Private Joseph Bernard Campbell

Joseph Bernard Campbell served during WW1 with the 87th battalion with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces.  He is entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His enlistment number was 145245.

He was born on December 6th, 1897 in Buckingham, Quebec

Trade : moulder       Religion : Roman Catholic     Status : single

Height : 5’8″     Eyes : brown     Hair : blond      Weight : 130 lbs

Name of his mother : Mrs A Campbell living at 53 Ottawa street, Ottawa

1901 : Canadian census taken in Buckingham, Quebec

Head : Bernard Murphy born in August of 1841

Wife : Julianna Murphy born on March 27 1854

Son : William L. Murphy born on May 6 1873

Son : Edmond Joseph Murphy born on March 10 1880

Grand son : Bernard Campbell born on December 6th 1898 (different date of birth from his attestation paper)

October 6th, 1915 : Enlisted in Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa, Ontario in the 77th battalion. He was most certainly a minor when he enlisted, this would explain the discrepancies between the birth year in the 1901 census and on his Attestion Form. He had 3 months of previous military service with the 70th battalion (Hull)

Joseph Bernard Campbell Attestion Form with the C.E.F.

June 19th,  1916 : Embarked on the SS Missanabe. Disembarked in Liverpool, England on June 28th.

July 4th : Transferred to the 87th battalion.

August 11th : Embarked for France on the Archangle. Disembarked in Havre, France on the 12th at 7:15 am. Arrived in the trenches on the 18th.

October 21th : Gun shot wound at the wrist. Wounded in the attack of Regina trenches. Hospitalized at he Graylingwell Hospital in Chichester from October 24th to November 29th. Excerpt from his medical report “Small wounds of entry, exit in wrist, no fracture palpable but wrist very stiff ….. hand smoother, temp. Normal, slight movement in fingers”

Transferred to Woodcote Park in Epsom from November 29th until January 15th, 1917

July 26th, 1918 : The attack started at 12:05 and by 12:15 Regina trench was captured. The unit was shelled early on the evening, he was wounded (shell wound left arm) and evacuated at the 7th Canadian Casualties Clearing Station.

From the war diary of the 87th battalion : “During the attack and the two following days there were 281 casualties, all ranks including all but one officer who participated in the attack”

Excerpt from Best O’Luck written by Alexander McClintock, sergeant 87th battalion : “It seemed almost certain death to start over in broad daylight, yet, as it turned out, the crossing of No man’s land was accomplished rather more easily than in our night raids. Our battalion was on the extreme right of the line and that added materially to our difficulties first by compelling the advance through mud so deep that some of our men sank to their hips in it and second by giving the hottest little spot in France to hold later.”

Hospitalized at the Mile End military Hospital from August 8th until September 25th. Transferred to Woodcote Park in Epsom from September 25th until October 30th.

Transferred to the Quebec Regiment Depot in Bramshott

February 1st : Embarked in Liverpool, England on SS Carmenia. Arrived in Halifax on February 9th.

February 28th, 1919 : Demobilised in Ottawa, Canada

August 11th : Re-enlisted in Ottawa in the Canadian Military Staff Clerk. Promoted corporal

November 11th : Promoted Sergeant

January 31st, 1920 : Demobilised

Picture of Private Joseph Bernard Campbell

An article about him in the Buckingham Newspaper

If you know more information on this gentleman, please leave me message so I can add it to his small biography.

Nursing Sister Bertha Evelyn McDonald,

Nursing Sister Bertha Evelyn McDonald served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps during WW1. She is not entitled to any military medal.

She was born on March 3rd, 1895 in Alexandria, Ontario

She was hospitalised at Laurentide Sanatorium in Sainte Agathe, Quebec from April 1^st to April 30^th, 1918.

Her enlistement papers show that she joined the CEF on September 18, 1918 in Montreal, Quebec.

Height: 5′ 4″             Weight:122 lbs.           Religion:Roman Catholic

Her address 112 Saint-Luc Street, Montreal, Quebec

She was declared medically unfit on January 6th, 1919 in Montreal, Quebec.

She was hospitalised for influenza at Montreal General Hospital in April 1919 following which was marked debility.

She was hospitalised at Sainte Anne de Bellevue Hospital from May 2^nd to June 2^nd, 1919.

