THE FORGOTTEN BOYS OF FENELON FALLS

This story was authored some time ago. I have also written a blog that was written some time ago on the same topic, if it seems a bit familiar. No apologies - I believe it bears repeating and may contain some new information. The links, at this point, are dormant.

The Forgotten Boys of Fenelon Falls 

Pte. Kelly’s Attestation Paper is readily available on the Library and Archives Canada website here.  It was here I noticed that Kelly was one of a minority of Canadian-born soldiers to voluntarily enlist in the fledgling Canadian Expeditionary Force’s 1^st Contingent forming in Valcartier, Quebec early in the war August, 1914. (only about 30% were Canadian-born, the vast majority almost 66% were of British origin). Furthermore, the man was not a native of the Toronto environs but his birthplace of this 19 year old was listed as Fenelon Falls, Ontario. He shows on the form as serving one year with the 10^th Royal Grenadiers, a Toronto, Pre-world War I militia regiment, meaning that he had probably been living in Toronto for over a year to maintaining employment as a “gas light inspector”.  

When war was declared by the Canadian  Government on August 4, 1914, a call when out from Lindsay native, Minister of Militia Sir Sam Hughes to all 226 Canadian militia regiments to recruit members for the forming Canadian Expeditionary force. Regiments from across Canada recruited members who then traveled to the new camp being developed at Valcartier, a few miles north of Quebec City. The 3^rd (Toronto) Battalion was being formed at Valcartier from Toronto regiments, specifically the 2^nd Queens Own Rifles, the 10^th Royal Grenadiers and the Governor General’s Body Guard. Young Stanley Kelly was one of the Royal Grenadiers members who had heeded the call to arms and climbed on the train leaving for Valcartier. The 3^rd Battalion’s command was given to Toronto businessman and Queen’s Own Rifles Major, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Rennie (Rennie’s Seeds, Toronto). The 3^rd Battalion was positioned in the 1^st (Ontario) Brigade of the forming 1^st Canadian Division, headed by Toronto Lawyer, Lieutenant-Colonel M.S. Mercer, also of the Queen’s Own Rifles. This brigade also included: the 1^st (Western Ontario) Battalion; 2^nd (Eastern Ontario) Battalion; and the 4^th (Central Ontario) Battalion. 

Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, France

From his enlistment into the C.E.F. at Valcartier on September 22, 1914, the story of Pte. Stanley Kelly is essentially the story of the 3^rd Battalion and the 1^st Canadian Division. Initially he was assigned to “G” Company in Valcartier however after arrival in England and the reorganization of the 1^st Division and the four battalions into efficient four-company units, Pte. Kelly was assigned to “C” Company. They traveled “en masse” from Quebec to Plymouth, England in a convoy of 32 ships and 20,000 men, disembarking on October 19, 1914. The winter of 1914-15 saw the C.E.F. train on wet Salisbury Plain. During the 123 days from the middle of October to the middle of February, it rained on 89 days with the total precipitation at 24 inches, or double the yearly average. The 3^rd Battalion moved by rail to Avonmouth on February 8 and reached France on February 11. The Canadian Division took over a three-and-a-half-mile section of the line on March 1, 1915 from the British 7^th Division north of Aubers village for their first time in action, near Armentieres. The 3^rd Battalion remained in Brigade reserve until March 5 and the next day were under fire for the first time, with two men being killed by shrapnel shells and two more succumbing to wounds. They were: Privates Leslie Bowman, 9764 (age 18); John Comrie, 18028; James Croft, 9426; and George Shea, 9743, all buried within Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, France.

Our Pte. Kelly was assigned to “D” Company commanded by Captain George Crowther Ryerson and in a platoon commanded by Lieutenant J.K. Cronyn, both scions of famous Canadian families. Captain Ryerson was to soon lose his life in the first Gas Attack – April 23, 1915 at the Battle of 2^nd Ypres, in which the 3^rd Battalion and specifically “C” and “D” companies suffered horrendous losses. Lieutenant Cronyn was severely wounded in the same battle. Pte. Kelly seems to have survived this infamous battle unscathed – one of the few! However, Stanley was not so lucky a few weeks later when the 3^rd Battalion again were thrust into battle at the Battle of Festubert, May 15-25, 1915, part of the British action against the Germans entrenched on the Aubers Ridge. Although the battle had supposedly ended on May 25, the 3^rd Battalion were according to their War Diary in trenches in Festubert continuously from May 23 until May 27 with severe German artillery bombardments each day. It was here on May 27 Pte. Kelly was “buried in a trench” as a result of a shell burst. He suffered “shock” and was sent to the Divisional rest station. The dead of the 3^rd Battalion on May 27 included Lt. A.G. Eddis, Pte. E. Cooper #9653, Pte. M. Lightheart #63563, Pte. W. Scales #63793, Pte. H. Wand #63906, and Pte. A. Gunning #10034. Canadian losses in this battle were 2,468 including 661 dead. It appears Pte. Kelly participated a few weeks later in the Second Battle of Givency, June 15^th-16^th, 1915 when the 3^rd Battalion lost 115 men, killed and wounded. The War Diaries for the 3^rd Battalion are located here. My grandfather, Cpl. John Cody #63207 also survived these battles as a member of the 3^rd Battalion, only to be captured by the Germans on October 30, 1915 spending the remainder of the war as a German Prisoner of War. 

On October 25, 1915, Pte Kelly was sent to Moore Barracks Hospital, Shorncliffe January, 1917 and  Bearwood Hospital February, 1917 where it appears he spent the balance of the war. He was treated for Influenza in November, 1918 at Bushy Park hospital and for Pneumonia while at Ramsgate in 1916.

Pte. Stanley Kelly was sent to the Discharge Center in Rhyl,Wales February 2, 1919 and returned to Canada from England in the Spring of 1919. He was discharged from the Canadian Army in Toronto on June 5, 1919 as “medically unfit”. 

From the Kelly Family Tree Book at the Fenelon Falls Library 

“Charles Kelly (1862-1934): a Blacksmith in Fenelon Falls, ON, married Lizzie B. McKillan. His first wife died in 1890 and Charles married Jane Fry and had four children born between 1892 and 1899: 1. Livingstone “Charles” Kelly; 2. Irene E. Kelly; 3. John “Stanley” Kelly; 4. Alice “Marie” Kelly. The names of the three eldest children are set out on the headstone with their parents in the Fenelon Falls Cemetery, Fenelon Falls, Ontario. The 1901 Census records Charles, a Blacksmith, residing in Fenelon Falls with his wife Jane and children L. Charles age 8, I Liz age 7, S. John age 5 and Mary age 2. John Stanley Kelly served in the army in World War I, signing the attestation paper on September 22, 1914. He died in 1981 and is buried with his parents in Fenelon Falls Cemetery”.

Although there are numerous photos of other branches of the large Kelly family, unfortunately there are no pictures as yet to be found of any members of his family.  

The authors of the book are as follows: Ruth (Kelly) Taylor – address and telephone given are out-dated and Marlene (Kelly) Gilchrist,, 25 Fitton Heights, Orillia,ON L3V 4M7 (705) 329-2552 gilX@rogers.com address and telephone still current according to the Internet – not sure about Internet address, this information is four years old. 

