Doughty Frederick 195989

Frederick Doughty  195989

Frederick Doughty was born on May 12th 1863 in North Dummer Township to Charles and Jane Doughty. He married Phoebe Spinks of Havelock in 1889, and they had 4 children: Nina, Hazel, William and Thomas (William would later enlist in the same battalion as his father).  Between 1893-1895, the Doughty’s moved to Lot 9, in the 8^th Concession of Belmont Methuen Township and by 1901 the family resided in village of Norwood.

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Fred Doughty signed his attestation papers at the Peterborough Armouries on June 05 1916 with the 93^rd Peterboro Battalion.  At the time of enlistment he was living with his wife at 217 Townsend Street, Peterborough.  Fred Doughty was employed as a teamster and indicated that he had no previous military service.  He falsely indicated that he was 43 years of age.  He stood 5 foot 8 inches tall, weighed 134 pounds and had a fair complexion, grey eyes and grey hair.  He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was given a medical inspection on May 31 1916 by a medical officer of the 93^rd Battalion in Peterborough and declared fit for service.

The battalion sailed from Halifax for overseas on July 15 1916 and arrived in Liverpool, England 10 days later.  The 93^rd Battalion was sent to Otterpool camp for training, and there learned that its ranks were to be broken up and used to reinforcement other existing battalions at the front.  As several series of drafts of 93^rd men were sent to the front, it became clear that Fred Doughty would not join them. 

At Otterpool camp, Doughty’s true age was discovered, he was only able to complete a few days of drill and training, so was given fatigue duty and police work.  Medical officials in England noted that his true age was 53 years old and that he had been born in 1863.  As early as August 18th a Medical Board recommended that Doughty would remain on permanent base duty. In a more thorough physical examination on October 25^th 1916, a medical board made the following declaration:

Evening Examiner. 

November 25 1916. P.9.

“[Fred Doughty] enlisted as being 43 years of age. Has only drilled a few days since enlisting. Has been doing fatigue duty and police work. Boarded at Otterpool Aug. 2^nd 1916 and recommended for P.B. [permanent base] duty….Apparently 50 years older. Height 5 ft. 5in. weight 137 lbs. Man of good physical development. Is subject to rheumatism and has crushed right hand, fairly useful. Has varicose veins both legs. Cardio and resp. systems normal.”

It appears that allowances were attempted to let Doughty remain in service. Medical records state that while in England, Doughty had been previously paraded before an officer of the Canadian Forestry Corp and the Canadian Railway troops and not been selected for either.  It was also noted that he had chronic Rheumatism.

At that point Doughty was ordered home.  He arrived in Quebec on June 12 1917 where a medical board found him “of little use to the army on account of his age.”  Doughty was formerly discharged from further military service in Quebec on July 01 1917.  Records make it clear that though unfit for military service, it was clear that Fred Doughty had no disabilities and was quite capable of fulfilling his role in civilian life.

Freed Doughty returned to Peterborough where he worked as a general contractor unitl his death on May 18 1934 from a heart attack.  He is buried in Little lake Cemetery.

Sources:

Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths – 1869-1932. Toronto Canada: Archives of Ontario. MS935, 455 reels.

Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1922. Toronto, Canada. Archives of Ontario. MS932, 632 reels.

Library and Archives Canada online.  The Complete Military Service File of Frederick Doughty.  Accessed November 27 2015.  RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2618-40. <www.bac-lac.gc.ca>

Peterborough Evening Examiner. Photo: “An Interesting Group of Peterboro Soldiers Photographed In England”. November 25 1916. P.9.