She was hospitalised again at Sainte Anne de Bellevue Hospital from June 18^th to June 27^th, 1919.

She was declared medically unfit and demobilised on July 28^th, 1919.

Because she never left Canada, she did not receive any military medal for her service

In two places in her WW1 file it is stated that her military service began near May 1917 but her certificate of service date her appointing as nursing sister as September 18^th, 1918 but she was hospitalised in a military hospital before that date.

If you know more information on this lady, please leave me message so I can add it to her small biography

Inscription on her gravestone

1917-1919 C.A.M.C. – SISTER – W.W.1

IN LOVING MEMORY OF BERTHA E. MACDONALD

DAUGHTER OF DR D. D. MACDONALD

AND

CATHERINE MACDONNELL SPOUSE OF CHARLES KERR

AND OF

SCOTT E. BIRD

BORN ALEXANDRIA MAY 3 1894

DIED – OTTAWA DEC 16 1973

MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE

BLESSED ARE THEY THAT PUT

THEIR TRUST IN HIM

PSALMS 2:12

Private Charles Waterston

Private Charles Waterston served in the 238th battalion (Ottawa) in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during World War One. He is entitled to the British War Medal only. His service number was 1035101. Private Waterson serve only in United Kingdom and never went to France during the war.

According to his enlistment form he was born on February 28th, 1897 in Kemptville, Ontario but according to the 1901 Canadian Census his birth date is January 28th

Trade : printer         Religion : Roman Catholic        Status : single

Height : 5′ 5″           Eyes : blue      Hair : light brown

Weight : 137 lbs

Name of his mother : Margaret Waterston     Address : 218 Friel street, Ottawa

Information from the 1901 Canadian census (taken in Kemptville, Ontario). He wa sliving with his family in Kemptville village, lot 59 Oxford street

Charles born on January 28th, 1897

Father : Charles born in 1850          Mother : Maggie born in 1860

Sister : Martha born in 1884            Sister : Mary born in 1886

Sister : Nellie born in 1895               Sister : Rose born in 1895

Enlisted on June 26th, 1916 in the 238th battalion (Forestry Battalion) in Ottawa, Canada.

Recruitment poster for the 238 th battalion

Sailed from Halifax on September 11th, 1916 on board the S.S. Scandinavian. Arrived in Liverpool on September 1916.

Transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps on December 7th, 1916.

Received the Good Conduct Badge on June 26th, 1918.

Transferred to the 6th Reserve Battalion on October 21st.

Embarked for Canada on September 6th, 1919.

Demobilised on September 17th in Ottawa, Ontario

If you know more information on this gentleman, please leave me message so I can add it to his small biography.

Picture of Private Waterston and his British War Medal

Nursing Sister Miriam Eastman Baker

Nursing Sister Miriam Eastman Baker served as a Nursing Sister in the Canadian Army Medical Corps during WW1. She is entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

She was born on August 20^th, 1886 in London, England.

Height:5′ 5″     Weight:136 lbs.          Religion:Church of England

She graduated from Saint-Rubis Hospital, New-York in 1915

She enlisted in London, England on October 2nd, 1917.

She was posted at the 16th Canadian General Hospital on November 1st.

She was posted at the 15th Canadian General Hospital on March 14th, 1918.

She was admitted to the 15th Canadian General Hospital on August 22nd.(inflammation of the bladder)

She was discharged from the 15th Canadian General Hospital on September 3rd.

She was admitted at the 15th Canadian General Hospital on October 3rd.

She died on October 17 th, 1918 from a broncho-pneumonia at the 15th Canadian General Hospital at the age of 32.

Her Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll were sent to her brother Edwin Godfrey Phills Baker living at 500 Northern Crown Bldg, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Her British War Medal and Victory Medal were sent to her sister, Miss Doris Howard Baker, at 119 Wielmot Place Winnipeg, Manitoba

Since her mother had preceeded her no Memorial Cross was issued.

Picture of Nursing Sister Miriam Eastman Baker

Major Thomas George Buchanan, M.I.D.

Major Thomas George Buchanan served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War One. He is entitled to the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory medal. He ws Mentionned -in-Despatches and he wore the oakleaf emblem on the ribbon of his Victory Medal.