There is in the Maryboro Lodge The Fenelon Falls Museum, an invoice on Charles Kelly’s stationary dated January 10, 1895, to William Abbott, owner of the Maryboro Lodge, for a total of $5.65 for services rendered. Charles Kelly was Stanley’s father and the village General Blacksmith. The family lived on Francis Street West, according to the 1901 census. 

There is a brown, wooden framed, brush metal plaque  in a showcase within the Fenelon Falls Legion, with few names of World War I Fenelon Falls soldiers. Jackie Walter believes the plaque may have come from the basement of Red Rock School or Blythe School. Pte. Stanley Kelly is the first name listed on the plaque. The other names on the plaque are: Lieutenant Norval Bucknam, MM; Captain G.C. Graham; Private Richard Lodge; Private F.B. Varcoe; Private Thomas MacDiarmid; Private W.R. Hopkins; 2^nd Lt. V.A. Stewart; Private A.R. Rutherford and Private M.A. Campbell, MM. 
 

Stanley Kelly never married and apparently spent his entire life after the war in Fenelon Falls. His parents were Charles Kelly and Charles 2^nd wife, Jane Fry. Born in Victoria County July 27, 1897 as John Stanley Kelly. There is an article undated in the Fenelon Falls Gazette circa 1915 “Pte. S.J. Kelly wounded. Mr. Charles Kelly on Tuesday of this week received news that Pte. S.J. Kelly was wounded”.

 

Stanley Kelly died in Fenelon Falls in 1981 at the age of 84. He lied about his age on joining the 3^rd Battalion giving his year of birth as 1895 however all official records record his year of birth as 1897. He is buried with his sister, Irene, his brother Livingston Charles, his father, Charles Kelly and the two wives of his father, in the Fenelon Falls Cemetery family plot, with a substantial gravestone. 

Others Soldiers from Fenelon falls, as named by Jackie Walter, include: Pte. James A. McDiarmid #725562; Pte. Richard Lodge #3036438; Pte. John Menzies #725581; Pte. John Joseph Jones #725619; L/Cpl Lawrence Irwin #725531; Pte. David Lyle #724724237; Pte. Russell G. Heard #725599; and Pte. Lewis E. Taylor #725540. 

Most of these soldiers enlisted in the 109^th (Victoria & Haliburton) Battalion, based in Lindsay, ON. This Battalion embarked Canada from the Port of Halifax on July 23, 1916 on the S.S. Olympic (sister ship to the Titanic). Several were transferred in England to the 21^st (Eastern Ontario) Battalion, serving in the front lines in France and being wounded in the war.  

Mrs. Jackie Walter, an executive with the Fenelon Falls Legion and town historian, has kindly helped me with the profile on Pte. Stanley J. Kelly, as well as supplying me with the names of other men who may possibly be buried in the town cemetery. jwalter@i-zoom.net

MUCH TOO YOUNG TO FIGHT AND DIE

MUCH TOO YOUNG TO DIE!

The Boys of the 3^rd Battalion who made the Supreme Sacrifice

With the recent release of the fine book, OLD ENOUGH TO FIGHT, Canada’s Boy Soldiers in the First World War, Dan Black and John Boileau, Lorimer & Co. Toronto, 2013, I was prompted to research and document some of the boy soldiers that enlisted, made it to the front lines and were killed while in the service of the 3^rd (Toronto) Battalion. It was not my intention to investigate the reasons behind the soldiers enlisting or the methods used in reached the trenches of France and Belgium. Rather I simply wanted to acknowledge the contributions made by these young men in making the supreme sacrifice. As my research over the years has introduced me to a number of young men that also survived the war, I decided to include some of these boys as well. I am not for a moment suggesting that the following soldiers represent the only under aged soldiers to serve in the 3^rd Battalion. However I am acquainted with each one of these young men be the either by the act of photographing his headstone, possessing his medals at some point of time, or having read about their service during the course of research at some point in the past. The young men that perished are listed
in chronological order while the ones that survived the war are to found found in alphabetical order.The age range for enrolment in the CEF was 18-45. This was consistent with King's Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Militia (1910) para 243. However, KR&O 1910 para 246 also allowed boys of good character to enlist in the militia from 14-17 (or in special cases 13) as bandsmen, trumpeters, buglers or drummers with the consent of their parents or guardians. Since militia officers or units did most of the recruiting, I can understand why minors would be enlisted. Men could not be sent overseas from England unless they were 19 years old or 18 1/2 in 1918. This was a British policy which applied to CEF units in England. Canadian regulations were finally harmonized with the British policy in 1918. A Young Soldiers' Battalion was established in 1916 to hold minors until they were 19 although others were held by the CAMC Training Depot. In February 1917, the 5th Division had over 900 juveniles on strength. To some extent these were theoretical limitations. The degree to which they were followed depended on the unit and how closely the draft was checked before leaving for the continent. Desmond Morton in his book "When Your Number's Up" noted the youngest soldier was ten years old when he enlisted. Unfortunately, he did not provide a source or a name. The youngest verified enlistment that I know of was 258572 William Henry Hugh Hutchinson (also Hutchison) who was born 15 January 1904 and enlisted in the 211th Battalion 23 June 1916. A medical board

Barnardo's House, 1908, 214 Farley Ave., Toronto

recommended 1 December 1916 that he be discharged as underage but he managed to make his way to England and then to France where he served nine months with the 8th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops before his mother (and the CEF) caught up to him. Hutchinson later served with the Canadian Garrison Regiment in 1919. He died in Vancouver 23 November 1969. There are a number of claims regarding underage soldiers who died during the First War, but most of these claims cannot be confirmed. A case in point is 282721 Private W.H. Shortliffe who died 2 September 1918. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, he was 14 when he died. However, his attestation paper states that he was born in January 1894, a date consistent with information from the 1911 Census. This may be the man referred to in a TV program. According to the CWGC registers, there were 385 soldiers aged 15-17 who died during the First World War: age 15 (14) age 16 (75) and age 17 (296). Since most CWGC entries do not provide age on death, there were probably many more - perhaps as many as a thousand. If 18 year olds are included, then the total is 1,412. A problem with this topic is the definition of 'underage'. King's Regulations for the Canadian Militia allowed boys as young as 13 to enlist with the consent of their parent or guardian. However, reinforcements could not be posted to France from England until they were 19 (changed in 18 1/2 in the spring of 1918). Thus a man could be of age in Canada but underage the moment he set foot in England. Enlistment ages also conflicted with the school leaving age which in Ontario, for example, was 14 at which point the child was free to enter the work force. If the factory, why not the CEF? The policy regarding minors took some time be developed, but from July 1917 onwards, all boys under 17 were returned to Canada, those aged 17 to 18 1/2 were posted to the Boys Battalion at Bexhill and those who were 18 1/2 were retained by reserve battalions until they reached the age of 19. Evidently, this issue became a problem in France when requests were made to send back men who were claimed to be underage. I have seen a return from the 34th Boys Battalion in December 1916 that reported 803 juveniles on strength with seven under the age of 14." Evidently, this issue became a problem in France when requests were made to send back men who were claimed to be underage. This is a snippet from the Diary of the Canadian Section of the 3rd Echelon at General Headquarters:

Valley Military Cemetery, Vis-rn-Artois, France

"Canadian Section G.H.Q.3/Rd Echelon
Rouen
1917 August 7
(3) THE POLICY WITH REGARD TO THE WITHDRAWAL OF MINORS FROM THE LINE.
In future the date of birth shown on the Attestation paper will govern,
and the necessary action to withdraw the minor from the firing line will be taken
only on production of documentary evidence in one of the following forms :
i. Birth Certificate.
ii. Sworn declaration by parents before a Notary Public.
iii. The Declaration of a Clergyman or a Priest before a responsible
party.
If the boy is shown to be under eighteen years of age he is to be
returned to England. - If between the ages of 18 and 19 to be sent to an

Army School. On attaining the age of nineteen to be sent to his Base
Depot to rejoin Unit."

