, and Mrs. Edwin (Helen) MacPherson of Watson Lake, Yukon Territory.

CLEMENT – Ray, suddenly at Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday, May 12, 1959, beloved husband of Freda Hawken; dear father of George, of Toronto; Eileen, of Florida; and Mrs. Edwin (Helen) MacPherson of Watson, Lake, Yukon Territory. The late Mr. Clement will arrive in Strathroy Saturday evening May 16. Service at Denning Bros. Funeral Home on Monday, May 18, at 2 p.m. Interment in Strathroy cemetery.

Herbert Clifford

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Herbert Clifford was born on September 27, 1891 in Cork, Ireland.  He emigrated to Canada about 1909 and is found on the 1911 census in Malahide, a farm labourer living with Harley & Ada Gillett.

Herbert enlisted for service on November 3, 1914 in Windsor, with the 18th Battalion. He names his next of kin as Ada Clifford, of Cheltenham, Ontario.

Mention was made of Herbert in the Aylmer Express, December 21, 1916:

On page three of last weeks’ edition in an article under the heading of “Jaffa Well Represented”, there were two names omitted:
Herbert Clifford, who formerly worked for Mr. J. Alexander, belongs to the 39th Battalion, but is now in a hospital in England, suffering from a shell wound.

Herbert returned to Canada from overseas on December 30, 1918, landing in Halifax.  The passenger list indicates his next of kin is a sister in Windsor.  No further information is known.

John Clifford

The name “John Clifford” is found in a list of names being prepared for the Elgin County Book of Remembrance, which was printed in the St. Thomas Times-Journal in 1927, under Vienna.

No one by this name can be found in census records in Elgin County.  A United States Draft Registration card dated 1917 was found for a John James Clifford, who was born on July 19, 1891 in Dunnville, Ontario.  He was a salesman living at 343 Grant Street, Buffalo, New York.  His next of kin was his wife.

The 1920 US census shows John J. Clifford in Buffalo, the manager of a cigar company, who emigrated to the US in 1904.  His wife’s name is Gertrude, born in New York, and they have a daughter Jane, age 1 ½. 

The 1901 census for Dunnville shows a John J. Clifford, born June 19, 1891, with his parents Daniel & Bridget.

It is possible that this family lived in Vienna before moving to Buffalo around 1904.

Charles Edward Cline

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Charles Edward Cline was born on May 22, 1893 in Aylmer, the son of William John Cline (1865-1951) & Mary Sidella (Della) Tompkins (1871-1953).  Wm. John Cline was born in Adelaide Township, Middlesex County, the son of William Henry & Ann Cline, and was a horse shoer (blacksmith)  living in Aylmer when he was married in London on August 20, 1890 to Della Tompkins, a native and resident of Aylmer, daughter of John Edward & Ellen Tompkins. John & Mary (Della) are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Charles moved to Chicago about 1911, where he was a student living at the Y.M.C.A., when he completed at United States Draft Registration Card on May 21, 1917.  He was single at the time.  He enlisted for service in London on May 15, 1918 with the 63rd Depot Battery, C.F.A. C.E.F., and gives his address as the Y.M.C.A., Camp Grant, Illinois.  His occupation is given as the secretary of the Y.M.C.A.  He was married by this time, and names his wife as Marion Cline of 1340 Crane Avenue, Detroit.

Charles returned to the United States where he is found on the 1920 census in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He is a secretary of the Y.M.C.A., and listed as married, but his wife is not living there. The 1930 census shows both Charles & Marion in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  They had no children listed in the census. His occupation is given as secretary of the Y.M.C.A.  Charles died in January 1973 in Livonia, Michigan.

Charles Lloyd Cline

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Charles Cline was born on July 28, 1896 at Kingsmill in South Dorchester, the son of Robert Randall Cline (1850-1918) & Frances Rosella (Dorothy) Ferguson (1862-1920).  Randall Cline was born in South Dorchester, the son of Jacob Cline & Elizabeth Sherk, and was living there when he was married on August 17, 1886 in Vienna to Frances Ferguson, of Malahide, the daughter of Robert & Sarah Jane Ferguson.  They are buried in Necropolis Cemetery, South Dorchester.

Charles Cline was a farmer living at Kingsmill when he enlisted for service on May 15, 1918 in London.

He was living in Windsor when he was married there on November 19, 1919 to Lucy May Brown (1898-1958) of South Dorchester, daughter of Thomas Brown & Mary Jenkins.

Charles died on July 18, 1968 and is buried with his wife in Necropolis cemetery.

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, July 24, 1968:

CHARLES L. CLINE

Charles L. Cline, RR 1 Springfield (Kingsmill) died Thursday in the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital.  He was 71.  He was born on Con. 11, South Dorchester Township, the son of the late Mr and Mrs Randall Cline.  He farmed all his life on the Cline Sideroad in South Dorchester. Mr. Cline was interested in sports, especially baseball.  He managed several teams and umpired for many years.  He was a past master of Springfield Lodge 259, A.F. and A.M., and a member of Christ Disciples Church, Mapleton.  Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Robert (Ardath) Millard of Kingsmill; one sister, Miss Ella F. Cline of Windsor; three grandchildren, Sharlet, Randall and Jeanine, all at home.  His wife, the former Lucy Brown, died previously. The service was held Sunday, July 21, at the Shaw Funeral Home, Springfield. Rev. Lorne B. Nethercott of Christ Disciples Church, Mapleton, officiated.  Pall bearers were Lorne McNeil, Gordon Petitt, Ashton Herbert, Louis Brown, Raymond Dance and Wilfred Herbert.  Flower bearers were Harold Pake, Dan Herbert, Bob Mossey, Bill Mossey, John Freesen, Ken Zimmer, Bob Facey, Bev. Wiltsie, Carl Stover, David Dance, Charles Dance, and Larry Brunsdon, who are members of the ball club.  Friends and relatives were present from Pontiac, Detroit, London, Windsor, Kitchener, Sudbury, Belmont, Aylmer, Kingsmill, Springfield and community.  Interment was made in Necropolis Cemetery, Mapleton.

Earl Kenneth Cline

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Earl Kenneth Cline was born on October 25, 1902 in Aylmer,  the son of William John Cline (1865-1951) & Mary Sidella (Della) Tompkins (1871-1953).  Wm. John Cline was born in Adelaide Township, Middlesex County, the son of William Henry & Ann Cline, and was a horse shoer (blacksmith)  living in Aylmer when he was married in London on August 20, 1890 to Della Tompkins, a native and resident of Aylmer, daughter of John Edward & Ellen Tompkins. John & Mary (Della) are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Earl was a foundry worker living in Aylmer when he enlisted for service on April 8, 1919 in London, following the Armistice.  He gave his date of birth as February 15, 1900.  A notation also states that he had offered to serve in the 91st Battalion was rejected because he was under age.

Earl moved to Michigan, and died in September 1978 at New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida.

Lionel Grey Cline

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Lionel Grey Cline was born on July 30, 1890 in Aylmer, the son of David Colbourne Cline (1858-1925) & Ellen E. Light (1864-1900).  David was a tinsmith, living in Aylmer on the 1901 census, but had moved to St. Marys by 1917.  David later moved to Lorain, Ohio where he died in 1925.  He is buried in Aylmer cemetery beside his wife.

Lionel was a barber living at 117 Maple Street, London when he enlisted for service on September 25, 1917 in London.  His next of kin was his father, of St. Marys.  Lionel was single at the time.

Lionel moved to the United States and died in Indiana in November 1962.

 

Lewis Earl Clinton

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Lewis Clinton was born on November 20, 1895 in Bayham, the son of Albert Edwin Clinton (1866-1938) & Ella Jane French (1871-1961).  Albert was born in Tillsonburg, the son of George & Cynthia Clinton, and was farming in Bayham when he was married on November 5, 1890 in South Norwich to Ella French, a native of Bayham living in South Norwich, the daughter of William & Margaret French.  They moved to RR #7 St. Thomas.  Albert & Ella are buried in St. Thomas Cemetery, West Avenue.

Lewis was working as a dispatcher and agent for the railroad when he enlisted for service on April 23, 1918 in London.  He was living with his parents at RR #7 St. Thomas.

Lewis was living in Yarmouth township when he was married on November 6, 1924 in St. Thomas to Genevieve Evelyn Coleman, of 50 Elizabeth Street, St. Thomas, the daughter of James Coleman & Victoria Reiser.

Lewis died in 1962 and is buried in Holy Angels Cemetery, St. Thomas.

John R. Clunas

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John R. Clunas was born on April 15, 1876 in Aylmer, the son of James Clunas (1830-1922) & Jennie Crosby Parks (1849-1896).  They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

John was a telegraph operator living in Springfield when he was married on July 9, 1902 to Ethel E. Winter, daughter of John L. Winter & Mary E. Archer.  John & Ethel moved to Brant County shortly after their marriage, then to Norfolk County, before locating in Southwold Township where they appear on the 1911 census.  John’s occupation is given as a telegraph operator on that census.

John was an agent for the Michigan Central Railway in Shedden when he enlisted for service on September 22, 1915 with the 91st Battalion.  He was later transferred to the 70th Battalion.  He had belonged to the 25th Regiment for one year.

John died on March 29, 1945 and is buried in Aylmer cemetery. He and Ethel had three children:  Ethel Lareta (1904-1932); Kenneth Louis (1906) and Winter (1910).

