A/Cpl. George H. Thompson 257856 1st Depot Bn, Machine Gun Depot

 Acting Corporal George H. Thompson

1^st Depot Battalion Saskatchewan Regiment/ Canadian Machine Gun Depot

Regimental Number 257856

George Harold Thompson was born on October 29^th, 1893 in Warsaw, Ontario. He was the son of Richard Thompson.

George was living in Zelandia, Saskatchewan and working as a telegraphist when he was called to report to Saskatoon, under the Military Service Acton October 27^th, 1917.  There he was examined by medical authorities and deemed category A.2 and fit to serve overseas.  He was not immediately called into service, but returned home until being ordered report to the Canadian Forces training camp at Regina on the 22nd of January 1918.

At Regina, George signed attestation papers joining the 1^st Depot Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment.  He was 24 years of age, stood 5’3inches tall and weighed 129 pounds. He was described as having a fresh complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair. He was a Methodist and had no previous military experience.  He listed his Father, Richard Thompson as his next of kin.

Transferred to 205^th Battalion, at the Machine Gun Depot in Hamilton, Ontario on March 13^th 1918.  He would train with them until being ordered overseas on June 17^th.

George sailed from Halifax on August 4^th and arrived safely in England 11 days later.    He was immediately posted to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot at Seaford Camp, where he was promoted to acting corporal on May 28^th. He would remain in England until the end of the war.

On February 4^th, Thompson was admitted to the hospital complaining of severe headache and pains in back and legs.  He would spend the rest of the month recovering from influenza.  Having fully recovered, he was discharged to duty on February 25^th.

Acting Corporal Thompson was struck off strength from the Canadian Machine Gun Depot on July 29^th 1919 and posted to the Canadian Camp at Witley to await demobilization. H sailed to Canada aboard the H.M.T. Catonia on August 9^th 1919.  He was later discharged on August 19^th 1919 in Toronto, at which time he returned to Warsaw, Ontario

Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of George Harold Thompson." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9636-0. Item Number 264176.

Pte. Maxwell Tucker 195766 93rd Bn

 

Pte. Maxwell Tucker

93rd Battalion

Regimental Number 195766

Maxwell Howard Tucker was born on October 8^th, 1894 in Dummer Township, Ontario. He was the son of John Tucker.

Maxwell was living in Warsaw Township and working as a farmer when he enlisted into the 93^rd Peterboro Battalion, on February 18^th 1916.  He was 21 years old, stood 5 feet, five inches tall and weighed 121 pounds.  He was described as having a fresh complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.  He was unmarried, Presbyterian, and had no previous military experience. 

Having been found healthy and fit for overseas service, Maxwell joined the 93^rd Battalion training in Peterborough for the next three months while they continued to recruit up to strength.  By the end of May, the battalion moved to the Canadian Forces training camp at Barriefield, Kingston.

Tucker embarked with the 93rd from Halifax on July 15^th 1916 aboard the S.S. Empress of Britain, arriving safely in Liverpool 10 days later.  Upon arriving, the 93^rd was sent to West Sandling Camp, Tucker however spent his first month in British hospitals having contracted measles during the voyage across the Atlantic.    

After sufficiently recovering from measles, Tucker was admitted to the Westcliffe Eye and Ear hospital on August 26^th with ear trouble.  His bout with the measles had aggravated a previous ear problem resulting in a diagnosis of suppurative otitis media, a condition characterized by deafness in both ears.  Testing indicated that Tucker could only hear a voice from a distance of 12 feet out of his right ear and 5 feet from his left.  He was considered unfit for further military service, as it was thought that a return to civil life might slightly improve his condition.

Tucker was discharged after 20 days at Westcliffe on September 13^th and posted to the 39th Reserve battalion at West Sandling Camp.  At this point in time the 39^th was home to a large portion of old comrades of 93^rd Battalion, which had been broken up shortly after arriving in England.   

Tucker remained at West Sandling for less than a month, before he received orders to proceed to Canada on October 6^th 1916.  He boarded the S.S. Mauretania and made his way to the Discharge Supply Depot in Quebec where he was discharged on November 10^th.

Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of Maxwell Howard Tucker." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9810-26. Item Number 283548.

Sgt. Robert John Webster 145058 Canadian Forestry Corps.

 

Sgt. Robert J. Webster
77^th Battalion/136^th Battalion/Canadian Forestry Corps.
Regimental Number 145058

Robert John Webster was born on March 26^th, 1895 in Warsaw, Ontario. He was the son of Thomas Webster and Mary Anne Finnie.   