The narrative above was a compilation taken from the CEF Study Group Forum www.cefresearch.ca threads on underage soldiers authored for the most part by Western graduate student, Richard Holt or “stonetown”. I have included this because I felt it best explains the legalities of the enlisting of young Canadian soldiers.Despite the forgoing age restrictions and limitation, Tim Cook, World War One historian at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, estimates that out of the 424,589 who served overseas in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, as many as twenty thousand underage soldiers made it to Europe, and another several thousand never got to leave Canada. Boy soldiers have been fighting for various causes since the beginning of time. Indeed they (as well as girl soldiers) are still fighting. I believe their reason for enlisting or trying to enlist may have origins different than from those who enlisted of legal age. I think that perhaps “peer pressure” may have played an important part, like the fellows that enlisted from the community of Humber Bay. Humber Bay was a very small community situated in south-east Etobicoke, north of the Lakeshore in today’s City of Toronto, being primarily settled about 1900. Most of the settlers from England were gardeners and farmers that cultivated and divided small plots of land into market gardens raising and selling vegetables and flowers. The children all went to the same school and grew up together as “family”. Thus we have friends in the Reeves Brothers, Arnold Winger and Walter Riches all trying to enlist about the same time. Of course a sense of adventure and a chance to earn a working man’s pay were motivations as well. However it is doubtful a sense of moral obligation to the home country and family, as their fathers may have had. The Barnardo organization and other organizations like Fegan Boys, in England, were active in sending boys and girls to Canada, who were disadvantaged, orphaned, work house and work school tenants. Many worked long and hard hours and were not treated well on the farms they were sent to across Canada. Many enlisted to esccape the hard conditions.

Ploegsteert Woods Military Cemetery, Flanders

It is said the the Barnardo boys sent 6211 to the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Some 531 were killed in action, including young Privates William Edward Tricker and Sidney Currie, in the 3^rd Battalion. When the 3^rd Battalion was form at Camp Valcartier in September, 1914, most of the draughts from the Queen’s Own Rifles, 10^th Royal Grenadiers and the Governor Generals Body Guards were comprised of veteran militia men, many with years experience either in Canada or the United Kingdom. Thus few could be considered “underage”. I found a number of these fellows were eighteen at the time of enlistment but were either weeded out in England or “of age” by the time they served in the trenches. That does not mean there were not any, only that I didn’t locate any. However underage recruits began to arrive as soon as the first major reinforcements for the 3^rd Battalion arrived at the front lines on May 5, 1915, from the 23^rd Battalion and soon after, from Toronto’s 35^th Battalion.

The topic of Boy soldiers has been researched in great detail, both in Britain and here in Canada. As a result a great new book was recently published: OLD ENOUGH TO FIGHT, Canada’s Boy Soldiers With the First World War, Dan Black & John Boileau, James Lorimer & Co, Toronto, 1913.

The following young men, with the exception of the final five, lost their lives while fighting with the 3^rd (Toronto) Battalion, CEF in the trenches of France and Belgium. The majority of the attestation papers do not have the correct birth year. I have checked www.ancestry.ca both censuses and birth records to ascertain the correct age. When a soldier was killed, I show the age at death. Otherwise age at enlistment is shown.  The last five either fought with the “Dirty Third” or, in the case of Cedric Reeves, had a brother and friend that were killed in the 3^rd Battalion. Private Stephenson is included because I knew of him and his original attempt to enlist in the 234^th (Peel) Battalion which fed a substantial draft to the 3^rd Battalion, including Privates William Tricker and old friend from Passchendaele, Sydney Churchward.

Private Sidney Currie, 63199 – Born August 7, 1897 in Camberwell, London, England to parents Oswald and Elizabeth Currie. Oswald was a “Pianist” in the 1901 Census, living at 78 Harris Street, Camberwell. They also had children Charles Lee (10), Malcolm (7), Grace (6) as well as Sidney (3). That same year, Sidney and older sister, Grace, at shown as students in Southampton Street School, ending 1903. In 1903, we see Sidney Currie and his older brother, Malcolm sent to Canada as member of a group of 194 youths Barnardo Children on the S.S. Dominion Liverpool to Quebec, destined for Barnardo Homes in Toronto. No record of either boy until Sidney enlists in Montreal’s 23rd Battalion, November 27, 1914. He listed his birth year as 1895 and occupation as “labourer”. Sidney was included as one of 237 reinforcements from the 23rd Battalion in England sent to the 3rd Battalion (along with my Grandfather John Cody #63207) arriving May 3, 1915 as they were in reserve outside of Ypres. Died of wounds July 3, 1915 at No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance and buried in Maple Leaf Cemetery, La Romarin, France. Age 17. An on-line Inquiry search found:    I am trying to locate any members of Owald CURRIE's (b.c1867) family He was blind fron the age of 3 due to Scarlet Fever. He went to a Blind School, married in c1893 to Elizabeth ? she was a widow with one child Charles Lee b.c1890. They had 3 children by 1901, Malcolm, Grace and Sydney and there may have been others. Oswald was son of Oswald CURRIE b. c1845, he was a Naval Sailor, his wife was Rach(a)el SHADBOLT. They married in 1865 and by 1861 Rachel was a widow. As well as Oswald they had a daughter Kate b. 1871 who married a Raphael HUDSON. The family all lived in the Camberwell area for most of their lives. Any help to find them or descendants would be gratefully received. Thank-you