John’s obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, March 31, 1945:

ILL FOR SIX MONTHS, JOHN CLUNAS DIED

Retired M.C.R. Agent Lived Here 32 Years

The death occurred in the Memorial Hospital on Thursday evening of John R. Clunas, 656 Talbot street, following an illness of six months.  He was 68 years of age.  Mr. Clunas was born in Springfield and had lived in St. Thomas for 32 years.  He was formerly a resident of Essex and Shedden and had been employed as an operator and later agent on the M. C. R. until his retirement. He was an adherent of the United Church and a member of the Canadian Legion, having served in the 91st Battalion in the last war.  Mr. Clunas was also a member of the Shedden I.O.O.F., and of the Pioneer’s Association of the M. C. R.  A son of the late Jennie Parks and James Clunas, of Springfield, he is survived by two sons, Kenneth Clunas, of Danville, Ill., and Winter Clunas, Third avenue; one brother, William, Portland, Oregon; one sister, Mrs. Charles DuPont, Simpson, Sask.; three grandchildren, Donald, Kenneth and Gerald Clunas; Third avenue.  The funeral is being held from the Sifton Funeral Home on Saturday at four o’clock in charge of Rev. E. J. Roulston, of Central United Church. Interment will be made in the Aylmer cemetery.

Roy Edison Clunas

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photo courtesy of Elgin County Archives

Roy Clunas was born on August 24, 1895 in Springfield, the son of George Jones Clunas (1850-1925) & Sarah Veldora Walmsley (1858-1933).  George was the son of Archibald Clunas & Frances Havens.  His wife Veldora was the daughter of George Walmsley & Mary Boughner.  George & Veldora are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Roy was a school teacher in Springfield when he enlisted for service on April 21, 1916 in St. Thomas with the 91st Battalion.  He had served as a Lieutenant in Cadet instruction. Roy was attached to the 35th Battalion in England, and served with the 20th Battalion in France. He fought in the battle of Vimy Ridge.

Roy arrived home from overseas on February 16, 1918, invalided due to a tubercular illness. An article in the St. Thomas Times Journal, February 23, 1918, tells of his return:

ROYAL WELCOME FOR SPRINGFIELD HEROES

Springfield, Feb. 23 – Our people were out to a man yesterday to welcome Lance-Corp. Roy Clunas, another of Springfield’s soldier boys who has been invalided home. He left with the 91st and was only a short time in England till he was sent to France. The band, the school-children and the citizens formed a procession and marched to the M.C.R. ready for the arrival of the mail. The roads have been so bad that no cars have been out, but Ed Connor was on hand with his beautiful bay team and conveyed him up to the Methodist church. In the carriage with him were Ptes. Kenneth Moore and Arthur Wilkinson, who were on hand to welcome their old comrade. On arriving at the church, Reeve Barons gave the official welcome. Mr and Mrs G. Clunas, his parents, were on the platform. The different members of the family are all at home to welcome their brother and Reeve Barons announced a public reception in the church tonight at which both L.C. Clunas and Pte. Arthur Wilkinson would be guests, Pte. Wilkinson having arrived unannounced Thursday. 

Roy continued to live in Springfield where he was the Postmaster when he was married on November 4, 1922 in Jaffa to Ada Lavinia White (1900-1989), a native of Malahide living in Springfield, the daughter of Elmore White & Lavinia Houghton.

Roy died on August 23, 1950 and is buried with his wife in Aylmer cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, August 24, 1950:

ROY E. CLUNAS DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS

Had Been a Teacher, And Was Former Postmaster at Springfield

Aylmer, Aug. 24 – Former postmaster of Springfield and former principal of the Dundalk High School and teacher at Dutton, Roy E. Clunas, 55, died in the Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, Wednesday where he had been a patient for three weeks.  Prior to that he had been at Gravenhurst for six years.

Mr. Clunas was a son of the late Mr and Mrs George Clunas and was born at Springfield, Ont.  He was a member of the Dundalk United Church and of the Dundalk Masonic Lodge.  His wife survives with three sons, Dr. D. E. Clunas, Harriston; Daniel and Donald, at home; a daughter, Mrs. K. C. (Shirley) Soper, Mount Forest; one brother, Marmaduke, Detroit; and five sisters, Mrs. Maud Kitchen, Hamilton; Mrs. H. W. Aitken, Crystal Beach; Mrs. Thomas Kenna, Montreal; Mrs. Glen Robertson, Thamesville; and Mrs. Frank Purdy, Blind River. At rest at the Jas. H. Barnum Funeral Home where services will be held Friday at 2:30 p.m., by Rev. R. C. Copeland, of Springfield United Church. Interment will be made in the Aylmer cemetery.

George Emerson Cochrane

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Emerson Cochrane’s name appears on the cenotaph in Vienna.  He was born at Vienna on July 24, 1891, the son of George Nelson Cochrane (c1857-1911) and Ellen Jane Brian (1864-1894).  G. N. Cochrane was the son of William Cochrane & Anna Dunning, and was a farmer living in Bayham when he was married there on October 21, 1881 to Ellen Brian, also of Bayham, the daughter of William Brian & Ellen Wagoner.  G. N. & Ellen lived at lot 12, concession 2 Bayham, and are buried in Claus cemetery, Bayham.

Emerson moved to Weyburn, Saskatchewan, where he as employed as a clerk when he enlisted for service on September 24, 1914 at Valcartier. He returned from the overseas on January 18, 1919, landing in Halifax.

Emerson moved to Saskatoon and was married on July 11, 1921 to Isabel Sweeney. 

A biography of Emerson appeared in The Story of Saskatchewan and Its People, Vol. 3, by John Hawkes, 1924:

GEORGE EMERSON COCHRANE

George Emerson Cochrane, manager of the Continental Life Insurance Company, with headquarters in the Connaught building, Saskatoon, has the distinction of being one of the youngest life insurance managers in the province of Saskatchewan.  He is a veteran of the Great war and one of the popular residents of the city.  He was born in Elgin County, Ontario, on the 24th of July, 1891, a son of George and Ellen (Brain) Cochrane, natives of Ontario. The father engaged in the implement business in his native province throughout his life and was a successful and highly esteemed business man.  His death occurred in June of the year 1911.  Mrs. Cochrane died in 1893.

George Emerson Cochrane was reared and educated in Vienna, Ontario, and after leaving school engaged in farming for a time. In 1913 he made his initial step into the life insurance business as an employee of the Sovereign Life Insurance Company and was thus associated upon the outbreak of the Great war.  He put all personal interests aside and enlisted in the service of his country, going overseas as a member of the Sixth Battalion. He served in the Canadian Cavalry Brigade and was slightly wounded in 1915.  He received three medals for his gallant service: The ordinary star decoration; and service and victory decorations.  He received his honorable discharge from the army on the 9th of February 1919, and returned to the Sovereign Life Insurance Company as manager of eastern Saskatchewan.  In 1921 he was made manager for the Continental Life Insurance Company, with headquarters in Saskatoon and has since been active in this important capacity, having the distinction of being one of the youngest men in the province to hold such a responsible position.  His territory covers the whole of northern Saskatchewan and he has twelve men under his supervision.

On the 11th of July 1921, Mr. Cochrane was married to Miss Isabel Sweeney and they have one children: George Everett, whose birth occurred on the 23rd of April 1922.  Mrs. Cochrane is a young woman of culture and refinement and she is prominent in the club and social circles of this city. Since attaining his majority Mr. Cochrane has followed an independent course in politics, giving his support to the man he thinks best fitted for the office without regard to party principles.  He is ever cognizant of the duties and responsibilities as well as the privileges of good citizenship and cooperates in any project for the good of the community.  Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, holding membership in King Hiram Lodge, Regina.  Along strictly business lines he is identified with the Life Underwriters Association of Canada.  The religious faith of Mr. Cochrane is that of the Anglican church and he is a member of St. John’s church in this city. He is a young man of great ability and possesses those qualities which speak for his continued success in the business world.

 

Stephen Harold Cohoon

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Harold was born on November 27, 1897 in Malahide, the son of Emerson K. Cohoon (1856-1950) & Prudence Jane Pound (1860-1939). Emerson was born in Malahide, the son of Stephen & Susan Pound, and was working as a tile maker when he was married in Malahide on March 9, 1887 to Jane Pound, also of Malahide, the daughter of William & Susan.  Emerson & Jane are buried in Richmond West Cemetery, Bayham Township.

Harold was a farmer living with his parents at R.R. #8 St. Thomas when he enlisted for service on May 10, 1916 in London. He had served two years with the 25th “Elgins” Regiment.

Harold returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on March 5.  He was married to Mary E. Ballah (1893-1958), who is buried in Aylmer cemetery.  Harold was remarried in 1962 to Eva Bianca Harp Clark (1903-1986), the widow of Charles R. Clark.  Harold died on December 8, 1979 and is buried with Bianca in Elmdale Cemetery, St. Thomas. His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times Journal, December 10, 1979:

STEPHEN H. COHOON

Stephen H. Cohoon, 130 Myrtle Street, St. Thomas, passed away on Saturday at the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital, following a lengthy illness.  He was in his 83rd year.

Born in Malahide Township Nov. 24, 1897, he was the son of the late Emerson K and Jane (Pound) Cohoon. He was a retired New York Central Railway locomotive engineer.  He came to St. Thomas as a young man and was a member of Centre Street Baptist Church and a life member of St. David’s Lodge No. 302 A.F. and A.M.

He is survived by his wife Bianca Clark Cohoon; a sister Mrs. Edna Prowse of London, a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Doreen Cohoon, Blackville, South Carolina; three grandchildren, Stephen, Scott and Kelly Jo Cohoon. Several nieces and nephews also survive.  A son, Dr. Frederick Cohoon, passed away in 1978, and a brother Claude S. Cohoon of London passed away in 1956.