As a young man, Robert enlisted and served for several years in the U.S. Army, seeing action in both the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Rebellion (1899-1902).  By 1901, Robert was back in Dummer Township, living with his parents and siblings on their farm.  On October 10, 1906, Robert married Effie McGowan in Hastings, Ontario, and they would later make their home in nearby Lakefield, Ontario at 6 Reid Street. 

Robert was residing with Effie and his four children in Lakefield, when he enlisted in the 77^th Battalion in Rockcliffe, Ottawa, Ontario on September 14^th 1915.  Webster was 41 years old at the time and listed his 7 years of previous military experience, and that he was a Wesleyan.   Robert stood 6 feet tall, sported a fresh complexion, gray eyes and light brown hair.  After being inspected by a medical board, he was declared fit for overseas service.

Little is recorded of Robert’s time with the 77^th Battalion or why he enlisted with an Ottawa area battalion rather than one recruiting closer to home.  The answer to this might be that the 77^th recruited Webster for his experience.  For though he entered the battalion with the rank of private, he was very quickly promoted (within 2 days) to the rank of Master Sergeant within a couple of days and to Company Sergeant Major by the end of October. Webster’s extensive experience in soldiering and military routine while in the United States Army, would have been essential for this position, which was the senior non-commissioned officer, largely responsible for administration, standards and discipline for the entire battalion. 

Webster served with the 77^th until February 1^st 1916, at which time he was transferred to the 136^th “Durham” Battalion.  He would continue to serve as the Company Sergeant Major in that battalion, until it sailed for overseas on September 25^th. 

Upon arriving in England, Webster and his battalion were placed in West Sandling Camp, where it became apparent that, like many other Canadian battalions, they would be broken up and their ranks used to reinforce the battalions already fighting at the front.  As was common practice, Robert reverted his rank to Private at his own request when he was transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion stationed at Shoreham, England on October 6^th.

After a little over a month with the 39^th, Robert was then assigned to the 37^th Battalion and taken on command with the 1^st Canadian Training Battalion at Hastings on December 17^th and then to the 1^st Canadian Labour Battalion a day later.  As this move coincided with a promotion to Acting Sergeant, it is likely that he was assuming a role of training troops during this time.   

Another month would pass before Webster would proceed to France with the 1^st Canadian Labour Battalion on January 9^th, 1917.  This battalion was, as its name implies, predominantly used to provide manpower to the Engineers in the construction of railway lines, road building, tunneling, trench work, excavations, etc., freeing up the younger more fit men to serve on the front.  He arrived in La Havre on January 9^th, 1917. 

By mid-February Webster was back in England, his service file shows that he was taken on strength to the 2^nd Canadian Convalescent Depot at Hastings, though this was likely as a service role as there is no records showing that he was wounded or ill during this time. He transferred to the 3^rd Canadian Casualty Depot at St. Leonard’s on June 14^th.

Webster’s next move came on September 18^th when he was attached to the
Eastern Ontario Regiment.   A week later he transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps at Sunningdale Camp, Berkshire.  Acting Sergeant Webster would return to France, this time with the 78^th Company of the Canadian Forestry Corp on October 1917.  He served in this capacity for the remainder of the war until returning to England in December of 1918.

He sailed for Canada on May 2, 1919.  Webster later returned to Lakefield and returned to his role as Chief of police.

Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of Robert John Webster." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 10194 - 33. Item Number 623061.

John Robert Webster. Lakefield War Veterans [webpage]. https://lakefieldwarvets.ca/webster-robert-john/.  Accessed December 12 2021.

Henry Wheeler 3058865 1st Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regt.

 

Pte. Henry Wheeler

1^st Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment

Regimental Number 3058865

Henry Wheeler was born in Dummer Township on February 5^th, 1896.

Henry was living in Warsaw and employed as a farmer when he was called to report to Barriefield Camp, Kingston under the Military Service Act on May 9^th, 1918. 

Henry made his way to the Canadian Forces training camp at Barriefield and underwent a medical examination which rated him category “E” and unfit for military service. Wilson had brought with him a diagnosis from his village Physician, Dr. Munroe, stating that he suffered from epilepsy.  The medical officials at Barriefield also noted chronic eczema.   Wheeler was 21 years of age, stood 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighed 134 pounds and sported a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair.

Henry Wheler was struck of strength on May 10^th and returned to Warsaw, officially having served one day in the military.

Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of Henry Wheeler." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 10268-16. Item Number 310688.

