Pte. Cephas Payne 3059874

Pte. Cephas Payne

1^st Eastern Ontario Depot Battalion

Regimental Number 3059874

Cephas John Payne was born in Warsaw, Ontario on May 6^th, 1900 to parents Paul and Mary Ann Payne.   The family farmed on Lot 14 on the 4^th Concession.

He was living in Essonville, Ontario and working as a farmer when he was ordered to report to Barriefield Camp, Kingston under the Military Service Act (Conscription).  Cephas arrived at Barriefield on May 16^th, 1918, joined the 1^st Depot Battalion Eastern Ontario Regiment and underwent a medical examination to ascertain his ability to serve overseas. 

Cephas was described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall and 110 pounds.  He had a medium complexion, blue eyes and dark hair.  He had no previous military experience and was a Methodist.  Cephas was found to be 18 years old at the time and rated category E as he was considered underage for military service.  Though early in the war, recruiters might have turned a blind eye to this, public outcry around young boys fighting and dying in combat had caused military authorities to be more stringent in enforcing the 19 year-old age limit during the war’s latter years.

Cephas was discharged from service the next day on May 17, having served one day in the 1^st Depot Battalion.

Sources

Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Births and Stillbirths – 1869-1913. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Series: 78 Reel: MS929; P.75.

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1891. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Census Place: Dummer, Peterborough East, Ontario; Roll: T-6363; Family No: 77

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Year: 1901; Census Place: Dummer, Peterborough (east/est), Ontario; Page: 9; Family No: 126. P.38.

Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Reel: 900.

Library and Archives Canada. Sixth Census of Canada, 1921. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: RG 31; Folder Number: 8; Census Place: Medicine Hat, Alberta; Page Number: 11

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Census Place: 19 - Dummer Township, Warsaw Village, Peterborough East, Ontario; Page: 7; Family No: 122

Canada. "Military Service File of Cephas John Payne." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7667-42. Item Number 572222.