Private Arnold Edward Winger, 404241 – Born October 26, 1896 in Jarvis, Ontario. Enlisted April 5, 1915 in the 35th Battalion, Toronto, ON. He listed his mother, Edith Jane (Nash) Winger, as his next of kin. Father was Edward. Occupation listed as a gardener in Humber Bay, ON and an active militia member. At age 18, he stood 5’5”, with black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion. He had the tattoo of a flag and two hands on his left forearm. Eight scars on the small of his back, He was a Baptist. Private Winger was included in the early 1st Reinforcing Draft 250 men of the 35th Battalion.  They departed from Montreal on June 4, 1915 on S.S. Metagama meaning that Arnold and many of his comrades received only very minimum training after enlisting and sailing for England. Young Private Winger was one of a large draft sent to the 3rd Battalion in the field on July 17, 1915. Arnold was “Killed in Action” September 23, 1915 while in the trenches in Ploegsteert Woods with the 3rd Battalion. Buried in Ploegsteert Woods Military Cemetery. Age 18.   Private Harry Sherman Pope, 457399 – Born July 15, 1900 Smith Falls, Lanark County, Ontario, young Harry was baptised in the Congregational Church, Danville, Quebec in 1903. Father Alfred and mother, Catherine, I believe were Francophone, despite having an Anglo surname. Harry was the older brother to Frederic and Adeline with the family living 2555 Mance Street, Montreal early 1915. Working as a “plumber”, he joined the 60th (Victoria Rifles), “D” Company on June 15, 1915. Private Pope was in the 1st Reinforcing Draft that sailed August 27, 1915 frm Montreal on the S.S. Scandinavian. On arrival at Shorncliffe this draft was absorbed by the 23rd Reserve Battalion on September 6, 1915. Private Pope was then transferred to the 3rd Battalion reaching that unit on December 12, 1915 in the field. His service record states “Killed in Action, bullet in the head, died on reaching Advance dressing Station of No.2 C.F.A.” in the trenches north of Wulverghem January 8, 1916. He is buried in Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium.  We can see that the young man spent only 31 days in the service of the 3rd Battalion. Age 15.    Private Wilfred William Payne, 171670 – According to his attestation papers, Wilfred Payne joined the 83rd (Queen’s Own) Battalion in Toronto April 11, 1915. Although he listed being born in 1897, subsequent investigation (1901 and 1911 Census) has revealed that he was actually born in 1900 in Stourport, England. He immigrated May 1912 to Canada with mother Agnes on the SS Virginian Liverpool/Quebec to join his father showing his age as 12. In the 3rd Battalion attack on Regina Trench, Somme on October 8, 1916, Private Payne was reported as “missing” later to be listed as “killed in action. The Commonwealth War Graves Register states “A careful search near le Sars failed to discover the grave. His name and regt. particulars have been included on a Memorial Cross No. 22 which has been erected in Adanac Military Cemetery Memorial Plot Row B”. His name is also inscribed on the Canadian Vimy Memorial. Age 16.   Private William Harold Burleigh, 172103  – Born June 23, 1897 in Palmerston, ON , William Burleigh was living in his Grandparents home with mother Florence and other family member in the 1901 Census in Palmerston. Then Private Burleigh has remained elusive until he show up with his attestation paper on August 21, 1915 in Toronto with the 83rd (Queen’s Own Rifles) Overseas Battalion. He listed his occupation as stenographer, single status, ahe 18 years, 2 months and his mother Florence with an address in Rothsay, ON as his next of kin. The 83rd Battalion departed Halifax on the S.S. Olympic April 28, 1916 and arrived West Sandling Camp, England. (a very early draught of 3 officers and 250 other ranks left Canada September 25, 1915) The battalion was absorbed by the 12th Reserve Battalion with large draughts headed to the 3rd, 4th and 4th CMR Battalions.  A large draught of 83rd soldiers was sent to the 3rd Battalion in the field after their disastrous losses in June 1916 at Mount Sorrel. Private William Harold Burleigh was another young soldier lost by the “Dirty Third” on October 8, 1916 from their attack on Regina Trench, in the Somme. He is one of the few identified and buried within Adanac Military Cemetery, Somme, France. Age 19.   Private Russell Lewis Collingridge, 292182  – He was born July 3, 1900 in Guelph, ON to Louis and Margaret Collingridge. There were a number of siblings but only Percy Joseph #285301, 220th Battalion, born in 1899 also enlisted. At some point the family moved to 70 Northcote Avenue, Toronto. Young Russell attested into Toronto’s 95th (Queens Own Rifles) Battalion listing his occupation as a butcher wagon driver and his birth date as July 28, 1995. The 95th Battalion  embarked on the S.S. Olympic from Halifax for England on May 31, 1916. It had strength of 36 officers and 1061 other ranks. On arrival in Shorncliffe, England the 95th was broken up late June for reinforcements for the 1st, 3rd, 75th and 4th CMR Battalions after the Battle of Mount Sorrel. At some point our Private Collingridge were taken on service with the 3rd Battalion, possibly before his 16th birthday. He was a victim of the 3rd and 4th Battalions’ attack on the Quadrilateral and Regina trenches in the Somme on October 8, 1916. In this battle, the 3rd Battalion lost 13 officers and 326 other ranks out of a total of 15 officers and 481 other ranks. Private Russell Lewis Collingeridge was one of only 31 men, along with fellow under age soldier William Burleigh, whose remains were identified and given an identifiable burial. He was buried in Adanac Military Cemetery, Somme, France. Age 16. Private William Edward Tricker, 1024315  – He was born January 18, 1900 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England to Edgar William and Sarah Elizabeth Tricker. In the 1901 Census, the young family is residing in St. Margaret, Suffolk with William having an older sister, Alice, age 2. However in the 1911 Census, William, age 11, is found as an inmate in the St. John Workhouse and School for Boys and Girls, Ipswich with no mention made of the others in his family. We next find 15 year old William E. Tricker as one of a party of 105 young men on the S.S. Corsican leaving Liverpool destined July 1914 for Barnardo Homes in Toronto, ON. We next find William Edward Tricker enlisting in the 234th (Peel) Overseas Battalion September 6, 1916 in West Toronto’s Ravina Barracks with a service number of 1024315. He lists his address as “Alton, ON” a small rural community south of Orangeville and occupation as “Farmer”. His next of kin, unlike most other Home Children who list their employers, is his mother, Mrs. Tricker of Ipswich, England. This incomplete battalion (279 ranks, 15 officers) embarked from Halifax on the S.S. Scandinavian  April 18, 1917. On arrival in England they were taken in by the 12th Reserve Battalion April 29, 1917. Without having this man’s service record, I don’t have details of his service until November 6, 1917. On that infamous date he participated with the 3rd Battalion in their attack on Vine Cottage guarding the Goudbery Spur, a location that consisted of a number of concrete German pillboxes with concentrated machine gun fire.  Here a Victoria Cross was awarded to Corporal Colin Barron for his attacks during the attack. The 3rd Battalion suffered a total of 240 casualties during this attack of which 87 were either killed or missing, one of the latter being our young William Tricker, who is thought to possibility be one of several unarmed 3rd Battalion soldiers interred in New British Passchendale Military Cemetery, within a couple of hundred yards from Vine Cottage Farm. I believe he is lying next to ex Toronto policeman Sydney Churchward, also from the 234rd Battalion and the familiar soldier with three gold teeth. Private William Tricker’s name is perpetuated on the Menin Gate Memorial, in Ypres. Age 17. Private Harry John Barrett, 237647 – Born March 31, 1900 in Peterborough, Huntingshire, England to William and Ellen Barrett. The family are shown in the 1901 Census Living in Fletton, Huntingshire with Harry (1), William (2) and Emily (10) as well as the parents. However in 1905, the entire family immigrated (Toronto Beavers) Battalion, Harry John listed his birth date as 1898, marital status single and working as a labourer. However in 1905 the family immigrated to Canada settling in East Toronto, living at 38 Bastedo Avenue. William Barrett, Sr. Died March 27, 1908 in Toronto. Ellen later remarried to a Mr. Attwood. On attesting into Toronto’s 204th (Toronto Beavers) April 26, 1916, The 204th departed for England on March 28, 1917 from Halifax on the S.S.Saxonia. They were absorbed by the 2nd Reserve Battalion, East Sandling,  on arrival, eventually most of the 204th Battalion ended up in Toronto 3rd or 75th Battalions in France. Private Harry John Barrett was transferred to the 3rd Battalion April 17, 1917. Wounded with a GSW right shoulder July 29, 1917, No. 22 General Hospital. Returned to action August 22, 1917. Treated 41 days May, 1918 for V.D. with loss of pay. Returned to duty June 6, 1918. Private William Barrett was “Killed In Action” August 30, 1918 in the 3rd Battalion’s attack on Orix Trench, near Drury. He is buried in a mass grave in picturesque Valley Cemetery, Vis-en-Artois, France. Age 18.   Private Samuel Harry Chickegian, 2393367 – Little is known about either Samuel Chickegian or his family, other than what is entered on his attestation papers his and service record. Supposedly born April 18, 1899 in Arek, Armenian (present day Turkey), he listed his occupation as “soda dispenser”. It is highly probable he was born much later, possibly in 1903. Height was 5’ 3’, weight was 114 pounds. A naturalized Canadian, It appears he was serving with the Service Battalion, Canadian Defence Force, Toronto’s 48th  Highlanders when he attested June 5, 1917 into the newly formed 1st Depot Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment. He listed his mother, Lucile, as next of kin, living at 128 Alfred Street, Toronto. Father was John. However in subsequent documents in the service file, the family is living in a number of addresses in both St. Catharines and Brantford, ON. On October 18, 1917, Samuel was admitted to Base Hospital, Toronto for removal of a “sebaceous cyst” being discharged October 22. He arrived in England in a draft on the S.S. Scotian December 7, 1917 and was immediately assigned to the 5th Reserve Battalion, Sandling then on February 15, 1918 to the 12th Reserve Battalion in Witley. April 8, 1918 Private Chickegian was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, in the field in France arriving at this unit April 28. There are no other notations in his service file until noted as “Killed In Action” September 2, 1918.  Buried in Ontario British Cemetery, Sains-le-Marquion, France. Age 15. Under Aged Soldiers From The 3rd Battalion and Others That Survived The War (in alphabetical order): Francel, Archie                  #851114               16           Born 1901            Born USA. Sent home ex France, disch 1918 Frost, Charles                    #63344                  15           Born 1900            Disch after 1 year, 3 months, Reenlisted Redman, Russell               #427880               16           Born 1900            Spent most of service being treated for VD Reeves, Thomas               #136500               18           Born 1899            KIA Brother Cedric Reeves #10069  3rd Bn Riches, Walter                   #285136               17           Born 1899            Served in France. Humber Bay   Stephenson, Kenneth      #2499687             18           Born 1900            KIA. Enlisted  #1024446, under wt &  height Thomas, Sherman            #9255                    17         Born 1897           Mohawk native. Wounded Festubert 1915