 

Private Cecil Wellington Wilson 195834 93rd Battalion/ Canadian Forestry Corps.

 

Pte. Cecil Wellington Wilson

93^rd Peterboro Battalion

Regimental Number 195834

Cecil Wellington Wilson was born on December 21^st, 1898 in Warsaw, Ontario. He was the son of Thomas and Patience Wilson.   

 Cecil was living in Warsaw and working as a chauffeur when enlisted in Peterborough Ontario with the 93^rd Battalion on March 23^rd 1916.  He was 17 years old, stood 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed124 pounds.  He was described as having a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and light brown hair.  He had no previous military experience, was single and his religion was Methodist.  He was examined by medical officials and listed as fit for overseas service. 

 Cecil was given the rank of private and trained with 11^th platoon, C Company, 93^rd battalion in Peterborough as it continued to recruit.  When the battalion reached its 1000 man capacity it left the city in late May 1916 for the Canadian training camp at Barriefield, Kingston.   After nearly two months training Cecil and the 93rd entrained and headed east to Halifax where they boarded the S.S. Empress of Britain on July 15^th.  In a lengthy letter home, later published in in the Peterborough Evening Examiner, Wilson gave a description of the journey overseas:

“We left Kingston on the12th of July at 8 o’clock at night and landed in Halifax on Saturday and we got on the boat on Saturday night and sailed on Sunday. We were on the train all the way till we got to a little French town. I could not tell the name of it, for it was a French name, and I can’t talk French yet, but I expect to before I come back. We got out and had a route march around the village and then we got on the train again and went on till we came to Moncton and they took us out for another route march. They had two bands there to meet us and the bands led us around town. I would think that it was only as half as big as Peterborough.
Say when we were at Brockville we stopped there for about 15 or 20 minutes and the station was just jammed with girls to bid s goodbye.  When we were coming though Quebec we saw a farmer shaking hay and cutting it with oxen and it looked too odd for anything- the first time I ever saw oxen used on a far. We had a route march around Halifax on Saturday before dinner and it is the dirtiest place I ever saw for the size of it, and the streets are as crooked as a dog’s hind leg, and it seems to be built on the side of a hill. There are two boats with us: one named the Lapland. She has a load of troops and we have a war vessel to guard us.  It is called the Drake. I got pictures of both of them. We have over four thousand soldiers on board our ship.   There is the 93^rd, the 106^th and the 105^th, and two batteries. The battery that Bessie Longsdales’s brother is in is on this boat with us. I have seen him every day. The boat we are on is called the Empress of Britain. I have two pictures of it and I am sending them to you. How did Ada get along with her entrance? Did she get through or not?  How is George getting along?  It is just dark now and I thought I would write a little bit more to this letter. The submarine destroyers have just come to meet us before we cross the Irish Sea. There are lots of them. I will send you a snapshot of them as soon as I get them developed. There has not been any out of our battalion seasick yet.  I have not been sick or don’t intend to. We sleep in hammocks. We hook them to hooks in the ceiling and they are all right to sleep in. well, I have reached our camp grounds, but we are nothing to stay there long. It is just an inspection camp and we are going to move to Shorncliffe camp. I suppose you heard that the boat was sunk. But we got over here safe and all is well. Oh gee, but they have dandy roads over here. We landed in Liverpool on Monday night and we stayed on the boat all night. There were boats by the hundred came out for to meet us and they gave us a great reception, for they are always glad to see Canadians., and we got off the boat on Tuesday morning and got on the train. The cars are much smaller over here than they are in Canada and they go much faster. Oh, but it is funny to see women out working in the field cutting oats and stacking them, and little boys about 13 or 14 helping them, and old men that are hardly able to work out in the fields working. You don’t know what England is doing till you see it and then you would have pity on them. If some of the sore heads that are out there only saw those poor women working, taking the men’s pales, and they are fighting for their country.  Everybody cheered us when we passed, and when we were going through London. They have some lovely places in London, and we went through it, and some tunnels that the train goes through for miles. And there are aeroplanes going over our head here all the time.  But don’t think they are German, for they are English aeroplanes and they are dandies. When you are eating your supper over there we are in bed sleeping, for there are between five and six hours difference in the time. This is a good camp here. They have tents painted so that the Germans can’t see them. Well I can’t think of much more just now, but will write more the next time. Hoping that you are all well and not worrying over me for I am all right. How is little George getting along. I hope that he is all right, and how is the baby? I suppose it is growing every day. I won’t be able to see Grandma for a couple of weeks. We can get a box of cigarettes for 4 pence, that is 8c. in Canadian money. I don’t know now my right address, but this is the camp where we are at right now, and if they move why we would get it anyway, for they will forward it anyway. This is all for this time, so good-bye.  From your son Cecil.”