World War One trio with the Mentionned -in-Despatches oakleaf emblem (click to enlarge)

He was born on the November 20^th 1883 in Knocknarea, Magheragall, County of Antrim, Ireland. His father was Thomas Buchanan and his mother Maria Jane Watson

May 14^th, 1908: He passed Bachelor of Medicine, Surgery & Obstetrics at the Royal University of Ireland.

1911 United Kingdom Census: He is listed as single and a house surgeon at the General Infirmary, Burton on Trent, England

June 17^th, 1913: He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Field Ambulance of the North Midland Mounted Brigade

His address in the Medical Register is 275 Branstone Road, Burton-on-Trent.

Photo of Major Thomas George Buchanan (probably right after enlistment)

September 15, 1915: He Married Evelyn Kathleen Julia Macfaren Myhill at The Church of St Stephen, Norwich, Norfolk, England.

September 24^th: He transferred the Territorial Army to the Royal Army Medical Corps and promoted to the rank of Major.

October: He entered France

He served in the Middle-East and was attached to the Royal Artillery. He was probably transferred in the Middle-East in 1917

At one point he was presumed dead and his wife received a telegram to that effect. Two days later she received another telegram stating that her husband was well and alive. At some point someone told the University of Dublin that Major Buchanan had been killed in action but never got back to them that this was a mistake. The result of that, Thomas George Buchanan is listed as a casualty of war on the Remembrance Plaque in honor of the university’s students who died during WW1. In an account written by his grand-son, later in life, Mr. Buchanan was amused by that historical error.

Photo of the Memorial Plaque at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution

June 20th, 1916: His daughter Suzanne was born

September 25^th: He was Mentioned-in-Despatches for a first time

Early October 1917: The British launched a campaign to seize the Palestinian Territory from the Ottoman Empire that ended in the capture of Gaza (November) and Jerusalem on December 9^th.

June 14^th, 1918: He was Mentioned-in-Despatches for a second time by General Allenby

July 21^st: He was relinquished his temporary rank of Major

August: The British launched one last effort in the Middle-East culminating with the capitulation of the Ottoman Empire on October 30^th.

December 9^th: He relinquished his rank of Major.

September 12^th, 1920: His daughter Ida Buchanan was born on that day

August 31^st, 1922: He applied for his medals

June 1924: He bought his first farm (Banyyards Hall Farm in Bunwell) at auction

July 7^th, 1925: He was appointed Medical Officer to Ministry of Pensions. In 1940 he was the Assistant-Director.

August 1926: He bought his second farm at auction (Freehold Glebe Lands in Bunwell). His brother Henry was his Partner in this farming business.

July 1948: He bought his house Holly Lodge in Norfolk.

September: He sold his Banyards Hall Farm in Bunwell

February 1950: He bought at auction the Blofield House in Blofield

July 1951: He bought at auction his second house, Mametz, in Blofield, Brundall

December 23^rd: His brother Henry died. He probably had to sell his farming business which he co-owned with and manage with Henry.

January 18^th, 1967: His wife died at Postwick House, Postwick, Norwich, England

1970: He bought the Oak Lodge, at 122 Norwich Road, Wroxham, Norwich

Photo of Thomas George Buchanan

June 17^th, 1976: He died caused by a hemopericardium. He was living at 122 Norwich Road Wroxham, Norwich, Norfolk.

If you know more information on this gentleman, please leave me message so I can add it to his small biography.

Private Jack Wilson

Private Jack Wilson served in the 24th battalion Canadian Expeditionary Forces during World War One. He is entitled to the British war medal and Victory Medal.

Born on June 18th 1898 in Reserve Mines, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Trade : labourer          Religion : Roman Catholic          Status : single

Height : 5′ 9″                Eyes : brown                                  Hair : black

Weight : 160 lbs

Name of his father : William Wilson                       Address : New Waterford, Cape Breton

December 6th, 1915 : Enlisted in the 69th battalion (Montreal) in St John, New Brunswick

January 19th, 1916: Declared a deserter by a Court of Inquiry. February 9th, 1916 he was sentenced to 24 days forfeit pays and 28 days detention for absence from 22:00 January 16^th until 18:00 February 8^th.

April 17th: Embarked for England. Arrived in England on April 27th.

July 5^th : 28 days forfeit pay for drunkenness, using obscene language and breaking camp rules.