Resting at the L. B. Sifton Funeral Home, 118 Wellington Street, where the funeral service will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. by Rev. Norman Jones of St. Paul’s United Church, Aylmer. Interment to be made in the family plot of Elmdale Memorial Park.

 

Charles J. Cole

2010621 

Charles Cole was born on April 15, 1898 near Springfield in South Dorchester Township, the son of John Cole (1873-1942) & Ida May Brown (1874-1972).  John was the son of Samuel Cole & Anne Porter, and was farming in South Dorchester when he was married on January 31, 1894 in Tillsonburg to Ida May Brown, of Malahide, the daughter of James & Lavinia Brown.  John & Ida May are buried in Aylmer Cemetery.

Charles’ attestation paper is not available for viewing, but family members have photographs of him leaving for overseas at the train station in St. Thomas. He returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Halifax on July 12.

Charles was living in St. Thomas, employed as a fireman on the railroad, when he was married in Springfield on July 1, 1926 to Edith Emma Wright (1895-1989), of Southwold Township, the daughter of Charles Wright & Mary Clark.

Charles later farmed on the first concession of Malahide near McConnell’s Nursery.  He died on September 26 [or 25], 1963 after being hospitalized with muscular sclerosis for a long period of time.  He is buried with his wife in Aylmer Cemetery.

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, October 2, 1963:

CHARLES J. COLE

The Rev. Charles Saunders of New Sarum Baptist church conducted the service Saturday afternoon at the Barnum & Kebbel Funeral Home for Charles J. Cole, of 96 South Street East, Aylmer, who died Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 25 in St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital after a lengthy illness.

Mr. Cole was born in South Dorchester 65 years ago, a son of Mrs. John Cole of Hamilton and the late Mr. Cole. He was a retired farmer, moving to Aylmer from Lakeview five years ago. He was ad adherent of the Lakeview Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife, the former Edith Wright; his mother; one son, Arrie of Aylmer; three daughters, Mrs. Ray (Ruby) Woodworth, of Port Burwell; Mrs. Donald (Sylvia) Irwin of Jaffa, and Mrs. James (Ann) Mathews of Tillsonburg; two brothers, Norman of Corinth and Russell of Lucan; three sisters, Mrs. James Godwin of Hamilton; Mrs. Clayton Wodham of Kingsmill; Mrs. Lyle Lightfoot of Hamilton, and 14 grandchildren.

The funeral was largely attended by friends and relatives from Fort Erie, St. Catharines, Lambeth, Tillsonburg, London, Lucan, Vienna, Sparta, Hamilton, Lakeview, Springfield, Talbotville, Delaware, Port Burwell and Aylmer and district.

The pallbearers were Willis Weaver, Wallace Brackenbury, Guy Firby, Harold Baughman, Maurice Landon and Murray Timpany.

Walter Henry Cole

189583

Walter Cole was born on January 8, 1886 in London, England.  He emigrated to Canada in 1912, sailing from Avonmouth on the ship Royal Edward, arriving in Quebec on July 3.  

Walter was a farmer living at RR #1 Aylmer when he enlisted for service on December 6, 1915 in St. Thomas, with the 91st Battalion.  He was single, and names his next of kin as his mother, Elizabeth Cole, of 23 Harrison Street, London, England.

Walter returned from overseas in 1917, arriving in Halifax on August 1. The passenger list gives his address as Aylmer.

No further information is known.

Anna M. Collins

Nursing Sister

The name Anna M. Collins appears on the cenotaph in Port Burwell, but her identity has been difficult to trace.  No attestation paper can be found for an Anna Collins.  In all probability, she is the Annie May Collins born in Bayham on March 21, 1886, the daughter of David E. Collins, farmer, Port Burwell, and his wife Matilda Jane Hotchkiss (1863-1909).  

A marriage record was found for D. E. Collins, of Bayham, son of David & Sarah Collins to Matilda Chambers, a native of Walpole Township, living in Bayham, the daughter of Paul Chamberlain [sic] & Lidia J. Hodekis [sic], on March 3, 1877 in Bayham.  David & Matilda are found on the 1881 census in Bayham, with David’s widowed mother Sarah.  The 1891 Bayham census lists Matilda as “married” with daughter Annie, age 5.  David does not appear with them on the census.  By the 1901 census, Matilda had remarried Ezekiel Boughner (Buchner), and living with them is Matilda’s daughter Annie Collins.  Matilda died in Bayham in 1909.

Anna Collins cannot be found on the 1911 census.

Percy Eugene Connor

190171

Percy Connor was born on June 25, 1890 in Springfield, the son of Isaac Matthew Wilson Connor (1857-1923) & Martha Jane Lindsay (1855-1943).  Isaac was the son of Isaac & Eliza Connor and was married on December 24, 1884 in North Dorchester to Martha Lindsay, the daughter of William Lindsay & Catherine Eaton. They are buried in Best cemetery, Corinth.

Percy was married on August 19, 1909 in Aylmer to Nea Valeria Unverzagt, a native of Middleton township, the daughter of Philip Unverzagt & Caroline McLeod.

He was living at 513 Talbot Street, St. Thomas employed as a telegraph operator when he enlisted for service on March 31, 1916 in St. Thomas with the 91st Battalion.

Percy returned from overseas on March 24, 1919, arriving in Halifax.

Percy died on January 24, 1934 at the C.N.R. freight yard in Niagara Falls, Ontario from injuries received on the Canadian National Railway.  He was living at 842 Fifth Ave., Niagara Falls and was a brake conductor at the C.N. Railway yards.  He had lived there for 17 years.  He is buried in Best cemetery, Corinth.

Two accounts of Percy’s death appeared in the Aylmer Express, February 1, 1934:

SPRINGFIELD

The many friends and relatives of Percy Connor, who was killed at Niagara Friday night, attended the funeral Sunday at his mother’s home, Corinth.  Mr. Connor was a nephew of G. R. Lindsay and Mrs. James Lindsay and had attended the funeral of his cousin, the late Mrs. Talmage Brooks, only a fortnight ago. His mother, formerly Miss Martha Lindsay, was a former resident of this vicinity, and her many old friends sympathize with her in the loss of her only child.

CORINTH

Corinth and surrounding community was deeply shocked with the news of the sudden passing of Percy Eugene Connor on Thursday last at Niagara Falls.  Mr. Connor was the only son of Mrs. Martha J. Connor and the late Isaac Connor, life-long residents of Corinth.  He spent his childhood and young manhood in this village receiving his education at the Tillsonburg High School. He studied telegraphy and at the time of his death was a trainman with the C.N.R.  The funeral service was held at the Hetherington Funeral Home in Niagara Falls and the cortege proceeded to Corinth where another service was held at the home of his mother, conducted by Rev. C. Lesley. Mrs. R. Firby and Mrs. C. Lesley rendered an appropriate duet, accompanied by Miss Maryell Fewster. The funeral was very largely attended by many of his former schoolmates and friends. The floral tributes were many and very beautiful and the service was under the management of the Trainmen’s Association of Niagara Falls. Interment took place in the family plot at the Best cemetery.  Besides his mother Mr. Connor leaves to mourn his loss, his wife and three children, Eugene, Billy and Patsy.

Basil Elmer Louis Franklin Constable

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Basil Constable was born on April 12, 1894 in Port Burwell, the son of Frank Constable & Mary Alma Hutchinson.  Frank was born in Bayham, the son of Alfred Constable & Maria Bell, and was farming there when he was married on June 10, 1891 in Port Burwell to Mary Hutchinson (1868-1910), a native of Walsingham living in Port Burwell, the daughter of Joseph Henry Hutchinson & Louisa Jane Franklin. They moved to Toronto and lived at 104 Galt Ave., where Mary died in 1910.  Frank was remarried in 1911 to Clara May Burd. By 1916, Frank had moved to Winnipeg.

Basil was a living at 292 Victoria Street, Toronto, employed as a waiter when he enlisted for service on March 3, 1916.  He names his next of kin as his father, Frank, of 418 Aikens Street, Winnipeg.  He joined the 180th Battalion.

Basil returned from overseas on February 8, 1919 arriving in New York from Seaforth, England.  The passenger lists his destination as Winnipeg, where his father is living.

Basil, died in 1953.  No further information is known.

Alonzo Mills Cook

2611960

Alonzo Cook was born on December 31, 1897 in Malahide, the son of Arden L. Cook (1868-1946) & Mary E. Ford (1873-1945). Arden was the son of Alonzo & Lavina Cook and was living in Bayham when he was married there on October 10, 1893 to Mary Ford, also of Bayham, daughter of William Ford & Elizabeth Hawley.  Arden & Mary are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Alonzo was a farmer living at R.R. #1 Aylmer with his parents when he enlisted for service on May 29, 1918 in London. He is mentioned in an article in the Aylmer Express, June 6, 1918 with four other men from the Summers’ Corners area who were honored with a reception on the “eve of their departure to join the overseas forces”.

Alonzo died at lot 19, concession 7 Malahide where he had spent his entire life, on August 27, 1923 at the age of 25 years.  He is buried with his parents in Aylmer cemetery.

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, August 30, 1923:

DEATH OF ALONZO COOK AFTER LONG ILLNESS

Alonzo Cook, only son of Mr and Mrs Arden L. Cook, Talbot street two and a half miles east of Aylmer, died at the home of his parents, late on Monday night. He was in his 26th year. The young man had been seriously ill for many months and everything possible was done to effect a cure by the best medical men in the province. After completing his course at the Aylmer High School, Alonzo enlisted in the Army Medical Corps during the last two years of the war, but on account of illness which developed while he was training, he was never permitted to go overseas, and has never enjoyed good health since. He was an energetic worker among the young people of the Summers corners Methodist church and will be greatly missed by scores of friends. The sorrowing parents have the sympathy of the entire community in their bereavement, which is made more sad from the fact that they lost their only daughter, Edith, a bright young girl, about twenty months ago. She died very suddenly from pneumonia. Deceased was a member of Malahide Lodge No. 140, A.F. & A.M., under whose auspices the funeral service will be held on Thursday, the 30th inst., at 2 o’clock p.m. Interment will take place in the Aylmer cemetery.