After making the ten day trip across the Atlantic, Cecil arrived safely in Liverpool and was then assigned to the 39^th (reserve) Battalion, then the 6^th Reserve Battalion at West Sanding Camp, before being transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps in London on February 19^th.

 Cecil proceeded to France with the Forestry Corps on March 3rd 1917.  He worked as a log setter until being appointed to the role of Mill sawyer on June 14^th 1918, a role in which he served in until the end of the war.  Wilson returned to the U.K. on January 16^th 1919 and would later sail for Canada aboard the S.S. Belgic on February 23^rd.   He was later discharged on March 2^nd on March 29^th.

Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of Cecil Wellington Wilson." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 10436-27. Item Number 316399.

Evening Examiner. “Military News Continued”. August 21 1916. P.10

 

Pte. Percy Rutherford 3057193 1st Depot Battalion

 

Pte. Percy Oliver Rutherford

1^st Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment

Regimental Number 3057193

Percy Rutherford was born on May 29^th, 1897 in Dummer Township, Ontario. He was the son of George Rutherford and Isabel Moore.  The early part of Percy’s life was spent on the family homestead in Douro.

Percy was living in Indian River Township and working as a farmer when he was called to report to Peterborough, Ontario under the Military Service Act on November 17^th, 1917 to undergo a medical examination to determine is fitness for active service overseas.  He was 20 years old at the time, stood 5 feet nine inches tall and weighed 130 pounds.  He was described as having a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair.  His religion was recovered as Presbyterian.  Doctors rated him category A.2, and fit for overseas service 

Percy likely returned to the farm to await a further call, which came on March 9^th, 1918 when he was ordered to report to the Canadian Forces training camp at Barriefield, near Kingston.  Shortly after his arrival to camp, he contracted scarlet fever and spent the next 4 months in hospital.  He was discharged to duty on the 15^th of June and then sailed for England a month later on July 7^th.

Upon arriving in England, Pte. Rutherford was placed in F Company of the 6^th Reserve battalion and stationed at Seaford.  He would train there while awaiting assignment to a fighting battalion at the front.  Rutherford would never see action as he contracted Pleurisy on October 15^th 1918 and was hospitalized for nearly 5 months before being invalided back to Canada aboard the ship Araguya.

Rutherford’s ship returned to Canada and he immediately returned to the hospital in Kingston on March 23^rd for close to 3 weeks for Pleurisy. By early April he was well enough to be granted leave and by May was fully discharged.

Rutherford would later return to the Peterborough area and marry Annie Andrews.  The couple would have two sons, Lorne and Ronald, and a daughter Gloria.  Percy Rutherford passed away on June 15^th 1943 in Peterborough, Ontario.

Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of Percy Oliver Rutherford." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8568-26. Item Number 607409.

Pte. Thomas Wilson 1036454 Canadian Forestry Battalion

 

Pte. Thomas H. Wilson
238^th Canadian Forestry Battalion,
Regimental Number 1036454

Thomas Henry Wilson was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland on June 22, 1871, to parents Joseph and Elizabeth Wilson.  He immigrated to Canada in 1882, and first settled in North Monaghan Township.   Thomas married Patience Singleton in 1894 in Hall's Glen, in the northern part of Dummer Township.  The couple lived in North Monaghan where they had two of their five children, Myrtle (1897) and Cecil (1898).  The family later moved to Dummer Township, Patience's home, where Thomas took work as a blacksmith.  It was in Dummer where three more children were born: Ada (1902), Laura (1906) and George (1909).   Thomas and his family later appear in the 1911 census as living in Harvey Township.

Thomas was living in Warsaw when he enlisted with the 238th Canadian Forestry Battalion in Peterborough on July 31st 1916.

At the time he stated that he had 32 year’s experience in blacksmithing, as well as some previous military experience with the 3rd Dragoons militia regiment.  He claimed he was 47 years old, which was at the extreme end of the age considered for overseas service.  He was married and listed his religion as the Church of England.  He stood 5 feet, 10 inches tall and had a dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.  After a quick medical inspection he was considered fit for duty.  It is also interesting to note that Thomas's son, Cecil had enlisted only four months prior with the 93rd Battalion, making them one of very few father and sons who served in the First World War at the same time.

