Pte. James Logan 4022006

Pte. James Logan

1^st Eastern Ontario Depot Battalion    Regimental Number 4022006

James Leo Logan was born on September 15, 1897, in Dummer Township, Ontario to parents Patrick and Anna (Collins) Logan.  He was the youngest of seven children in this big Irish family that farmed in Dummer.

He was living and farming in Norwood at the time of being called to Peterborough for a medical examination under the Military Service Act.  He reported there on November 21^st 1917.  James was 20 years old, single and had no previous military experience.  He listed his religion as Roman Catholic.  His height was recorded as 5 feet five inches tall and weight as 125 pounds.  He was characterized as having a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.  His examiner noted a scar on his right elbow.  He was considered fit for service overseas and given an A.2 rating.

James returned home and was not required to report for duty until May 9^th 1918.  On this date he traveled to the military training centre at Barriefield, Ontario and presented himself for duty with the 1^st Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment.  Records indicate that James only stayed there a day before being released on furlough, most likely on the assumption that he could best support the war effort by immediately returning home to farm rather than training at Barriefield.

James returned to Barriefield a second time on November 11^th 1917, when his crops would have been finished being harvested. He trained there for the remainder of the year.   James was described as showing good character while he was there up to the date of June 26^th 1918.  At this time he was reported “Illegally Absent” from the camp.  By July 14^th, having not yet returned to duty, he was labelled a deserter.

Records show that James Logan was located by military authorities after the end of the War.  He was transferred to the 3^rd Detachment of the Canadian Garrison Regiment in Kingston on February 13^th 1919, most likely to serve out some form of service due to his desertion the previous year.  Gordon’s military service file indicates that he may have served three months in the Garrison Regiment before being released on May 14^th 1919.

James returned to farming in Norwood after the War.  At age 36, he married Olive Mary Colby in neighboring Havelock in 1932.

Sources

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Year: 1901; Census Place: Dummer, Peterborough (east/est), Ontario; Page: 1; Family No: 3.

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Year: 1911; Census Place: 20 - Dummer, Peterborough East, Ontario; Page: 9; Family No: 89.

Library and Archives Canada. Sixth Census of Canada, 1921. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Dummer (Township), Peterborough East, Ontario; Page Number: 3.

Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Series: MS 932; Reel: 974

Canada. "Military Service File of James Leo Logan." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 5714-15. Item Number 535421.