SOME LOST SOLDIERS OF VICTORIA & HALIBURTON COUNTIES, ONTARIO

VICTORIA COUNTY’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE WAR OF THE NATIONS

 

Some time ago I blogged on a soldier in the 3^rd Battalion for which I possessed a medal grouping, who came from the Town of Fenelon Falls, As we had a summer home outside of Omemee, I became acquainted with the names on the Omemee Cenotaph which led me to the Halifax Memorial and an aboriginal soldier who perished in the Halifax Explosion (Adam Sandy). I have added to and embellished the list provided in the book County of Victoria Centennial History Watson Kirkconnell, 1921, 1967 (Revised), Lindsay.

 

Canada, as part of the British Empire, became involved August 4, 1914. A First Contingent of 33,000 men was mobilized at Valcartier, near Quebec, and sailed for England on the 3rd of October. This prompt achievement was chiefly due to the personal energy of the Minister of Militia, Sir Sam Hughes, Of Lindsay.

With the First Contingent went a detachment of 75 men from Victoria County under Lieut. Col. F.H. Hopkins, Lieut. Walter Kirkconnell, Lieut. W.W. Wilson, and Lieut. George Weeks.

The Second and subsequent Canadian Contingents did not cross to England intact. The volunteer system was practiced until June, 1917, and yielded 450,000 enlistments. The government then enforced conscription and secured 100,000 more recruits. 

The chief contributions of Victoria County after the First Contingent had left were to the 21st, 39th, 109th, and 252nd Battalions. “F” Company of the 21^st Battalion, (Second Contingent) contained 110 local men. The 39th Battalion had a somewhat smaller number. The 109th Battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. J.J.H. Fee, was actually mobilized in Lindsay and reached a strength of 1050 in the spring of 1916. The 252nd Battalion, under Lt. Col. J.J. Glass, was not so successful, for it was organized in the lean days when voluntary enlistment was petering out. Many other Victoria County boys enlisted in units elsewhere so that the rolls of the local units would not be at all representative. An authoritative list of all who enlisted from this county could easily be compiled but would violate the proportions of a brief history of this sort. 

VICTORIA COUNTY SOLDIERS DEAD 

It has been thought wise, however, to include the following list of over 200 heroes from this county who gave their lives for the cause of righteousness. The basis of this record is a list which I have prepared from the official files of the Patriotic Fund, which included all cases where the soldier had designated Victoria County as the home of his next-of-kin. To this definite nucleus I have added many names, gleaned from miscellaneous sources, of those who once claimed this county as their home but had been transplanted elsewhere prior to enlistment. The list is as follows:
 

Adam, Charles, 434640, Cpl., 50^th Bn.,19/11/1016, Lindsay?

Aldous,Thomas G., #725507,Pte.,38^th Bn., 09/04/1917,Fenelon Falls.

Alldred, Wilbert P., #725527, 38^th L/Cpl., 27/03/1918, Bobcaygeon.

Allen, John, #724001, RSM, 124^th Bn., 09/08/1918, Lindsay.

Allin, Elton Culbert, Lt., 44^th Bn., 203^rd Bn.,09/05/1917, Lindsay.

Alton, William Richard,#3036781,Pte.,1^st E.O.R.,25/08/1918,Victoria Road.

Arscott, Thomas Albert, #724687, Pte., 20^th Bn.,09/04/1917, Bobcaygeon.

Akister, George W., #427822, Pte., 28^th Bn., 15/09/1916, Fenelon Falls.

Anderson, William Kay, Lt., RFC, 07/01/1918, Lindsay.

Andrews, Harry William, #724700, Private, 20^th Bn.,09/08/1917,Lindsay.

Angiers, Patrick Herbert, #726136,Private,38^th Bn., 21/07/1918, Coboconk.

Arnold, Oliver Samuel, #104111, Private,116^th Bn.,22/08/1917,Mariposa Tp.

Bailey, Joseph Panet(M.M.), #145742, Lt., 38^th Bn., 02/09/1918, Lindsay.