Thomas trained for two months in Canada before sailing aboard the S.S. Scandinavian for England on September 11th 1916.  After eleven days at sea, Thomas disembarked at Liverpool, and was soon sent to France to serve as a blacksmith in the Forestry Corps.  He landed in France on the 27th of November.

Pte. Wilson served as a blacksmith for 18 months in France.  During that time his records show that he received a leave of absence of a little over two weeks, from July 21st to August 10th 1917.  It is not clear from his records where he went during this leave. 

He received another 15 day leave on February 14th 1918, this time records show that he traveled to England.  This leave takes place shortly after the death of his wife, Patience, on February 5th back in Canada.  It was during this leave that Wilson was admitted to the hospital suffering from debility.  He would spend the next three months between the hospital and the Forestry Corps Depot in England. 

During his hospital stays it was noted that Thomas's age was such that he could not continue his work in France.  He was characterized as weak, anaemic and as having defective vision.  He was recommended to return to Canada on furlough.

Thomas Wilson sailed to Canada in late May of 1918. He entered Queen's Military Hospital in Kingston on June 18th, 1918 still suffering from the same infirmities as he had in England.  He was discharged nearly two months later on August 7th.  During his discharge hearing Thomas revealed that he was really 60-65 years of age.  The board noted that he looked that age from his appearance.   Notes from the hearing also said Wilson "has been in France two years during which time he had carried on, but all the time he wasn't real fit. He complained of general weakness for the past 8 months. He returned from France Feb 14/18.  Previous to enlistment he states his vision and strength had been failing him."  Thomas was given his permanent discharge from the military and returned to Dummer.

Thomas Wilson died on April 18th, 1944 in Toronto, Canada.  His official death was listed as Cerebral Arteric Sclerosis.  It is also noted on his Circumstance of Casualty form that his death was due to service.   Because his death was officially attributed to his wartime service, his name has been added to the Douro-Dummer cenotaph.  He is buried in St. Mark's Cemetery, in Warsaw, Ontario.

 

Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of Thomas Henry Wilson." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 10477-43. Item Number 318923.

Sergt. Wellington Middleton 111617 Canadian Army Service Corps

 

Sergeant Wellington J. Middleton

8^th Canadian Mounted Rifles, Canadian Army Service Corps

Regimental Number 111617

 

Wellington “John” Middleton was born on November 1^st 1894 in Warsaw, Ontario. He was the son of William, a labourer, and Sarah (Mosser) Middleton.   
 
Wellington grew up in Dummer, but likely moved to Peterborough when he became working age.  He was working as a liveryman, when at age 20, he enlisted with “B Squadron” in the 8^th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, the second contingent of men to be raised in Peterborough during the Great War. He was described as having a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair.  He was single, and a Presbyterian.  Middleton indicated that he had four year’s previous military service with the 3^rd Prince of Wales Dragoons, a local militia unit.  He was considered fit for military service and given the rank of Private.
 
Private Middleton and his B Squadron comrades left Peterborough on March 8^th 1915 for Ottawa, where they joined close to 1,600 other recruits from various parts of Ontario to complete the 8^th Canadian Mounted Rifles battalion (CMR).  The battalion trained there for close to two months before being moved to Barriefield Camp, near Kingston.
 
At Barriefield the Mounted Rifles continued their training and would become even more familiar with the marches, drills and physical exercises that characterized the Canadian’s notion of military training in the early years of the war.  By that time, reorganization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was in progress and it was soon learned that the 8^th Canadian Mounted Rifles were to be broken up, with a majority of the men, including Wellington, to transfer to the 6^th Mounted Rifle Battalions.  This was a tough blow to the men, and one which was further exacerbated when they learned that they would not go to the front as horse-mounted cavalry, but rather as regular infantry.
 
After several months training at Barriefield, the men of the 6^th Mounted Rifles left Canada for England arriving there on September 5^th 1915.  Wellington was stationed at the Canadian Camp at Shorncliffe to await further training and posting to the front.  A bout of sickness and a stay at the hospital on October 11^th, sidelined him for a month.  Two weeks after his discharge, in mid-November, Middleton was reassigned to the Canadian Army Service Corps as a pay clerk and promoted to Acting Corporal. By the end of February 1917, he was reassigned to the Depot of Supply, most likely in a similar clerical role, and received another promotion a month later to Acting Sergeant.  The advancement in rank did not last long, as four days later he was transferred back to the Canadian Army Service Depot, reverted to the rank of Private and entered a military hospital.
 