August 17^th : Drafted in the 24^th battalion

September 9^th : Gun shot wounds at the left shoulder during the battle of the Somme. Discharged from Hospital on November 11^th.

February 1917 : Attached to the 3^rd  Canadian Command Depot

April 23rd: Trialed under the accusation “While on active duty absenting himself without a leave in that “ at St Leonard on Sea, Sussex at 10:30 April 1st, 1917 while under arrest he illegally absented himself until he surrendered himself at 9:00 pm same date. Sentenced to 28 days imprisonment (14 days were remitted)

June 6^th : Sentenced to 18 months hard labour for absence without a leave

August 28^th : Made his will, he left everything to his father.

September 2^nd : Left England for France

January 2^nd, 1918 : 7 days forfeit pays for absence from parade from 7:45 December 28^th,  until 13:00 December 28^th.

February 20th: 6 days forfeit pays for absence without a leave from 14:00 February 11th until 23:15 February 11^th.

April 3rd: 4 days forfeit pay for absence without a leave from 20:30 March 23rd, until 9:30 March 24th.

April 4^th : Trench fever. Discharged from hospital on April 12^th.

August 8^th : Hospitalized for gun shot wounds with fracture of the tibia at the 2^nd Canadian Stationary Hospital. Discharged from hospital on December 18^th.

January 14th: 3 days forfeit pay for absence without a leave from late January 2nd until 22:00 h January 3rd.

January 26th: 4 days forfeit pay for absence without a leave from 9:00 January 16th until 8:00 h January 20th.

February 23rd: Embarked for in Liverpool, England for Canada on HMT Belgic. Arrived in Halifax, Canada on March 2nd.

Demobilised on March 25th, 1919 in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Died on December 1st 1960

Orderly – Gunner Alexander Day Martin

Orderly and Gunner Alexander Day Martin served in the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital during the Boers’ War and with the Canadian Field Artillery during World War One. He is entitled to the Queen South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901, Transvaal, Orange Free State and Cape Colony, the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He was born on February 5^th 1875 in Kentish Town County, London, England

He served from 1894 until 1898 in the 22^nd Artillery Battery in United Kingdom.

He married Mary Cunningham Spenster on June 2^nd 1900 on 17 Victoria Road, Broad Lane Sottenham. The witnesses were Frank Martin and Ellen Cunningham

1901: United Kingdom census. He lived at 9 Vickon Road and his wife Mary was born in 1873.

He had one child, Kathleen Cland born on June 1^st, 1901

His mother in law Sarah Cunningham (nurse)

BOERS’ WAR:

Trade: fitter

Religion: Church of England       Status: married         Height: 5′ 3 ½ “

Eyes: grey      Hair: brown       Weight:140 lbs.

He enlisted in the Imperial Yeomanry in London on January 18^th, 1902 at 88 Victoria Street.

Prior to his enlistment he had service in the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital. He agreed to allot 2/5 of his pay to his wife

He was promoted to corporal on June 27^th

He served at home from January 18^th, 1902 to May 25th, 1902 for 129 days

in South Africa from May 26th, 1902 to November 18th, 1902 for 175 days

and back at home from November 19th, 1902 to November 25th, 1902 for 6 days

In the Regular Forces he was in the 38th battalion, 168th company

He was discharged at Aldershott on November 25^th at his own request. His attitude is described as indifferent

FIRST WORLD WAR

Trade: Wheeler         Address: Melbourne, Quebec

November 18^th, 1914: He enlisted in the 21^st Artillery Battery in Montreal, Quebec. He mentioned on his enlistment paper that he served 5 years with the A.S.C. and 6 years 11 months with the Hussars militia

May 26^th, 1915: He was drafted to go to France

June 16^th: He was taken on strength with the Ammunition Column

Hospitalized at the 21^st Division Rest Station for ingrowing toe nail on March 4^th to March 20^th, 1916.

September 20^th: Transferred to the Reserve Brigade for discharge

He returned to Canada on October 17^th and demobilized on October 3oth. No cause of discharge was mentionned on his papers but since he was 41 at the time, he was probably unfit for military duty

September 12^th, 1918: He enlisted a second time in the Canadian Military Police Corps No 4 Detachment in Montreal, Quebec. His address was 2426 20th avenue, Montreal, Quebec

January 1^st, 1919: He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.