Bailey, William Edward, #725612, Pte., 20^th Bn.,13/08/1918, Bexley.

Barge, Alfred Arthur, #455260, Private, 2^nd Bn., 27/09/1918, Mariposa Tp.

Barjarow, Tracy E., #724520, 18, Pte., 38^th Bn., 09/04/1917, Coboconk.

Barjarow, Stanley E., #724519, 19, Pte., 38^th Bn.,27/06/1917, Coboconk.

Bateman, Russell Albert, #139522,Pte., 3^rd Bn., 06/11/1917, Kirkfield.

Beecroft, Harvey T., #475768, Lt.,7^th Coy.CMGC,08/10/1916, Fenelon Falls.

Bester, Robert, #724532, 20^th Bn., Pte., 26/12/1917, Omemee.

Bird, Benjamin, #100993, Pte., 49^th Bn., 15/09/1916, Haliburton.

Bishop, Arthur, #636302, Pte., 2^nd Bn., 03/05/1917, Haliburton.

Bole, Clarence H.,#3059962, Pte., 6^th(Reserve) Bn.,14/10/1918, Woodville.

Boucher, William David, #745335, Pte., 2^nd Bn., 04/05/1917, Mariposa Tp.

Boyd, Thornton B., #475786, Pte., P.P.C.L.I., 05/06/1916, Bobcaygeon.

Brady, Thomas Edward, #59090, Pte., 34^th Coy., CFC, 08/10/1918, Lindsay.

Brimmell, Albert M.,#540316, Pte.,C.C.Cylist, 04/09/1917, Little Britain.

Brooks, Edwin Arthur, #57984, Pte., 20^th Bn., 15/09/1916, Bobcaygeon.

Brown, Harry W., #226353, Pte., 10^thBn.,VICTORIA CROSS,17/08/1917 Omemee.

Budd, James John, #726089, Pte., 20^th Bn., 11/11/1917, Burnt River.

Byng, George, #59126, Pte., 21^st Bn., 12/10/1918, Bobcaygeon.

Cameron, Alexander, #800131, Pte., 15^th Bn., 16/08/1917, Lindsay.

Campbell, Alexander, #895492, L/Cpl., 50^th Bn., 27/09/1918, Cameron.

Campbell, John, #724729, Cpl., No CWGC record, Woodville.

Campbell, William Ross, #724664, Pte., 20^th Bn.,08/05/1917, Argyle.

Campbell, Russell A.,#502, Spr.,6^th Field Coy.,CE.,15/11/1915, Kirkfield.

Carew, Robert, #1087011, Pte., 15^th Bn., 06/11/1917, Burnt River.

Carnochan, William, #1087289, Pte., 21^st Bn., 13/05/1918, Haliburton.

Chambers, Allister, #2129026, Pte., 8^th Bn., 02/10/1918, Cambray.

Castle, George John, #724679, Pte., 124^th Bn

Clare, Stephen Joseph, #487651, Pte., No CWGC record, Mariposa Tp.

Copp, Charles, Pte., Unknown, Mariposa Tp.

Cornforth, Sydney Charles, #477197, Sgt.,RCR, 11/04/1917, Lindsay.

Cotey, Earle, #454608, Pte., 38^th Bn., 02/03/1917, Lindsay.

Cragg, Russell Alexander, #109282, Pte., 4^th CMR, 02/06/1916, Lindsay.

Crarey, Russell, #3057627, Pte., 21^st Bn., 11/10/1918, Kirkfield.

Cundal, William J., #21225, Cpl., 4^th Bn., 09/07/1916, Cameron.

Cunnings, William James, Pte., #907468, 5^th Bn., 28/04/1917, Oakwood.

Curry, Albert George, #726005,

Curry, Andrew James, #726004,

Curry, Frederick, Capt., 2^nd Bn.,

Curry, Russell Samuel, #726092, Pte., 20^th Bn., 09/08/1917, Haliburton.

Curtin, Patrick, Pte., #447907, 50^th Bn., 01/11/1916, Lindsay.

Cuthbert, Samuel, Pte., #724740, Canadian Pioneers,18/10/1917, Lindsay.

Dark, Percy Stoate, Pte., #59235, 18, 21^st Bn., 12/06/1916, Lindsay.

Dawson, Alfred Simmonds, #3031460, Pte., 20^th Bn., 10/11/1918, Kinmount.

Dawson, Hector, Pte., #412796, 14^th Bn., 22/10/1915, Kinmount.

Day, Richard James, #454221, 47, Pte., 2^nd Bn., 09/09/1916, Norland.

Daynes, Duncan Morrison, #412700, Pte.,13^th Bn.,13/06/1916,  Eldon Stn.

Denison, Francis Turquand, Pte., #624551,27^th Bn.,27/08/1917, Eldon Stn.

Donaldson, Robert J., #725569, Pte., 20^th Bn., 10/11/1917, Fenelon Falls.

Elliott, Walter Waldron, #412456, L/Sgt., 25^th Bn., 30/09/1916, Lindsay.

Faulkner, Roy, #4020572, Pte., 2^nd Bn., 31/08/1918, Coboconk.

Ferguson, James W., #1087029, L/Cpl, 21^st Bn., 27/08/1918, Valentia.

Fitzgerald,John James, #724248, Pte., 124^th Bn., 14/12/1916, Head Lake.

Fortier, Nelson, #412978, Pte., 13^th Bn., 27/10/1917, Lindsay.

Foster, John, Pte., Infantry, No Record, Mariposa Tp.

Freeman, Benjamin, #745309, Pte.,3^rd Bn., 05/11/1917, Mariposa Tp.

Fry, Henry, Pte., Infantry, Mariposa Tp.

Garbutt, Sarah Ellen, Nursing Sister, C.A.N.S., 20/08/1917, Lindsay.

Gifford, Victor R.,#5094, Driver, 1^st Field Coy.,C.E.,07/09/1916 Lindsay.

Gillies, Hector, #782190, Pte., 46^th Bn.,26/08/1918, Lindsay.

Gosselin,Alphonse,#3056618,Pte.,E.O.R.6^th Res.Bn.,08/10/1918 Downeyville.

Gray, John Wilford, #887042, 14^th Bn.,Pte., 04/03/1917, Lindsay.

Gregory, Richard, #726015, Pte., 21^st Bn., 29/11/1916, Haliburton.

Grinstead, William George, #8716, Manchester Rgt.,29/10/1914, Valencia.

Groves, Robert, #724293, Pioneer, 124^th Bn., 25/12/1917, Burnt River.

Goldie, Eric James (Grace), #2303,3^rd Bn.,London Rgt.,28/11/1915 Lindsay.

Glendenning, Stanley, Cdt, 1AG Sqn Royal Air Force,17/07/1918,Sunderland.

Gallagher, W. N., Lieut., Infantry, No CWGC record, Omemee.

Hall, Arnold Rossiter, #512313, Pte.,C.E., 07/09/1918,Lindsay.

Hall, Geo. Carlton, #725217, Pte., 38^th Bn.,28/06/1917, Cambray.

Halliday, Adam Sydney, #3059715, Pte., E.O.R., 22/10/1919, Fenelon Falls.