Wellington was treated at three different hospitals over the course of four months before being discharged to the Canadian Army Service Depot training Depot.  After two months he was transferred to the Canadian Military Police and worked as a clerk at Shorncliffe Camp, as well as receiving a promotion to the rank of Acting Corporal.  Wellington fell ill again on May 13^th 1917 and entered the hospital for another three months before being posted back to his role with the Military Police in the Army Service Corps Depot on July 7^th.
 
Wellington continued to seek treatment at English hospitals throughout the summer of 1917.  One report in early July described him suffering from scabies and orchitis, an inflammation of the testicles.  The examiners noted that this condition might have been exacerbated when he was kicked by a mule while on duty with his battalion. The condition was treated, and though Wellington still reported pain and general weakness by the end of August, he was discharged to duty on September 25^th.  
 
By November 2^nd, a significant change in posting was in the works for Wellington, as he reverted in rank to Private for the purpose of joining the 129^th Company of the Canadian Forestry Corp.  This transfer was approved and a week later he joined the Forestry Battalion, most likely in a clerical role, in the camp at Inverness, Scotland. Wellington remained with the Forestry Corps for five months before returning to the Canadian Service Corps base at Shorncliffe at the end of April 1917.
 
He remained in England, until he was finally given orders to proceed overseas to France with the Army Service Corps on September 15^th, 1918.  Wellington served the remainder of the war in the Canadian Section of the 1^st Echelon General Headquarters, before being assigned to the Canadian Overseas Rail and Transport Depot on March 18^th 1919.
 
He returned to England in July, and served in various clerical postings, such as in the Motor Transport, and in the Pay, Duty, Rations, Clothing Department in the Military Hospital in Epsom, before being demobilized and shipped back to Canada on September 12^th.
 
Middleton sailed home aboard the SS Regina, and was formally discharged from service on September 23^rd, 1919.
 
Sources
Canada. "Military Service File of Wellington John Middleton." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 6158-21. Item Number 189816

2nd Cpl. Douglas Scutt 195713 93rd BN, 1st Canadian Tunneling Co.

 

2^nd Corporal Douglas Scutt

93^rd Canadian Overseas Battalion/ 

1^st Canadian Tunneling Company, Canadian Engineers

Regimental Number 195713

Douglas Leslie Donald Scutt was born in Durrey Hill, Wiltshire, England on December 17^th, 1895 to parents Robert and Esther Scutt. 

 In 1911 Douglas immigrated to Canada and eventually settled in Warsaw, Ontario.  It was from there that he enlisted into the 93^rd Peterborough Battalion on February 8^th, 1916.  He was 20 years of age and stood 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighed 157 pounds.  He was descried as having a fresh complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.  He was a member of the Church of England and had no previous military experience.  He listed his brother Claude of Wiltshire, England as his next of kin.  Douglas was declared fit for service by medical officers, though it was noted that he had defective vision on his attestation form.

 Douglas remained in the city of Peterborough while the 93^rd recruited up to strength, then left with them for Barriefield Camp near Kingston, Ontario at the end of May.   After learning the basics of soldiering at Barriefield, Douglas and his battalion entrained for Halifax in July, and left from that port on the 15^th aboard the SS Empress of Britain.  The ship  and arrived safely in Liverpool, England after 10 days at sea.

The 93^rd marched to West Sandling Camp, in Shorncliffe where they would undergo further training and await posting to the front.  Like many units the Battalion was to be broken up and its ranks used to reinforce other battalions already at the front.  As the first drafts of 93^rd men left for the front, Douglas was reassigned to the 6^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling, and later would be among the men in a draft of reinforcements to the 2^nd Infantry Battalion on January 1^st 1917.

A typical WWI mineshaft

 Scutt arrived in France and joined the 2^nd Canadian Infantry Battalion on January 14^th 1917.  He served with them for a relatively quiet month in the trenches before being assigned to the 1^st Tunneling Company, Canadian Engineers on the 5^th of February.  The Tunneling Company, as its name implies was largely occupied in digging and maintaining mineshafts that went underneath enemy lines, in which explosives could be laid.  Douglas spent the next seven months in the St. Eloi sector deep under no man’s land driving shafts underneath the German lines and avoiding their attempts at countermining.  After months of tense work underground tunneling and laying explosives under enemy positions, all the while avoiding their German counterparts attempting to do the same to them, Scutt was reassigned to the 5^th Battalion of the Canadian Engineers.  This reassignment took him from underground to regular topside routines of maintaining trench infrastructure and the transportation systems.