March 18^th: Discharged in Montreal. He gave his address 2426 20^th avenue, Montreal but according to the Montreal White Pages of 1920, he was mot living there anymore

He died on January 19th 1935

If you know more information on this gentleman, please leave me message so I can add it to his small biography.

Private Charles Manseau

Private Charles Manseau in the 22 nd battalion (Vandoos) in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during WW1. He is entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His enlistment number was 2002099. He received two War Service Badge Army, his class A was numbered 96793 and his War Service Badge Army Class B was numbered 57407. Usually those who received the class B badge did not receive the class A badge, this was a clerical mistake.

He was born on April 27 th, 1890 in Montreal, Quebec

Religion: Roman Catholic       Civil status: Single         Trade: student

Eyes: Brown     Hair: Brown          Height: 5′ 8″

Father : Horace Manseau                 Mother : Ernestine Manseau

1901 Canadian Census : He is not listed in the census

1911 Canadian Census: He is listed as living in Nicolet Quebec and born in April of 1892, two years after what he mentionned on his WW1 enlistment paper. His father was a doctor

December 20th 1916: He enlisted in Montreal, Quebec in the 150th battalion. He said that he had some service with the 80th battalion before he enlisted

March 3rd, 1917 : He embarked on transport ship Canada and sails to England. They arrived on March 15th.

March 10th : he was promoted to the rank of acting sergeant

April 3rd : He was reverted to the rank of private

April 4th : he was struck of strength of the 150th battalion

February 27th, 1918 : He was transferred to the 22 nd battalion in France

The 22nd battalion relieved the 21st battalion the night of the June 3rd to the 4th. On the 5th they were bombarded by artillery, 1 killed, 11 wounded. Private Charles Manseau was one of the wounded soldiers.

June 5th : Gunshot wound to the thigh (left thigh amputated) left hand ( 4 of 5 fingers amputated). Although Private Charles Manseau joined the conflict very late and served for only 4 months in France, it does show some soldiers who served from start to end without any major injury, and some like Private Manseau were there only a few months and would carry the results of severe wounds for the rest of their life.

June 26 th : He was transferred to England on H.S Cambria

October 30 th : He sailed to Canada on ship Neuralia: Arrived on November 10 th.

November 13 th : He was admitted to Ste Anne Hospital in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec

December 7th : He was absent without a leave until December 9th.

October 16th, 1919 : He was discharge

April 27th, 1967 : He died in Sarasota hospital in Florida, U.S.A.

Victory Medal and British War medal

If you know more information on this gentleman, please leave me message so I can add it to his small biography.

Canada WW1 recruitment poster – part 3

This is the third post on the subject of the propaganda campaign done during WW1 to recruit Canadian men in the army. Post number 1 was about the use of “emotions” in the posters and can be found by clicking here. Post number 2 was about the poster that targeted the french-canadian population and can be found by clicking here.

Another technique they used was to target some specific group and try to bring those men in the same battalion. This gave some results but not entirely what they expected.

Some of those recruitment posters targeted some very specific groups of individuals

Poster for the Montreal’s Jewish community

Same poster but in Hebraic language

Poster for the Montreal’s Irish community

Poster for the Montreal’s Irish community but more specifically at sportmen. The “Sportmans” battalion” was the nickname of the 199 th battalion

This poster tried to find some appeal in the Scottish community

Poster for the recruitment of lunberjacks in the Ottawa area. A region that was well known for its forest and wood cutting industry at the time.

The 224th battalion

Also the 238th battalion in the Ottawa region

Canada WW1 recruitment poster – part 2

This is the second post on the subject of the propaganda campaign done during WW1 to recruit Canadian men in the army. Post number 1 was about the use of “emotions” in the posters and can be found by clicking here.

This second post shows example of posters which targeted the French-Canadian minority. As we will see the “marketing” used to enroll the French-Canadian was different than the one used with English-Canadian.  The poster used French symbols and also some heroes of the French colonial who fought against the English of the time.

On the first poster you see a Canadian soldier shoulder to shoulder with a French soldier. At the bottom of the poster, it says that you must remember that you are the son soldiers of Montcalm and Levis armies (which fought against the British General James Wolfe who conquered Quebec). Personally I find that amusing that they used the name of Montcalm and Levis, who fought against the British General Wolfe, to enroll French-Canadian and fight on the British side.