Hancock, Armour Ellington, #454174, Pte.,459^th Coy., 20/11/1918, Lindsay.

Harper, William, #724580, Sergeant,124^th Pioneer Bn.,28/03/1918, Lindsay.

Hartwick, Herbert,#26662, Spr, 5th Bn. CRT, 11/01/1919, Lindsay.

Hill, Joseph Leslie, #455255, 21^st Bn., Pte.,30/09/1916, Bobcaygeon.

Hill, William Albert, #725555, Pte., 21^st Bn.,03/11/1917, Bobcaygeon.

Holliday, Herbert A., #310621, Gunner, 9^th Br.CFA, 25/07/1916, Coboconk.

Hopkins, Fred Holmes, Lieut.-Col., 17^th Bn., 30/01/1916, Lindsay.

Horton, Thomas, #1100006, Pte., CFC, 15/05/1917, Kinmount.

Howe, John. C., #724601, Pte., 20^th Bn., 15/08/1917, Lindsay.

Howe, Joseph, #724036, Pte., 2^nd Bn., 09/08/1918, Haliburton.

Hughes, Wesley, #724057, Pte.,38^th Bn.,27/06/1917, Burnt River.

Irwin, Norman, #166352, Cpl.,2^nd Cdn Pioneer Bn., 22/10/1918, Lindsay.

Jackson, Charles Edward, #724726, Private, No CWGC record, Lindsay.

Jackson, Reginald. G., #724755, 38^th, Bn., 11/08/1917, Private, Lindsay.

Jeffers, Frank Alfred, Pte., Infantry, NO RECORD, Little Britain.

Johnston, John Arthur, #724685, L/Cpl., 21^st.Bn.,15/08/1917, Bobcaygeon.

Johnson, Reginald, Pte., Infantry, No CWGC record, Lindsay.

Johnson, Martin, Pte., Infantry, No CWGC record, Fenelon Falls.

Johnston, Willard, #799144, Pte.,15^th Bn.,25/08/1917, Lindsay.

Johnston, William Russell, #201200, Pte., 3^rd Bn., 05/05/1917, Lindsay.

Junkin, Irvine, #3056342, Pte., 2^nd Bn., 27/09/1918, Bobcaygeon.

Junkin, Percy John, #725589, Pte., 21^st Bn., 20/11/1916, Bobcaygeon.

Kent, William Gordon, #1027027, Pte., 75^th Bn.,28/10/1918, Lindsay.

King, Henry William, #724682,Pte.,124^th Pioneer Bn.,08/11/1917 Head Lake.

Kinghorn, John, #669238, Pte., 3^rd Bn., 08/10/1916, Woodville.

Kirkconnell, Walter Allison, Lt.,14^th Bn., 08/08/1918, Lindsay.

Kylie, Edward J., Captain, 147^th Bn., 04/05/1916, Lindsay.

Kirton, Albert Edward, #157614, Gunner, CFA, 03/09/1918, Mariposa Tp.

Kirton, William, #745403, Pte., 2^nd Bn., 21/03/1918, Mariposa Tp.

Knowlson, Henry Athan, #2765189, Pte., No CWGC record, Lindsay.

Lanning, Percy,H. #59565, Pte., 21^st Bn., 27/11/1915, Mariposa, Tp.

Leach, Albert Kenneth, #724246, Pte., 21^st. Bn.,07/05/1918, Lindsay.
LeBel, Joseph Francis, #412780, Pte., 20^th Bn.,17/11/1915, Lindsay.

Lee, George Herbert, #724122, Pte., 21^st Bn., 10/04/1917, Woodville.

Lee, William George,,#724138, Pte., 21^st Bn., 17/01/1917, Woodville.

Lennie, Lewis Frederick, #412703, CASC Amm.Sub Park, 14/07/1916, Lindsay.

Liscombe, Edward R., #724160, Pte., 21^st Bn., 15/08/1917, Coboconk.

Logan, George, #724255, Pte., 21^st Bn., 09/04/1917, Haliburton.

Lyle, Wilbert Merle, #725587, Gunner,6^th Bde.CFA, 22/12/1917, Bobcaygeon.

Lyon, Edwin Percy, #461230, Pte., 44^th Bn., 16/02/1917, Little Britain.

Lynwood, William John (Linwood), No CWGC record

Mark, Robert Henry, #724272, Pte., 38^th Bn., 03/11/1917, Cameron.

Matthews, Alfred Joseph, Captain, 27^th Bn., 26/02/1916, Lindsay.

Metcalfe, Charles N., #724183, Pte.,2^ndBn CMGC,15/08/1918, Fenelon Falls.

Miller, Charles Albert, #7762, Pte., 2^nd Bn., 05/06/1915, Lindsay.

Miller, Joseph John, #2304413, Pte., P.P.C.L.I., 19/08/1918, Kinmount.

Mills, Frederick Howard, #116146, Sgt., 2^nd CMR, 08/08/1918, Argyle.

Mitchell Douglas Gordon,MM, #8627, Sgt.,2^nd Bn.,11/04/1917, Lindsay.

Mitchell, Thomas Henry, #3060570,Pte.,E.O.R., 11/07/1918, Little Britain.

Morrison, William James, #724239, Pte., 20^th Bn.,14/05/1917, Lindsay.

Murray, Albert, #412787, Pte., 14^th Bn., 15/10/1915, Valentia.

Murtha, James, #183989, Pte., 31^st Bn., 27/09/1916, Lindsay.

McDonald, Alexander,

McDonald, Kenneth,

McDonnell, Edward, #402903, Pte., 13^th Bn., 27/09/1918, Lindsay

McDougall, Russell Hugh, #725536,109^th Bn.,No CWGC record, Fenelon Falls.

McEachern, Malcolm, #725598, Pte, 21^st Bn., 17/01/1917, Woodville.

McFadyen, Henry Lorne,DCM, #730710, Pte., 18^th Bn., 10/11/1917, Cambray.

McGann, Joseph Patrick, #724562, L/Cpl.,44^th Bn.,09/09/1917, Downieville.

McGill, Ivan Elmer, #59718, Pte., 21^st Bn., 08/04/1916, Lindsay.

McGinnis, Sidney, #725078, Pte., 20^th Bn., 03/06/1918, Lindsay.

McGuire, James Patrick, #59723, 21^st Bn., 26/08/1918, Kinmount.

McInnis, D., No CWGC record.

McInnis, Charles Howard,MM,#724261,L/Cpl.,21^st Bn.,11/10/1918,Lorneville

McKay, Robert,, No CWGC record.

McMurray, George, #724589, Pte., 38^th Bn., 09/04/1917, Lorneville.

McMillan, William Duncan, #410837, Pte., 38^th Bn., 27/03/1918, Lindsay.

McNutt, Wm. Geo. Stanley,#464603, Pte., 54^th Bn., 25/10/1916, Bobcaygeon.

Naismith, James, #410158, Pte., 38^th Bn., No CWGC record.

Naylor, John Denby, #725568, Pte., 20^th Bn., 10/05/1917, Cameron.

Newell, Alfred Charles, No CWGC record.

Northey, Melville, #725567, Pte., 21^st. Bn., 09/11/1917, Bobcaygeon.