During this time he was promoted in rank to Lance Corporal on May 24^th 1918, and then to 2^nd Corporal on November 9^th.  The war ended 2 days later, but Corporal Scutt remained in France until April 13^th, 1919, when he was sent back to England.  Scutt Sailed back to Canada on May 10^th and was discharged 9 days later.  He returned to Warsaw after the war.

Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of Douglas Leslie Donald Scutt." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8748 - 54. Item Number 219904.

Sapper Duncan Patterson 1006554 6th Canadian Railroad Construction Bn

 

Sapper Duncan Patterson

228^th Canadian Overseas Battalion/

6^th Canadian Railroad Construction Battalion

Regimental Number 1006554

Duncan Otto Patterson was born on July 20^th, 1896 in Dummer Township.  His parents were Thomas and Margaret Patterson.   

Duncan was living in Cobalt, Ontario and working as a baker when he enlisted there with the 228^th “Northern Fusiliers” Battalion on May 30^th, 1916.  He was nearly 30 years old at the time.  He stood 5 feet, 4 inches tall and had a fair complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.  Duncan was a Baptist, unmarried and had no previous military experience.  He passed the military examination and was declared fit for service.

Duncan was granted a week’s leave at the beginning of June, most likely to get his affairs in order, before assembling with his unit in North Bay and then travelling to the Canadian Forces Training base at Camp Borden.  It was there that he learned the basics of soldiering.  The legacy of the 228^th Battalion would revolve around its hockey team, first celebrating the fact that the Northern Fusilier’s team was invited to play in the National Hockey Association, a predecessor to N.H.L., then devolving into scandal when its commanding officer appropriated teams funds and left for England in February 1917 without paying their bills.  None of this specifically involved Patterson, though he was involved in his own type of scandal, when he received a charge of 8 days of being absent without leave in October.

Patterson left Borden with the entire 228^th Battalion in early February of 1917, travelling east to St. John, New Brunswick, and then sailing for England aboard the S.S. Missanabie on the 16^th of that month.

 The 228^th Battalion arrived safely in England on February 27^th and was sent to the Canadian camp at Purfleet for training.  They were there nearly a month before the entire unit was re-designated from an infantry unit to a construction unit now known as the 6^th Canadian Railway Construction Battalion. At this time Patterson also changed rank from Private to the equivalent rank of Sapper.  The 6^th C.R.T. then proceeded to France on April 3^rd 1917 to begin the work of building and maintaining the intricate system of railways that kept the fighting men supplied at the front.  Though the position was not one of a regular combatant, it was far from safe, as the crews of the Construction battalion came under fire regularly during their work.

Duncan Patterson circa 1976

 Sapper Patterson remained with the 6^th C.R.T. for the duration of the war, leaving his unit for only a two week leave from January 30^th to February 12^th 1918.  After the fighting ceased he was transferred back to the Railway Depot in England in early January 1919 where he remained for four months awaiting transport back to Canada.  Patterson sailed to Canada on June 18^th 1919 and was discharged from military service eleven days later in Toronto.

Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of Duncan Otto Patterson." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7638 - 8. Item Number 565478.

Pte. Howard Patterson 3058870

 

Pte. Howard Patterson

1^st Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment

Regimental Number 3058870

Howard Archibald Patterson was born on March 4^th, 1897 in Warsaw, Ontario. He was the son of Archie and Martha Patterson.   The family farmed on lot 4 on the 4^th Concession of Dummer Township.

Howard was living in Warsaw and employed in farming when he was called to report to Peterborough under the Military Service Act on October 26^th, 1917.  He was 20 years old, and stood 5 feet, 5 inches tall.  Howard was described as having a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair.  Doctors noted that he had a brown birth mark above his left shoulder.  He was single, a Methodist, and had no previous military experience.  He listed his father Archie of R.R. #1 Warsaw, as his next of kin.

Though he was considered fit for service, Howard did not immediately enter service; he was called to report to the Canadian Forces base at Barriefield, Ontario for military training on May 9^th 1918.  There he learned the basics of soldiering before being transferred overseas on June 28^th 1918.  Howard boarded the troopship “City of Vienna” in Halifax and steamed for England.  The ship was just passing by the Atlantic coast when it run aground in the mist.  The entire ship was evacuated using yachts which pulled up alongside and let the soldiers and crew crawl down rope ladders.  About thirty minutes after the last men were taken off the ship, it sank.