Harry Cook

3140005

Harry Cook was born on October 31, 1880 in Bayham, the son of Charles H. Cook (1858-1918) & Eliza Hubbard (1862-1929).  Charles was born in Bayham, the son of Haggai & Mary Cook, and was living there when he was married on December 23, 1879 in Straffordville to Eliza Hubbard, also of Bayham, the daughter of George & Sarah Jane Hubbard.  They are buried in Best Cemetery, Corinth.

Harry was farming at Shedden when he enlisted for service on June 20, 1918.  He names his next of kin as his wife Isabella.

When his mother died in 1929, Harry was living in St. Marys, Ontario. There is a Harry Cook and Isabella Henderson Cook buried in St. Marys cemetery.

 

William Cook

William Cook is buried in Aylmer cemetery, with an inscription on the back of Frank & Elsie Wilkes’ monument: William Cook, 1898-1968; Kate, 1900-1984 . Their relationship, if any, to Mr & Mrs Wilkes is unknown.  There is also a military marker bearing the following inscription:

“William Cook Private 33 Bat’n C.E.F.  16 Dec 1968 age 72″

William’s year of death appears to have been inscribed in error on both monuments, as his obituary is found in the December 17, 1969 issue of the Aylmer Express.  

William’s attestation paper cannot be positively identified, but is possibly that of William Cook, #401758, a farm labourer,  who enlisted on August 5, 1915 in London.  He was born in Birmingham, England on August 4, 1894, and names his next of kin as his father William Cook, of 38 Abby Road, Smithwick, Birmingham .

William’s obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, December 17, 1969:

WILLIAM COOK

A resident of Port Bruce for ten years, previously of London, Ont., William Cook, 71, died in Westminster Hospital Tuesday.  He had been ill for four weeks.  Mr. Cook was born in Birmingham, England and came to Canada in 1910.  During the war he served with the Canadian Army.  Upon his retirement he took up residence at his cottage at Port Bruce. 

Surviving are his wife, Edith, and a son, William Jr., of Toronto. There are four grandchildren. The Rev. Charles Forrest of the Malahide United Church will conduct the service at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home here. Burial in Aylmer Cemetery.

Arthur Henry Coombs

101285

Arthur Coombs was born on October 23, 1880 in Aylmer, the son of Henry Lovell Coombs (1841-1921) & Catherine Sarah Brackenread (1845-1922). Henry was a baggage master and agent with the G.W.R. railway in Aylmer in the late 1870’s and early 1880’s.  He and his wife later moved to Simcoe, where they are buried in Oakwood Cemetery there. 

Arthur was single, and a farmer who had served twelve years with the 39th Norfolk Rifles when he enlisted for service on September 15, 1915 at Peace River Crossing.  He names his next of kin as his father, Lieut. Col. H. L. Coombs, of Simcoe.

Arthur was married to Eva G. Haddow (1887-1966).  He died on May 28, 1968 and is buried with his wife in Oakwood Cemetery, Simcoe.  His obituary appeared in the Simcoe Reformer, May 29, 1968:

ARTHUR HENRY COOMBS

Arthur Coombs, 87, formerly of 41 Hawthorne Ave., a member of the original Edmonton Eskimo Football team, died Tuesday at Norfolk General Hospital. A retired butter-maker who lived and worked in Simcoe many years, he was a member of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church; the Army, Navy and Air Force Club; Masonic Lodge, and Simcoe Lawn Bowling Club. He served in the First World War in the 49th Battalion. 

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Roy (Mary) Steinhoff of Burlington, brother Frank of Ottawa and four grandchildren. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the George W. Baldock Funeral home. Rev. Donald C. MacDonald will officiate. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

Harold Howe Coombs

18624

Harold Howe Coombs was born on March 6, 1883 in Aylmer, the son of Henry Lovell Coombs (1841-1921) & Catherine Sarah Brackenread (1845-1922). Henry was a baggage master and agent with the G.W.R. railway in Aylmer in the late 1870’s and early 1880’s.  He and his wife later moved to Simcoe, where they are buried in Oakwood Cemetery there. 

Harold was a surveyor, and single when he enlisted for service on September 23, 1914 at Valcartier.  He names his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. H. L. Coombs of Simcoe.  He had served in the 39th Norfolk Rifles.

Following the war, Harold lived at R.R. #3 Waterford, Ont. He later moved to Kentucky, where he died on March 11, 1945 in Valley Junction, Jefferson County.  His death registration states his occupation is a chemist, and that he is buried in Resthaven Cemetery.

George Henry Cooper

603150

George Cooper was born on June 26, 1876 in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England, the son of George H. Cooper.

He emigrated to Canada about 1892, and was living in Dereham Township, Oxford county on the 1901 census as a domestic servant with George & Annie House.  He was married on October 19, 1901 in Oxford County to Cora May Cochrane (1882-1943), of Bayham, the daughter of George Cochrane & Ellen Jane Bryan.

George & Cora are found on the 1911 census in South Dorchester with three children: George, Ellen & Emma.  

George enlisted for service on August 30, 1915 in London.  His address is given as “Elmer”.

George died on January 3, 1942 in Pontiac, Michigan.  He is buried in Springfield cemetery with his wife.

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, January 8, 1942:

DEATH AND FUNERAL OF GEORGE COOPER

The death occurred on Saturday, Jan. 3, in the hospital at Pontiac, Mich., of George H. Cooper in his 66th year.  He had been ailing in health for some time and for the past year had been in the hospital. He was born in England but had spent a number of years in Springfield and Aylmer. He enlisted in the last war in the 38th Battalion and served overseas. In late years Mr. Cooper had been employed as a special police at Grosse Point.  He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Cora Cooper; two daughters, Mrs. Charles Smith, Mt. Brydges; and Mrs. K. J. Durbin, Ferndale, Mich.; also one son, George B. Cooper, Ferndale, Mich., and several grandchildren.  The remains arrived on Monday to the Shaw Funeral Home where the funeral was held Tuesday afternoon. Rev. R. Hare officiated. Clayton Simpson, of Lyons, sang “Shadows”, accompanied by Mrs. Clifton Charlton. The pallbearers were J. Hodgson, Clayton Charlton, Clayton Simspon, Taylor Leeson, and George Craik. There were many beautiful floral tributes. Relatives were present from Ferndale, Mich., Lonodn, Mt. Brydges, and surrounding district.

Herbert W. Cooper

The Aylmer Express of June 27, 1918 printed a letter from Herbert W. Cooper. No definite information connecting a man by this name to the Aylmer area could be found. The closest possibility is the attestation paper of Herbert William Cooper, #529357.  He was living at 533 Beldon Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, but was born in Melbourne, Australia on January 18, 1889. His next of kin was his wife, Lena M. Cooper.  His occupation was a caterer, and he had served one year in the Australian militia.  He enlisted for service on June 30, 1917 in London.

Herbert & Lena are found on the 1920 census in Chicago. That record states he emigrated to the United States in 1908. His wife Lena was a native of Texas.

It is possible that Herbert lived in the Aylmer area prior to moving to Chicago.  It cannot be proven that the author of the letter below is the above Herbert Cooper.

The letter is as follows:

AS MANY MEN WERE DROWNED AT VIMY AS WERE KILLED

Huns Used Four Divisions in 12 Hours’ Battle

The following extracts from Driver H. W. Cooper’s recent letter to Miss Lewis, give a good idea as to feeling at the Canadian front. Driver Cooper is now at Canadian Corps Headquarters, so his letters are based on more than hearsay.

“I was over to Vimy recently in full daylight, with nothing to do but to pick my way, and it took an awful time to cover a mile, just on account of the shell holes filled with water. You could see bodies and equipment at the bottom in the shallower parts, boot, wood, about 3/4 of an inch thick and turning it over found a shrapnel bullet which had just pierced it. The big mine craters seemed to be pretty dry at the bottom.

As many men were drowned at Vimy, at the time the Canadians gained the ridge, as were actually killed, through being wounded and falling into shell holes. At Passchendale the Field Ambulance suffered terribly. My original bunch, the old 13th losing 40 per cent of its strength. The infantry can always take cover except when going “over the top”, whereas the Field Ambulance are proceeding, two men for each stretcher, were practically up to their waists in mud, sliding the stretchers along on top of it, and if they dropped they were smothered in that sea of awful mud. Some war this!  Most of the prisoners we are getting these days appear to be kids of 17 and 18 years of age. Of course they are just holding the line; the big assaults have mostly been made by the older men and men about 45. Fritz brings his men up by train and shoves them over the top and then changes them frequently – what’s left to change. He played three changes in 12 hours during one phase of the recent advance. That is, he started with the A Division and when their losses were so heavy they showed signs of breaking, he relieved them with the B Division, and when they got theirs, with the C Division and finished with the D, all in the one 12 hours, so his gains cost him something, you see.