On the second poster you find the Notre-Dame-de-Paris Cathedral, another French symbol that is under attack by the Germans. It also suggested that social and cultural institutions, such as the Church in a very catholic Quebec, were under threat from Germany.

On the third poster they call the men to defend France and say that they are the son of Montcalm and Chateauguay.

On the fourth poster you see other French symbols, the red, white and blue French flag with a rooster attacking the Prussian eagle.

And finally on the fifth poster you see Dollard-des-Ormeaux fighting against the Indians. At the time (1915) history books taught that Dollard-des-Ormeaux and his group of men, vastly outnumbered, fought valiantly against the Indians at Long-Sault in order to defend Ville-Marie (Montréal). He was a mythologized French-Canadian hero, today the perception on “how much of a hero he was” has changed and he is now somehow contreversial.

Canada WW1 recruitment poster – part 1

One of the things that I found interesting in my many historical discoveries over the years are the recruitment posters they used to attract young Canadians in the army during Wolrd War One. Although not called like that at the time, it was a propaganda campaign to get the Canadian men to join the Canadian Expeditionary Forces and fight against the Germans. Different posters were produced by many Canadian artists and the campaign was built around around a few themes.

Also you see a clear difference in the message used in most of the French-Canadian poster. The marketing “used” to attract the French-Canadian was clearly different than the one used to attract the English-Canadian.

This first post is a series of three posts on the subject. One of the aspect used in the campaign were the emotions. These are a few examples of poster targeting a specific emotion

Some were meant to spread fear into the Canadian population depicting Germans as children and women killer

Here the German soldier walk over the dead body of a woman 

This poster is reffering to the Sinking of the Hospital Ship Llandovery Castel in June 1918 by a german submarine. It was the one single event during World War One where the most Canadian women died.

The lovely kid with blond hair and green eyes imploring her dad

Sergeant Gerald Phair Norton

Sergeant Gerald Phair Norton served during WW1 with the Eastern Ontario Regiment in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces and during WW2 with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. He is entitled to the British War Medal, the 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service medal with clasp and the War Medal 1939-45. His enlistment number was 3322527 in WW2 and C-92019 during WW2

He was born on May 1st 1895 in Hawthorne, Ontario

1901 Canadian census taken in Gloucester, Russel, Ontario

Father : William born January 14th, 1847     Mother : Elizabeth born November 10th 1862

Brother : William born January 10th, 1893    Sister : Edna born April 28th, 1896

During the First World War he was with the 2nd Eastern Ontario Regiment.

Trade : Farmer      Status single

Address of his mother : Hawthorne, Ontario

May 28 th 1918 : He enlisted in the 2nd Depot Battalion Eastern Ontario Regiment. The Eastern Ontario Regiment was a depot battalion and those regiments never saw the front line. They were stationned in United Kingdom only and were used to supply men to battalion which were in France and fighting. It was a sort of waiting list before men were sent to France.

Each canadian province had its own depot battalion and on arrival in United Kingdom men were sent to their respective battalion depending the province where they enlisted in Canada. Ontario had three of those regiment the Eastern Ontario (E.O.R.), central Ontario Regiment(C.O.R.) and the Western Ontario Regiment (W.O.R.)

Height : 5′ 8″ 1/2   Weight : 144 lbs.

Eyes : Brown        Hair: Brown        Religion : Methodist

July 6^th : Sailed from Canada on board SS Tunisian, arrived in England on July 22^nd. Sent to the 6^th battalion on his arrival.

June 23^rd, 1919 : Sailed from Liverpool onboard the ship SS Belgic, arrived in Halifax July 1^st.

August 3^rd : He was demobilised

During the Second Worls War he served  with 9th Detachment of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

Trade : Salesman and trucker    Status : single    Address :  95 Lees, Ottawa

Name of his sister : L Buck     Address : 1 Pacific street, Ottawa west

Farming from time of leaving school until 1927. Bread salesman Walker Bread Co. for one year. Salesman and supervisor of twelve routes with Producers dairy 1928-1937; laid off on reduction of staff in 1937. Employed odd jobs as salesman until enlistment. Unemployed prior to war

September 4 th 1939 : He enlisted in Ottawa. He stated that he had 1 year service in the 6^th Reserve Battalion in England.