Patterson and his comrades would make their second attempt at crossing the Atlantic on July 11^th 1918 aboard the H.M.T. Thongwa.  After an eleven day trip across the Atlantic, Pte. Patterson arrived safely in London.  He was immediately placed in the 6^th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Seaford Camp to await assignment to a fighting battalion at the front. 

Pte. Patterson remained in reserve camp in England until the fall of 1918. He fell ill with influenza and scarlet fever and was admitted to the No.14 Canadian General Hospital at Eastbourne on October 12^th 1918 for over a month before being transferred to another hospital at Bexhill on December 2^nd.  By the time he recovered sufficiently to be discharged, the war was over.

Howard Patterson returned to Canada on June 23^rd 1919.  He was formally discharged on July 4^th and returned to Norwood, Ontario.

Sources

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Year: 1901; Census Place: Dummer, Peterborough (East/est), Ontario; Page: 5; Family No: 39.
Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Year: 1911; Census Place: 21 - Dummer, Peterborough East, Ontario; Page: 5; Family No: 46
Library and Archives Canada. Sixth Census of Canada, 1921. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: RG 31; Folder Number: 81; Census Place: 81, Peterborough East, Ontario; Page Number: 3
Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Reel: 686
Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Deaths, 1944; Collection: Registrations of Deaths, 1944
Canada. "Military Service File of Howard Archibald Patterson." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7641 - 41. Item Number 565568.

Pte Arthur Hannon 3058880 6th Canadian Reserve Battalion

 Pte. Arthur Hannon

6^th Canadian Reserve Battalion     

Regimental Number 3058880

Arthur James Hannon was born on January, 18^th, 1897, in Norwood, Ontario Township, Ontario to parents Robert and Hannah (Jones) Hannon.  The family farmed on Lot 4, Concession 6 in Dummer Township.

 Art was living in Norwood and working as a farmer when he was ordered called to report to the city of Peterborough on October 20^th 1917, under the Military Service Act to undergo a medical examination to assess fitness for military service.  Art was nearly 20 years of age and single.  A small man, he stood just over 5 foot 4 inches tall and weighed 115 pounds.  He sported a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.   He was a Methodist and had no previous military service.

 Hannon passed his physical and was declared fit for service.  He went home to the farm and awaited the inevitable call that would later come on May 9^th 1918, to report for to Barrifield camp, Kingston, for military training.  Hannon arrived at the camp, but was immediately granted leave for the remainder of May, most likely to return home to plant the spring crop. 

 On June 1^st he returned to Barriefield, this time for 3 days, before again being sent home for two days, from the 4^th-6^th.  After this two delay leave, he returned to Barriefield for the remainder of June and July. During this time, Art entered Ongwanada Hospital in Kington suffering from shoulder pain.  After 6 days there he was transferred to Queen’s Hospital on July 11^th.  He told doctors that he had been kicked by a horse three years earlier, and had never had full use of his left arm ever since.  Hannon remained at the hospital for four days and after X-rays, Doctors did not find much wrong with his arm.  Even so, they suggested that an operation may see improvements.   Hannon declined and was discharged 9 days later, being described as in “perfect condition” and with the recommendation that he be allowed to return home and help with the haying.

It is unclear whether he returned home or stayed with his unit at Barriefield at this point, but the records do show that he travelled east to Halifax in early August.  He boarded the transport ship Kia Oro on August 10^th and began his voyage across the Atlantic.

 He arrived safely in England on the 25^th of August 1918 and marched to the Canadian training camp at Seaford.  There he joined the ranks of the 6^th Reserve Battalion, and awaited orders to transfer to a fighting unit already at the front.  Art would never make it to the battlefields, he remained in England until the end of the war, and soon after fell seriously ill.  He was admitted to the No.12 General Hospital in Bramshott on November 27^th for the mumps for just over two weeks.  He was only 2 months recovered when he was struck down with the Spanish Flu on the 4^th of February 1919, He spent a little over a month in hospital before being discharged. After only two months of better health, Art again entered an English hospital suffering from debility, this time spending two months in care before being discharged.

 Arthur sailed for Canada on June 23^rd 1919 and was later discharged on July 3^rd.  He returned to farm in Dummer.  

 Art Hannon Passed away in Peterborough, Ontario on April 27^th 1966.  He is buried in Norwood, Ontario.

 

Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of Arthur James Hannon McMurray." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 4024 - 1. Item Number 444549.

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Year: 1901; Census Place: Dummer, Peterborough (East/est), Ontario; Page: 6; Family No: 60.

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Year: 1911; Year: 1911; Census Place: 21 - Dummer, Peterborough East, Ontario; Page: 5; Family No: 42.