I enclose some sketches of the nearest town to Lens. It was fairly quiet the day I was there, although about 2:30 p.m. I had to move. There was a motor truck buzzing around where no motor truck had any business to be in the daylight, and the driver thereof moved too. But he slowed up for me to climb aboard and I noticed that the tail board hung in splinters, a fragment caught it and hastened his decision to quit. We travelled the next two miles faster than I thought possible. I sat on the floor when we started, but as the truck went like the wind – like the devil went through Athlone “in standing leaps” I found that I was thrown about a foot clear of the floor every time she jumped and found it was better standing. Many thanks for the two parcels which arrived safely. That large box of T & B was just fine. We get a tobacco issue, but it’s pretty poor stuff. There is little or no tobacco on sale in France. They want all they have for issues tot heir troops, and the civilians have to go without. Received the P.O. order quite safely and will hang on to it until I can go to England for Blighty prices are away up now. Time was when 2s went as far as $1 now.

Thanking you again for all the trouble that you have taken on my behalf, which I deeply appreciate and feel awfully obliged to you for, I am, Yours sincerely, Herbert W. Cooper.

Daisy May Wyatt Copeman

Nursing Sister

Daisy May Wyatt Copeman was born on April 21, 1880 in Aylmer, the daughter of William Copeman (1854-1898) & Anna Wyatt (1857-1909).  William was the son of John & Ann Copeman, and was living in Aylmer employed as a carriage maker when he was married in St. Thomas on March 13,1878 to Anna Wyatt, of St. Thomas, daughter of John & Elizabeth Wyatt. They later moved to St. Thomas where he died at 30 Pearl Street.  He and Annie are buried in St. Thomas West Avenue Cemetery.

Daisy was a nurse living at 218 E. Utica Street, Buffalo, New York with her sister Nina,  when she enlisted for service as a Nursing Sister on December 2, 1916 in London.  She was a member of the C.A.M.C.  She names her next of kin as her sister, Miss Ruby Copeman of 8 Elizabeth Street, St. Thomas.

Daisy was not married, and died on February 11, 1940. She is buried with her parents in St. Thomas West Avenue Cemetery.  Her obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, February 12, 1940:

MISS DAISY COPEMAN SUCCUMBS IN LONDON

Former St. Thomas Resident Served Overseas as Nursing Sister

The death occurred in Victoria Hospital, London, Ont., early Sunday morning, after a long illness, of Miss Daisy M. Copeman, Reg. N.  Miss Copeman served in the Great War in England and later in France, being attached to the Canadian Hospital No. 6.  On her return in 1919 she was until her retirement through ill health, engaged as a social service worker with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in Toronto. Miss Copeman was the second daughter of the late William and Ann Wyatt Copeman of this city.  She was educated in Wellington street school, and the Collegiate Institute and trained for the nursing profession at Deaconess Hospital, Buffalo, graduating in 1916, and going overseas in the same year.  A brother, Karl, who also served overseas, passed away a couple of years ago. Surviving brothers and sisters are: Miss Ruby Copeman, of Andersons, Ltd.; Mrs. R. R. Caughey, of London, Ont.; Mrs. Harvie J. Dorrance of Saskatoon; Major Lesslie Copeman, of Regina; Garnet W., of Hamilton; and C. C. Copeman, of London, Ont. The remains are resting at Towers’ Funeral Chapel, from where the funeral will take place Tuesday afternoon at 3:30, with Rev. S. Edworthy in charge.

Karl Copeman

925402

Karl Copeman was born on July 2, 1890 in St. Thomas, the son of William Copeman (1854-1898) & Anna Wyatt (1857-1909).  William was the son of John & Ann Copeman, and was living in Aylmer employed as a carriage maker when he was married in St. Thomas on March 13,1878 to Anna Wyatt, of St. Thomas, daughter of John & Elizabeth Wyatt. They later moved to St. Thomas where he died at 30 Pearl Street.  He and Annie are buried in St. Thomas West Avenue Cemetery.

Karl was a bookkeeper living in Williston, North Dakota when he enlisted for service with the 128th Overseas Battalion on February 23, 1916 in Estevan, Saskatchewan.

According to his sister Daisy’s obituary, Karl died about 1938.  No further information is known.

Nina Kathleen Copeman

Nursing Sister

Nina Kathleen Copeman was born on May 22, 1894 in St. Thomas, the daughter of William Copeman (1854-1898) & Anna Wyatt (1857-1909).  William was the son of John & Ann Copeman, and was living in Aylmer employed as a carriage maker when he was married in St. Thomas on March 13,1878 to Anna Wyatt, of St. Thomas, daughter of John & Elizabeth Wyatt. They later moved to St. Thomas where he died at 30 Pearl Street.  He and Annie are buried in St. Thomas West Avenue Cemetery.

Nina was a nurse living at 218 E. Utica Street, Buffalo, New York with her sister Daisy, when she enlisted for service as a Nursing Sister on December 2, 1916 in London.  She was a member of the C.A.M.C.  She names her next of kin as her sister, Miss Ruby Copeman of 8 Elizabeth Street, St. Thomas.

An undated clipping from a St. Thomas newspaper describes a letter received from Nina and her sister Daisy:

THOMAS NURSES WRITE FROM FRANCE

Miss Ruby Copeman has received a very interesting letter from her sisters, Lieuts. Nursing Sisters Nina and Daisy Copeman, who are in service in No. 1 Canadian General Hospital, France. During their stay there they have had the pleasure of meeting several former St. Thomas men, including Dr. W. A. Burns, who is on service in No. 7 General Hospital, and Frederick Palmer, son of Mr and Mrs S. H. Palmer, who underwent an operation recently and is a patient in the latter hospital. He is progressing well and hopes to be out shortly. Dr. Cornett, a brother of Dr. W. F. Cornett of this city, is in charge of No. 1 Canadian Hospital, France.  On July 1st, Dominion Day, the Canadian nurses who were off duty visited the cemeteries, and speak very highly of the manner in which the graves are kept.

Nina Copeman was married in 1921 to Harvie James Dorrance (1894 – 1960), and was living in Saskatoon when her sister Daisy died in 1940. Harvie was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1934 to 1938.  They later moved to British Columbia, where Nina died on November 13, 1971 in Victoria, at the age of 76.

Charles George Corbin

503900 

photo courtesy of Elgin County Archives

Charles Corbin was born on August 26, 1898 in Bournemouth, Hampshire, England, the son of Henry & Janet Maria Corbin (1871-1926).  The family is found on the 1901 England census in Bournemouth, where Henry is a butcher’s shopman, age 37, born in Wimborn, Dorset.  Their children, all born in Bournemouth, were: Maude, 13, Arthur, 9, Frederick, 8, Reginald, 5, Charles, 3, and Alfred, 1.

The family emigrated to Canada about 1913, and were living at 36 Horton Street, St. Thomas when Charles enlisted in 1916.  They later moved to Aylmer, where Janet died on February 12, 1926 at the age of 55 years.  She was born in Wales on January 22, 1871, the daughter of Francis Summer.  She is buried in Windsor.

Charles was employed as a steam fitter, living at 36 Horton Street, St. Thomas with his parents when he enlisted for service on February 23, 1916 in London.  One brother, Arthur Bertram Corbin was killed in action on September 3, 1916; another brother, Reginald Corbin, gave his life on September 10, 1918.

A marriage record was found for a Charles G. Corbin in 1919 to Elizabeth Evans in Christchurch District, Hampshire, England.  It is possible this is the above Charles Corbin who was married before returning to Canada following the war.  Charles returned to Aylmer after the war, where the birth of a daughter is recorded in the Aylmer Express in 1921.

Charles & Elizabeth moved to Windsor, where he died on April 4, 1965.  He is buried in Green Lawn Memorial Cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Windsor Star, April 5, 1965:

CORBIN – Charles George, 66 years, on Sunday, April 4, 1965 at Riverview Hospital.  Late of 1287 Parent Ave. Beloved husband of Cecilia (Evans). Dear father of Mrs. Harry Kauff (Thelma), DesPlains, Ill.; Mrs. Richard Hovak (Janet), Detroit; Mrs. Roy Butler (Rosemary), Warren, Mich. Dear brother of James Corbin, Ottawa; Mrs. William Bauman (Florence) Windsor; 5 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren. Resting at Ellison Funeral Home, 659 Victoria Ave until Wed. morning thence to St. George’s Anglican Church to lie in state from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 12. Rev. W. K. Jaggs officiating.  Interment Green Lawn Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Windsor Cancer Society.

Floyd Hastings Cornwall

401232 

Floyd Cornwall was born on August 31, 1896 at Avon, the son of James Morgan Cornwall & Mary Evalene Hastings. James Cornwall Sr. was a miller. He died on May 20, 1897 at lot 4, concession 6, North Dorchester from pneumonia at the age of 36.  He is buried in the Old Delmer cemetery in Dereham Township, Oxford County.  His widow Eva was remarried on November 13, 1897 to John McCallum, of Avon.  Eva was the daughter of George Hastings & Sarah Kenney, and was born at Tillsonburg.

Floyd’s brother Ryheo Morgan Cornwall died of wounds on May 30, 1917.

Floyd enlisted for service on July 20, 1915 in St. Thomas.  He names his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. John McCallum, of 4 Barnes Street, St. Thomas.  He had served two and a half years with the 25th Regiment.  He enlisted with the 33rd Battalion. His attestation paper incorrectly gives his name as “Lloyd”.

Floyd later served overseas with the Cameron High of Winnipeg.  Taking part in the Occupation Army in Germany after the Armistice, he returned to Canada on May 13, 1919, landing at Quebec.  He moved to Detroit to work in the automotive industry in 1920. While in Detroit he married Glenna Pence from Ohio in 1923.  Six years later in 1929 they were divorced.  Floyd then returned to Canada and found employment in farm work in the Springfield area during the Depression years.  He was living in Belmont when his brother James died in 1935.  He was married in 1938 to Mary Campbell of St. Thomas and in 1939 they moved to Detroit where Floyd worked at the Ford Motor Company until retirement.  He and Mary then moved to Gaylord, Michigan, where Floyd died on October 7, 1980.  He had no children.