Owens, Hillary Pomery, #745452, Pte., 3^rd Bn., 19/08/1917, Woodville.

Oxby, William Edward, #853763, Pte., 19^th Bn., 28/08/1918, Dalton.

Padden, Herbert, No CWGC record.

Parkes, Cleveland Adair, #725077, Pte., 38^th Bn., 09/04/1917, Lindsay.

Parkin, Whyt Burnett, #141515, Pte., 24^th Bn., 06/11/1917, Lindsay.

Parks, Alvin Morse, #454075, Pte., R.C.R., 08/10/1916, Lindsay?

Patton, Neil Smith, #724125, Pte., 75^th Bn., 30/09/1918, Lindsay.

Peters, William Claude, #814787, Pte., 19^th Bn., 25/03/1917, Lindsay?

Poast, Roy Irvine, #475311, Pte., P.P.C.L.I., 18/07/1916, Omemee.

Pollitt, George, #725015, Pte., 38^th Bn., 09/04/1917, Omemee.

Reeves, Robert, #724049, Pte., 20^th Bn., 08/08/1918, Lindsay?

Robinson, William Morris, #410606, 38^th Bn., 08/11/1917, Lindsay?

Rogers, Garfield Redman, Lt.,11^th Bde., CFA, 21/04/1917, Oakwood.

Rushton, William Stanley, #760688, Pte., 7^th Bn., 15/08/1917, Kirkfield.

Russell, Victor, #745169, Pte., 19^th Bn., 08/08/1918, Oakwood.

Ryall, George, #725050, Pte., 20^th Bn., 27/11/1917, Little Britain.

Rooke, Edwin Martin, #304309, Sgt., 2^nd Bde., CFA, 13/06/1916, Lindsay?

Sandiland, James Thomas, #454184, L/Cpl.,26^th Bn., 17/09/1916, Kirkfield.

Saville, George, #412867, Pte., 13^th Bn., 17/11/1915, Oakwood.

Scott, Alexander McKay, Lt., 21^st Bn., 11/10/1918, Gelert.

Scott, Walter Henry, #145284, Sgt., 38^th Bn., 19/11/1916, Lindsay.

Scott, John Ernest, #725130, Pte., 2^nd Bn., 18/08/1917, Little Britain.

Selby, Thomas Ralph, #725546, Pte., 21^st Bn., 09/05/1917, Bobcaygeon.

Shankland, John Wilfred, #725524, Pte.,20^th Bn.,09/11/1917,Fenelon Falls.

Shaw, William Leslie, #409307, Pte., 31^st Bn., 06/11/1917, Lindsay.

Shea, James Edward, #80228, Pte., 38^th Bn., 24/08/1915, Lindsay.

Silverthorn, Howard Wesley, #725609, Pte., 21^st Bn.,01/05/1917, Bolsover.

Smith, Edward, #724705, Pte., 109^th Alberta Regt., 17/10/1917, Lindsay.

Stewart,Robert, Unknown.

Stinson, Charles Howard, #725549, Pte.,21^st Bn.,09/05/1917,Fenelon Falls.

Stinson, William Norman, #2692622, Pte.,2^nd Bn.,CGR, 05/11/1918, Lindsay.

Sumner, John Cooper, #724075, Pte., 20^th Bn., 09/04/1917, Seagrave.

Swardfager, Frederick, #111591, Pte., 4^th CMR, 02/06/1916, Lindsay.

Sutcliffe, Charles Elliott, Major, 77^th Bn., 06/06/1917, Lindsay.

Swayze, David Alexander, #74321, Cdt., RFC, 06/10/1917, Lindsay.

Swayze, William Keith, Lt., RFC, 26/02/1920, Lindsay.

Taggart, Gordon, #725559, Pte., 21^st Bn., 27/12/1917, Fenelon Falls.

Tamlin, Melville Edgar,, #3059964, 6^th Reserve Bn., 24/10/1918, Cambray.

Taylor, William Edward, #3060923, 1^st Bn, EOR, 27/10/1918, Victoria Road.

Tough, Archable Russell, #724575, Pte., 20^th Bn., 09/04/1917, Kirkfield.

Trevor, Foster, #412999, Pte., 20^th Bn., 15/09/1916, Lindsay.

Trevor, Ralph, #454318, Pte., 24^th Bn., 17/09/1917, Lindsay.

Trott, Joseph, #724050, Pte., 20^th Bn., 14/04/1917, Lindsay.

Tripp, James Albert, #725600, Pte., 21^st Bn., 09/05/1917, Bobcaygeon.

Truax, Charles Roy, #3059739,Pte.,6^th Reserve Bn.,30/10/1918, Coboconk.

Truax, Peter, #348028, Dvr, CFA, 8^th Brigade, 21/05/1918, Coboconk.

Vickery, Orville Wilson, L.-Cpl.,#725058, 20^th Bn.,28/08/1918, Lindsay.

Valentine, William, #724131, Pte., 38^th Bn., 26/03/1917, Miner’s Bay.

Watson, Thomas M., Pte., #724055, 20^th Bn., 08/04/1917, Mariposa Tp.

Watt, Donald, #811931, Pte., 8^th Bn.,08/08/1918, Haliburton.

Weeks, Clarence G., Lieut., MC, #724021, 75^th Bn., 22/08/1918, Lindsay.

Wheeler, Charles, Pte., #453150, 2^nd Bn., MG, 03/06/1916, Lindsay.

Whetter, Fred Freeman, Pte., #745500,166^th Bn., 01/07/1917, Woodville.

White, Joseph, Sergeant, #725123, 44^th Bn.,28/09/1918, Lindsay.

Whitney, Joseph W., Pte., #1097051, 21^st Bn., 12/08/1918, Burnt River.

Williams, Arthur James, Major, RCR, 15/08/1916, Lindsay.

Wilson, Robert T., Pte., #745220, 18^th Bn., 05/01/1917, Mariposa Tp.

Winchester, John, Pte.,#424257, 21^st Bn., 15/08/1917, Lindsay.

Wright, James M., Sapper, #754977, 13^th CLR, 30/01/1918,  Bobcaygeon.

Wilson, Bruce, Flight Commander, Royal Air Force, 01/11/1918, Lindsay.

Wilson, William Webster., Capt., Cdn Signal Corps,09/10/1916, Lindsay.

SOME UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATIONS

Almost 50% of these men were original 109th Battalion enlistees. I found a disaportionate number of these men were of Scottish heritage. Probably no surprise since Much of Victoria County, especially the western areas was settled by Scots. The occupation of the lost soldiers was by far, listed as "farmer' followed by "lumberman". Although I did not keep written track of the ages, the average age would have been certainly in the early twenties. From previous research, there were a number of under age soldiers - most of the youngest were held back and added to the roster of the 252nd Battalion. However a large number of 18 years olds from the 109th Battalion made it to the trenches. This list is by no means considered final. The remaining names for which no information could be found or are indeterminate can be may mean the names have been mispelled at source, they served in British Forces, their deaths came after the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cut-off in 1921 or any number of other reasons. I would certainly appreciate hearing about any errors and/or ommissions.