June 29^th, 1940 : He sailed from Montreal on H.M.T. E44 (sailing list 221) and arrived in Liverpool, England on July 22^nd.

July 30^th : he was authorized to draw tradesmen’s rate pay as Clerk “C”

August 16 th to the 20th : He got a 5 days permission

September 1^st : He was appointed to the rank of acting corporal without pay.

September 2^nd : He was appointed to the rank of acting corporal.

September 2^nd : He was confirmed in the rank of corporal.

July 31^st, 1941 : Admitted to the 15^th Canadian General Hospital. He was discharged from hospital on August 19^th.

January 17^th to the 23^rd : He received a 6 days permission

August 18^th, 1942 : He was authorized to draw tradesmen’s rate pay as Clerk “B”

January 29 to February 7th 1943 : He received a 10 days permission

February 4^th : He was ppointed to the rank of acting sergeant with pay

May 4^th :He was confirmed in the rank sergeant

June 28^th : Left England for overseas service.

July 10^th : He disembarked in Sicily (operation Husky)

January 10^th, 1944: He received his Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

February 9^th : He was appointed to the rank of acting staff sergeant.

September 23^rd :He was confirmed in the rank of staff sergeant.

December 4^th : Termination of overseas service. Left on vessel W 774

December 14^th : He disembarked in Canada and served as escort to prisoners of war

June 22^nd, 1945 : He was discharged in Lansdowne Park

November 18^th, 1949 : He received his  Second World War medals.

1950 : He married Frances Viney Norton (1911-1999)

April 23^rd, 1956 : He died and was buried in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Section 24 Lot 23

Obituary from the Ottawa Citizen April 24 th, 1956

“Funeral services will be held Wednesday for Gerald Phair Norton who died of a hearth attack yesterday while attending the funeral of a friend, the late Douglas Gray. Mr Norton an employe of the Mines branch of the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys who lived at 474 ½ Booth Street, was 60… Latterly he had worked 11 years in the Mines and Branch.

Mr Norton leaves his widow the former Frances Viney Cooney whom he married in 1950; a sister Mrs Melva Buck, Ottawa and several nieces and nephew.

The service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Hulse and Playfair Ltd. 315 McLeod Street, Rev A.M.J. gray will officiate. Burial will be in Beechwood.”

If you know more information on this gentleman, please leave me message so I can add it to his small biography.

Sergeant Gerald Phair Norton WW1-WW2 medals

click on the image to enlarge

Matron Agnes Brooks R.R.C.

Matron Agnes Brooks (civilian) served with the British Medical Service during WW1. She is entitled to the Royal Red Cross 1st class, the British War Medal. She also received a silver badge from the Vice-Chairman of the King Edward VII Hospital Silver.

1906: She began her training at the Old Infirmary, she finished in 1909. She received her certification and her nurse’s registration number is 14764.

1910 : She became Sister

She worked for the British Red Cross and the Order of Saint-John of Jerusalem

November 25th 1914 : She arrived in France and organised the X-ray department for the 2nd British Red Cross Hospital in Rouen

1915 : She was promoted Matron at the King Edward VII Hospital

February 16^th, 1920: She awarded her Royal Red Cross on that day and her investiture ceremony on March 3^rd, 1921

May 18th, 1923 : She registered herself for the first time on the State Register of Nurses.

September : She retired from her job at the King Edward VII Hospital

1928 : Her address was 19 Trinity Place, Windsor

If you know more information on this lady, please leave me message so I can add it to her small biography

Matron Agnes Brooks WW1 medal and badge

Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Spring Walker, C.B.E., M.I.D.

Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Spring Walker served in the Royal Army Medical Corps
He was a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military). He was also entitled to the Queen’s South Africa Medal with the Orange Free State and Cape Colony clasps, the 1914 Star with clasp, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal .

He was born January 6^th 1876 at Glanbehy, County of Kerry

April 5^th, 1894: He is listed as a Midshipman on the Royal Navel Reserve List

July 29^th, 1898: He received his diploma for Licentiate Midwifing from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. He is listed as living at the Hurricane Lodge, Glenbeigh, and County of Kerry

April 25^th, 1900: He was promoted Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps

June 18^th: He sailed to South Africa (from the London Times) with the 9^th General Hospital

November 14^th: He embarked on the HMS Assaye. He had been invalidated. He arrived in South Hampton, United Kingdom on December 5th (from the London Times)

He served in India from 1902 to 1903

He was promoted Captain in April of 1903

He was sick from February 1904 and was back at his rank on October 19^th, 1904. During that period he was probably sent back to United Kingdom.