James Keppel Cornwall

123562 

James Cornwall was born on November 30, 1897 in Avon, the son of James Morgan Cornwall & Mary Evalene Hastings. James Cornwall Sr. was a miller. He died on May 20, 1897 at lot 4, concession 6, North Dorchester from pneumonia at the age of 36.  He is buried in the Old Delmer cemetery in Dereham Township, Oxford County.  His widow Eva was remarried on November 13, 1897 to John McCallum, of Avon.  Eva was the daughter of George Hastings & Sarah Kenney, and was born at Tillsonburg.

James’ brother Ryheo Morgan Cornwall died of wounds on May 30, 1917.

James Cornwall enlisted for service on September 18, 1915 in St. Thomas.  He names his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. John McCallum, of 4 Barnes Street, St. Thomas.  He had served one year in the 25th Regiment.

Following the war, he returned to St. Thomas where he was employed as a press operator when he was married on April 19, 1920 in St. Thomas to Doris May Ensign Ellis, of St. Thomas, the daughter of Howard Ellis & Maud McKay.

James died on July 26, 1935 and is buried in St. Thomas cemetery, West Avenue. His obituary, accompanied by a photograph, appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, July 27, 1935:

JAMES K. CORNWALL DEAD; VETERAN OF THE WORLD WAR

M.C.R. Employee Ill Only Short Time; With Army of Occupation

Veteran of the World War and resident of St. Thomas for more than 30 years, James Keppel Cornwall died in the Memorial Hospital, Friday evening, after a short illness.  Mr. Cornwall was taken ill suddenly on returning from his work to his home, 9 Fourth avenue, Wednesday afternoon, and removed to the hospital during the evening in an unconscious condition. The exact nature of his ailment has not been determined, but may have been spinal meningitis.

Born in Avon, Ont., 37 years ago, Mr. Cornwall came to St. Thomas as a child and except for his overseas service, had lived here ever since. He was exceptionally well known in the city and locality, being familiarly called “Jim” and “Red”. Mr. Cornwall had a splendid war record.  He enlisted and went overseas with the 91st Battalion and saw much active service with the First Battalion in France. He was with the Army of Occupation in Germany after the armistice. For the last six years Mr. Cornwall was employed as an electrician by the Michigan Central Railroad in this city.  Previously he was a member of the St. Thomas Fire Department.  He was an adherent of the Church of Christ and a member of the Electrical Workers’ Union.

Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Doris Ellis Cornwall; a daughter, Doreen; two sons, Donald William, all at home; his mother, Mrs. John McCallum, 13 Jonas Street, city; three brothers, Floyd Cornwall, Belmont; Cecil McCalum, Windsor, and Carl W. McCallum, Detroit; and two sisters, Mrs. Earl Bentley, Royal Oak, Mich.; and Mrs. Burrell Graves, Matheson.

The remains are at rest at the residence, 9 Fourth Avenue, until Monday morning, July 29, when they will be removed to the funeral home of P. R. Williams and son, Elgin street. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at two o’clock. Interment will be made in St. Thomas cemetery.  Rev. John Dearnley and Rev. J. M. Laird will conduct the service. Former members of the 1st and 91st Battalions will attend the funeral.

An account of the funeral was printed in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, July 30, 1935:

JAMES KEPELER [sic] CORNWALL

The funeral of James K. Cornwall, well-known and highly esteemed resident of this city and M.C.R. electrician, whose sad death occurred on Friday, took place from theh P. R. Williams & Son Funeral Home Monday afternoon. Interment was made in the family plot in the St. Thoams cemetery. Rev. John Dearnley, assisted by Rev. J. M. Laird conducted the services. Bugler Barrett sounded “The Last Post.”  A large number of friends and acquaintances were in attendance to pay their last tribute of respect. Members of the 91st Battalion Association acted as floral bearers. The pallbearers were Arthur Bruce, Albert Binns, Harry McLean, Harold Astles, Charles Kitchen and Edward Rapson, the members of St. Thomas Branch 41, Canadian Legion, forming a guard of honor. Among the many beautiful floral tributes surrounding the casket were:  Broken circle, “Dad”, “Jim” from the family, and other designs from Mother, Donald, Muriel, F. W. Smythe, Harold and Mabel, Brother Cecil and wife, flag from Silver Cross Ladies of the British Empire, Locomotive Shops and Engine House employees, I.E.E.W. 787, the officers and members of the Fire Department, 91st Battalion Association, Central Star Chapter No. 57, O.E.S., and numerous others from relatives.  In attendance from out of the city were: Floyd Cornwall, Belmont; Mr and Mrs Cecil McCallum, Windsor; Mrs. Earl Bentley, Royal Oak; Mr and Mrs Donald Ellis, Hamilton; Mr and Mrs Lale Hastings, Port Huron; Mrs. Emma House, Detroit; Mr and Mrs Elgin Moore, Mr and Mrs Byron McClintock, Springfield; Mr and Mrs Orville Bowes, Mrs. Bella Bowes, Avon; Mrs. Mary Stevens, Avon; Mr and Mrs Harold James, F. W. Smythe, Mrs. George England, Mrs. Clifford Walters, Mrs. Muriel Walters, Miss Bella Walters, Mrs. Christie, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Lilliman, London; Mrs. Harry Cornwall, Harrietsville; Roy McClintock, Tillsonburg.

William Harold Cotton

334535

William Cotton was born on February 16, 1893 in Albert Mines, Quebec, the son of David & Sarah Ann Cotton.  David & Sarah were both natives of Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, and had emigrated to Canada in 1884.  They were living in Ascot Township, Sherbrooke, Quebec on the 1901 census. 

William was living in Aylmer employed as a salesman when he enlisted for service on May 21, 1917 in London.  He was single and names his mother Sarah of Capelton, Quebec as his next of kin.  He had served three months in the 16th Battery, C.E.F., and had been previously discharged because of appendicitis.

No further information is known about William.

Herbert Ernest Coulter

622970 

Herbert E. Coulter was born on July 11, 1879 at Bismark (West Lorne) in Aldborough Township, the son of William W. Coulter (1856-1901) & Emma Fowler (1857 – 1918).  William Coulter was a teacher there. Herbert’s attestation paper and obituary both state he was born in St. Thomas, but his birth registration states Aldborough Township.  William Coulter was the son of William & Margaret Coulter and was a teacher living in Yarmouth when he was married there on April 4, 1876 to Emma Fowler, also of Yarmouth, the daughter of Thomas Fowler & Eliza Doolittle.

Herbert was living in St. Thomas, working as a bartender, when he enlisted for service with the 44th Battalion on September 20, 1915 at Camp Hughes.

He died on March 27, 1971 at the age of 92 years. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, March 31, 1971:

HERBERT E. COULTER

Herbert E. Coulter of RR 1 Belmont died early Saturday at Westminster Hospital, London, in his 93rd year.  He had been in ill health for the past three months.  Born in St. Thomas, July 11, 1873 [sic], he was the son of the late W. W. Coulter and Emma (Fowler) Coulter. He farmed in North Yarmouth and South Dorchester all of his life.

He was a member of the Church of Christ Disciples and served overseas during the First World War with the 44th Battalion from Fort William.

Surviving are three brothers: George T. Coulter of London; Archie V. Coulter of North Yarmouth; and Douglas L. Coulter of Terrace, B.C. Also surviving are a number of nieces and nephews.  Mr. Coulter was predeceased by another brother, W. R. Coulter, and by two sisters, Mrs. Alva Luton and Mrs. Eva McKillop.

Service was held at the Williams Funeral Home in St. Thomas Monday afternoon. Rev. Lorne Nethercott of the Church of Christ, Mapleton, officiated. Burial in St. Thomas Cemetery.

Martin Harold Cowan

276776

Martin Cowan was born on August 29, 1898 in Eden, the son of Sanford Cowan & Amy Sinden.  Sanford was born in Middleton Township, the son of Allan Cowan & Melissa Howey, and was working as a carpenter there when he was married on September 22, 1897 in Middleton to Amy Sinden, of Bayham, the daughter of Walter Sinden & Amelia Mathers.

The family moved in the early 1900’s to Moosomin, Saskatchewan, where they are found on the 1911 census.

Martin was a farmer living with his parents at Little Woody, Saskatchewan when he enlisted for service on May 31, 1918 in Regina. 

No further information is known.

William Cowan

William Cowan is buried in Aylmer Cemetery, with a military marker bearing the following inscription:  “Private William Cowan 19th Battn C.E.F.  19th May 1945 Rest in Peace”

An attestation paper for this man cannot be positively identified, but could be William Cowan (#862428), of 125 John Street, Toronto, who was in born Dumfriesshire, Scotland on November 1, 1884. He names his next of kin as his mother Jane, of Blew Wearier by Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire. William was a  carpenter and was not married. He enlisted with the 180th Battalion on February 18, 1916 in Toronto.

The above William is found on the 1891 Scotland census, born Johnstone, Dumfriesshire, living at Edge Moore Cottage, with parents William & Jane.  By 1901, he is 16 years old, a servant living with George & Grace McDougall in St. Mungo, Dumfriesshire, at Castle Milk Smithy.  He is employed as a coal carter.

Details given in his obituary seem to confirm this is the correct William Cowan. 

William’s obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, May 24, 1945:

WILLIAM COWAN PASSES IN LONDON HOSPITAL

Aylmer Resident Ill Six Weeks

A veteran of the First Great War, William Cowan, of Aylmer, passed away Sunday afternoon in his 61st year at the Westminster Hospital, London. He had been seriously ill about six weeks.  Mr. Cowan was born in Johnstone, Scotland, son of Mr and Mrs William Cowan, and went overseas in the last war with the 19th Canadian Battalion. He was a prisoner of war in Germany for a considerable period, and experience from which he never fully recovered. Although a resident of Toronto for some years, he had made his home in Aylmer for the past 20 years. He was a member of St. Paul’s United Church.

Surviving are his wife, and two sons, William and Edward, all of Aylmer. There are two brothers and two sisters, all living in Scotland.

The funeral was held from the Allen Funeral Home on Tuesday, at 2:30 p.m., and was largely attended by relatives and friends. There were many flowers.  Members of the Canadian Legion acted as pallbearers and flower bearers.  The pallbearers were Ross Gale, George Gowers, Bruce VanPatter, James Kenn, William Chipchase, Will G. Butenshall. The flower bearers were George Watson, Lou Hamilton, Peter Anderson, Ed. Lloyd. Interment was made in the family plot in the Aylmer cemetery.

Cecil Lorne Cox

3132871

Cecil Lorne Cox was born on May 31, 1896 in Malahide, the son of Mark L. Cox (1852-1938) & Sarah Elizabeth Holmes (1864-1931).  Mark was a farmer at lot 5, concession 8.  Mark was the son of Richard & Catherine Cox, and was living in Malahide when he was married on June 24, 1885 in Malahide to Sarah Holmes, also of Malahide, the daughter of Edward & Mary Ann Holmes.  They are buried in Aylmer cemetery.

Cecil was a farmer living with his parents at R. R. #2 Kingsmill when he enlisted for service on April 25, 1918 in London.

He was married on October 19, 1932 to Grace Elizabeth Appleford (born 1903), daughter of James Appleford, of Crossley-Hunter in South Dorchester township. Following their marriage, they lived on the 8th Concession of

Cecil died on October 1, 1967 and is buried in Aylmer cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, October 4, 1967:

CECIL LORNE COX

Service was held at the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home here this (Wednesday) afternoon by the Rev. Allan Logan of St. Paul’s United Church for Cecil Lorne Cox, 71, of 97 Raglan Street, Aylmer.  Burial was in Aylmer Cemetery.

Mr. Cox died Sunday afternoon in St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital after a long illness.  Born on the homestead on the 8th concession at Kingsmill, Mr. Cox was a general farmer until he retired and moved into Aylmer three years ago. He was a son of the late Mark Cox and the former Sarah Holmes.

Mr. Cox was a devout member of St. Paul’s United Church in Aylmer and was a former clerk of the Session.  He was an ardent lodgeman and was a past master of Malahide Lodge No. 140, A.F. & A.M., a past officer of the Grand Lodge, an 18 degree member of the Scottish Rite, a member of the London Lodge of Perfection, a member of London Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix.

Surviving are his wife, the former Grace Appleford; a daughter, Miss Eleanor Cox of Clinton; a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Couse of Yarmouth Centre, and a number of nieces and nephews.  A Masonic service was held at the funeral home Tuesday night.

James Walter Cox

1262218

James Cox was born on May 11, 1884 in Port Burwell, the son of William Cox (born 1855 in England) & Sarah Ellen Baker (born 1860 in Ontario).  He had a twin sister Bessie Myrtle. William was a painter in Port Burwell. The family moved to Hamilton where they are found on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 census.  William & Ellen are buried in Woodland cemetery, Hamilton.

James was an electrical wireman living with his parents at 12 Bruce Street, Hamilton when he enlisted for service on April 13, 1916 in Toronto. He joined the 4th Division Ammunition Park.

James returned from overseas on August 22, 1919, landing in Quebec.  The passenger list records his destination as Hamilton.

James died on September 23, 1951 and is buried with his wife in Woodland Cemetery, Flamborough Township, Wentworth County. His obituary appeared in the Hamilton Spectator, September 24, 1951:

COX – At Hamilton General Hospital, Sunday, September 23, 1951, James W. Cox, beloved husband of Beatrice Fulcher, Willow Cove, Ontario, in his sixty-eighth year. Resting at the Kitching Funeral Home, 146 Mill Street North, Waterdown for funeral service Tuesday 3 p.m. Interment Woodland Cemetery.

Percival Crawford

123487 

– photo courtesy of Elgin County Archives)

Percival Crawford was born on October 23, 1889 at Beachville in West Oxford Township, Oxford County, the son of Henry John Crawford & Martha Jane Healy.  

He was living in Aylmer when he was married there on December 23, 1908 to Mary Arlie Mitchell (1890-1977) of Aylmer, the daughter of John F. Mitchell & Clara Light.

Percival was working as a furniture finisher when he enlisted for service in Aylmer on September 14, 1915 with the 91st Battalion.

A letter from Percival was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, September 14, 1916:

West Sandling Camp, August 21

Mr. James Anger

Dear Sir –

The Sunday that the 91st Batt. left St. Thomas I promised you I would write and let you know how we fared in our new surroundings. Well, in the first place we had an enjoyable trip by rail as far as Halifax, then we boarded the “Olympic” where and lay in port for a day and a half, then started on our voyage across the pond and believe me it is some pond. It was certainly a swell trip, calm all the way. The grub they dished up was exceptionally good. You should have seen us go to it. That salt water breeze sure gives one a horse’s appetite. The boat itself is a floating city and to travel through it was great sport. All we had to do was to turn around about twice and we were lost. None of the large cities have anything on that boat for getting lost in.

While we were pulling into Liverpool the small steamers plying around there gave us “the hip, hip, hurrah!” on their whistles, and at the dock. There was an immense crowd, mostly women, and returned soldiers, but they sure gave us a rousing cheer.

We had to remain on board for some time, then we lined up and marched off and over to our train. There the boys had a good laugh. Their first glimpse of an English train or cigar boxes on spools as they called them, but they can travel some. By the time we arrived at Westenhanger 2:10 a.m., we were a tired bunch. From there we had a twenty minute route march to our camp. They had a lunch ready for us and we did justice to that, then rolled in our blankets and laid down for our first snooze on the old sod. The next day we had it rather easy, but since then we have been going some and now we are all in good trim. We have had a taste of night work as well thrown in. Quite a large draft of the 91st men left last Sunday for somewhere in France, and by the time you receive this I guess all that are fit will be there, as we expect to leave in the near future.

This country certainly has some grand scenery and quaint old buildings which have a history behind them, but it has nothing on good old Canada, for me.

We went for a nice route march yesterday to Dynchurch and had a dip in the channel which was very refreshing – came back by the way of Hythe; saw a flock of aeroplanes, as well, saw the graceful way in which they alight and rise, which was very interesting to us.

The weather here has been very hot and dry lately, but is a little cooler at present with a few drops of rain now and then, but heavy storms. Have had one or two copies of your newsy paper of late and it sure is a treat for the Aylmer boys to get hold of a paper from their “home town”.  Hoping you and your family are enjoying the best of health, I remain,

Yours sincerely, P. Crawford, No. 123487, A. Co.-91st O.S. Batt., C.E.F.

A letter written by Percy to his father was printed in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, September 30, 1918:

PTE. PERCY CRAWFORD ON LEAVE IN SCOTLAND

London and Glasgow Pleases Aylmer Soldier, He Says in Letter to His Father

The following letter to his father from Pte. Percy Crawford will be interesting reading to his many friends in Aylmer. He enlisted with the 91st Battalion and left for overseas with that unit.

Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 4, 1918

Dear Father:

I am in Glasgow and am enjoying myself immensely.  I left France on Aug. 28, took the train from Amiens to Boulogne, a distance of 120 miles, and it took us 14 hours to reach there.  Of course, we were traveling in box cars, like cattle, so believe me, we were good and tired. We stayed in Boulogne overnight and took the boat next day at noon, landing at Folkestone.  We had a pleasant trip over, with no signs of enemy craft at all.  From Folkestone we took a train to London, checked our equipment there and by that time we were ready for bed.  Believe me, it was good to strike a bed again, and I slept like a log.  Next morning we started in to get cleaned up, so bought clean clothes and shoes, then went to the pay office, got our money and started in to enjoy ourselves. Oh, yes, while in the pay office I met Verne.  Was I surprised?  Well, yes.  He was staying in London and wanted me to stop a few days with him.  He had permission to visit one of the largest printing places in London and we had a few more things to get, so said we would meet at Charing Cross at 4:30.  I was a little late and we did not meet.  I stayed around for two days, but did not see him again.  In London I went to the Victoria Palace Theatre and had the best laugh I have had in two years. It sure was a treat.

London is a great “burg”, and the Strand takes my eye.  One sees all kinds there, and the crowds are so dense at times you cannot move only to follow them. That is all right on a holiday but would not suit me to live there.

From London we took the train at Euston Station for Glasgow.  Of course we traveled by night so we would not lose any time. Arrived here at 9:15 a.m. and went to the Y.M.C.A., checked our haversacks, then went out and had a good bath, and felt fine for the day.

We did not see much on Sunday, as everything was closed and things seemed rather quiet, but now we know our way around very well and we are having a lovely time of it.  My chum’s name is Bert Harmer. He was born near Ingersoll, so we are great pals and get along fine.

On Tuesday we decided to visit Loch Lomond, so took the train to Bollock. From there we took the boat and sailed up the Loch to a place called Tarbet, got off and had dinner at Tarbet Hotel, then had a lovely stroll around and enjoyed the scenery very much.  One of the highest peaks is Ben Lomond, and that is right across the Loch from Tarbet. We were on the boat one and a half hours. It was great, a trip I shall never forget. Arrived back in Glasgow about 8:30, took in a picture show, then away to bed satisfied that I had put in one of the finest days ever.