He went back to India and served from 1905 to 1908.

March 29^th, 1908: He was promoted Major and was stationed at the Magistrate Department Cantonment in India.

April 25^th, 1912: He was promoted Major

September 13^th, 1914: He disembarked in France with the 26^th Field Ambulance (British Expeditionary Forces)

He was promoted the Assistant-Director of the 6^th Division at some point during the war.

February 17^th, 1915: He was Mentioned-in-Despatches for the first time.

August 3^rd: He arrived on the Island of Malta from England

August 20^th: He embarked on HMHS Valdivia and sailed for Mudros Harbour on the small Greek Island of Lemnos. At the time the Island of Mudros was used a rear medical base for the sick and wounded of the Gallipoli campaign. The number of casualties was so high Eastern Campaign, especially in the Dardanelles, that the British putted a lot of resources to help reduce the pressure on the medical units.

September 19^th: He returned from the Island of Mudros to the Island of Malta.

January 5^th, 1916: He sailed back to England.

December 26^th, 1917: He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel

May 30^th 1919: He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (Commander level) for valuable service in connection with the war (London Gazette June 3^rd)

July 10^th: He was Mentioned-in-Despatches for a second time.

July 29^th: He was Mentioned-in-Despatches for a third time. In a period of 5 months he was decorated three times for his valuable services in connection with the war. It is rare for someone to receive so many official recognitions in such a short period, although 1919 was the period to close the book for WW1 decoration.

September 9^th: He applied for his 1914 Star

May 15^th, 1920: He retired from the Army. He was again taken off strength for medical reasons from May 15^th, 1920 until December 20^th, 1920.

December 20^th, 1922: he was taken off the Officer Reserve List and retired from pay

1927: He is listed as living at Woodquest, Crosshaven, County of Cork in the Medical Register. He lived there until his death in 1941.

June 24th 1941: He died Ripley Lodge Caragh Lake in Kerry County

He had one daughter named Marjorie Rose

click on the image to enlarge

If you know more information on this gentleman, please leave me message so I can add it to his small biography.

Doctor Helen Hanson

Dr Helen Hanson served with the Auxiliary Hospital Unit in Antwerp during WW1. She is entitled to the 1914 Star with clasp, the British War and Victory Medals, the Order of St. Sava, 2nd type from Serbia, 4th Class breast badge and a Red Cross Decoration.

She was born in 1874.

She graduated M.B. & L.S.A. in 1901 and received her M.D. from the University of London in 1904 having trained at the London School of Medicine for Women (The Royal Free Hospital).

For three years she served as Medical Officer to the Kinnaird Memorial Hospital at Lucknow, India.

In 1911 she was awarded the Diploma in Public Health of Oxford University and was appointed Assistant School Medical Officer to London County Council.

Shortly after the outbreak of war Dr Hanson went to Belgium with the St. John Unit forming the Auxiliary Hospital at Antwerp commanded by Mrs St. Clair Stobart. The unit served during the siege of Antwerp and were amongst the last civilians to leave before the city was occupied by the Germans. The unit then operated in a chateau at Cherbourg until April 1915 when it transferred to Serbia.

After serving there for 6 months, she returned to London and early in 1916 addressed the Royal Society of Arts on her experiences in Serbia as a Red Cross worker. During that time she served for 6 weeks at the Scottish Women’s Hospital Unit at Kraguijevatz.

Later Dr Hanson served with the Royal Army Medical Corps in Malta and Salonika, holding the honorary rank of Captain. Very few women served with the Royal Army Medical Corps during WW1.

Picture of her medals (sold at Dix noonan Webb in December 2012)

click on the image to enlarge

After the war she served with the Black Sea Expeditionary Force at Constantinople, returning to London in 1920 to work once more for the L.C.C.

On 6 July 1926 she was killed in a motor accident. She was buried at Finchley. A Requiem Service was held for her at St. Martin-in-the-Fields on 20 July 1926.

click on the image to enlarge