A photo of Percy with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Pte. Percy Crawford was born in Beachville, Ont., his parents being Mr and Mrs J. H. Crawford. Previous to enlisting with the 91st Batt., he had lived in Aylmer about eight years. Mrs. Crawford and three children reside on John street south. Pte. Crawford is now in France doing his bit”.

A photograph of Percy with the following caption appeared in the Aylmer Express, October 17, 1918:

“Mrs. Percy Crawford received a telegram on Monday, advising her that her husband, Pte. Percy Crawford, was wounded in the head and shoulder, in France on October 3rd, and had been admitted to the hospital. Pte. Crawford had just returned to France after a short furlough spent in England.”

Percy returned from overseas in 1919, arriving in Portland, Maine on June 21.  He returned to Aylmer, and was the first president of the Canadian Legion branch there.

He died on June 1, 1968 and is buried with his wife in Aylmer cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, June 5, 1968:

PERCIVAL CRAWFORD

Ill for ten days, Percival Crawford, 78, of 46 John Street South, Aylmer, died Saturday evening in St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital.  The Rev. Fred Jillard of the Aylmer Baptist Church conducted the service at the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home Monday afternoon.  Mrs. James Wright presided at the organ.  Burial was in Aylmer Cemetery.  The pallbearers were Donald Crawford, John Crawford, Jeff Robinson, Frank Tilley, Verne Watson and Wayne Mitchell. Relatives and friends attended from Farmington, Mich.; Detroit, Fair Haven, Mich., Woodstock, London, Toronto, Aylmer and district.

Mr. Crawford was born at Beachville on oct. 23, 1889, a son of the late John Crawford and Martha Healy. He lived here for some time and then served in World War I, going overseas with the 91st Battalion and returning with the 75th Battalion.  He came back to Aylmer and was the first president of Col. Talbot Br. 81 of the Royal Canadian Legion. He had lived in Aylmer for the last 27 years, previously in Windsor for 15 years when he worked with the Canada Customs.

Surviving are his wife, the former Arlie Mitchell; one son, Morden of Farmington, Mich.; one daughter, Mrs. Peter (Dorothy) Robinson of Fair Haven, Mich.; seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Joseph Nelson Crossett

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Joseph Crossett was born on December 23, 1888 in Corinth, the son of Merritt Crossett & Almeda (Alma) Acre.  Merritt was born in Bayham, the son of Joseph & Mariah Crossett, and was farming there when he was married on March 14, 1888 in Bayham to Almeda Acre, also of Bayham, the daughter of William & Rebecca J. Acre.  Merritt & Almeda  moved to Michigan about 1918, where they are found on the 1930 census living in Detroit.

Joseph was living in Tillsonburg when he was married on June 5, 1907 in Ingersoll to Lillie Kaar, of Dereham. He is enumerated as “Nelson” on the 1911 census in Tillsonburg, with his wife and three children.

He was a shoemaker living in Tillsonburg when he enlisted for service there on January 22, 1916.  He joined the 168th Battalion.

Joseph moved to Michigan about 1918, where he is found enumerated as “Nelson” on the 1920 census in Detroit.  He is employed as a foreman in an auto factory. With him are his wife Lillian, and children Isabelle, Harold, Wilfred and William.

Joseph died in Michigan in September 1963.

Robert Roy Crossett

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Roy Crossett was born on June 1, 1896 in Bayham, the son of Ambrose Henry Crossett (1859-1944) & Lenora Smith (1869-1924).  Ambrose was the son of Joseph & Elizabeth Crossett and was a farmer in Bayham when he was married on December 25, 1888 in Aylmer to Lenora Smith, of Aylmer, the daughter of James W. & Phoebe Smith.  They moved to the Kingsmill area.

Roy was a farmer living at R.R. #1 Kingsmill when he enlisted for service on June 18, 1918.

He was married in Aylmer on August 21, 1918 to Lulu Simpson (1899-2001), of New Sarum, the daughter of Herbert Simpson & Bertha Oke.  His occupation is given as “soldier” on the marriage record.

Roy died on August 1, 1967 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His wife Lulu lived to the age of 102 years, passing away in 2001 in Fort Lauderdale.

His obituary appeared in the Aylmer Express, August 9, 1967:

ROBERT R. CROSSETT

Robert Roy Crossett passed away very suddenly at his home, 18 NW 28th Way, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Saturday evening in his 73rd year.  Mr. Crossett was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Ambrose Crossett who lived at Kingsmill where he resided until his marriage to Lulu Simpson of New Sarum in 1918. They moved to Detroit where he was an employee of the Michigan State Bell Telephone Co. until his retirement in 1948 when they moved to Florida where they have since resided.

Mr. Crossett is survived by his widow Lulu; two daughters, Mrs. Jack (Julia) Ketzbeck of Detroit, and Mrs. Ruth Scoble of Fort Lauderdale; four sisters, Mrs. J. A. (Phoebe) Thomas of London; Mrs. Sidney (Lulu) Hill of Toronto; Mrs. L. J. (Stella) Dunn in New Zealand; Mrs. Alvin (Ruth) Mills of St. Thomas; one brother, Tom, R.R. 5 Aylmer; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

The funeral was held in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, Aug. 7.

Harry McPherson Currie

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Harry Currie was born on September 29, 1895 in Vienna, the son of Neil M. Currie (1865-1947) & Lillian Edna Bartlett (1871-1960).  Neil was born in Scotland, the son of John & Margaret, and was a farmer at Vienna when he was married on December 13, 1892 in Straffordville to Lillian Bartlett, of Vienna, the daughter of Porter & Rebecca Bartlett.  They are buried in Straffordville cemetery.

Harry was a farmer living at RR #1 Vienna when he enlisted for service with the 91st Battalion on December 7, 1915 in St. Thomas.  He had served three years in the 39th Regiment in Simcoe.

Harry died on July 2, 1928 at the age of 32 from injuries received from an accidental fall.  He is buried with his parents in Straffordville cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, July 3, 1928:

HARRY CURRIE FOUND DEAD IN TILLSONBURG

Body Was Lying on Sidewalk; Skull Was Fractured and Inquest Has Been Ordered

Tillsonburg, July 3 – When making his rounds at 3 a.m. Sunday morning, Constable Reynolds discovered the body of Harry Currie, a resident of Tillsonburg, lying face down apparently dead on the sidewalk in front of the Imperial Hotel, North Broadway.

Chief Carter and Coroner Dr. R. E. Weston were summoned, the latter pronouncing life to be extinct. The body was removed to Ostrander’s undertaking parlors. The man was found to have a fractured skull.

The circumstances were investigated and an inquest was deemed necessary. Provincial Officer Buchanan came Sunday afternoon and was present for the preliminary hearing at 8:30 that evening in the Council chamber. A jury was empanelled, composed of Charles Leach, A. E. Rayner, H. Fairs, O. McKenny, F. Mabee, H. Woulds and A. Chandler.  The inquest adjourned to meet Friday evening at 8 p.m. in the Council chamber.

The unfortunate man was in his 33rd year, and is survived by one daughter, his father and mother, two sisters and one brother, Verne, of Tillsonburg, from whose home the funeral will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, interment taking place at Straffordville.

 

Frank Mortlan Cutler

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Frank Cutler was born on January 1, 1898 in Bayham, the son of Henry Francis Cutler (1856-1928) & Mary Margaret Laur (1856-1940).  Henry was the son of Charles & Elizabeth Cutler, and was farming in Bayham when he was married on February 19, 1880 in Aylmer to Mary Laur, of Malahide, the daughter of Thomas & Mary Laur.  They are buried in St. Thomas Cemetery, West Avenue.

Frank was a labourer living with his parents at 15 Erie Street, St. Thomas when he enlisted for service on March 27, 1916 in St. Thomas.  He had served two years with the 25th Regiment.

Frank returned from overseas in 1918, arriving in Halifax on December 14. He returned to St. Thomas where he was a shoemaker when he was married there on December 8, 1921 to Lulu Bell Boyer (1899-1957), of Brownsville, the daughter of Nelson Boyer & Minnie Thomas.

Frank died on September 16, 1970 and is buried with his wife in Elmdale Cemetery, St. Thomas. His obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, September 16, 1970:

FRANK CUTLER DIES IN HOSPITAL

Frank M. Cutler, 72, of the Empire Hotel, St. Thomas, passed away at Westminster Hospital in London this morning after a two month illness.  Born in Bayham Township, he came to St. Thomas at the age of 12 years. He served overseas in World War One with the 91st Battalion and was wounded in France.

Surviving are two sons, Eugene Cutler of 9 Pine Street; Tom Cutler of London; one daughter, Mrs. Bettie Putnam of 55 Redan Street; one sister Mrs. Frank (Murl) Whale of Hazel Park, Mich.; and five grandchildren, Miss Bonnie Cutler of 9 Pine Street, Jeff Cutler of London, and Miss Penny Putnam, Martin Putnam, and Alan Putnam, all of 55 Redan Street.

He was the son of the late Henry and Mary (Loue) Cutler. His wife, the former Lulu Belle Boyer, died in 1957.

Resting at the L. B. Sifton Funeral Home, 118 Wellington Street, where service will be conducted Friday at 1:30 p.m., by Rev. Lorne Nethercott of Park Avenue Christian Church. Interment will be at the family plot at Elmdale Memorial Park. Visitation is encouraged between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m. and 7 and 9:30 p.m.