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June 23, 2012

Tribute to WW1 Soldier Walter Culbertson

This WW1 Medal is stamped with the name of the soldier on the side. It reads 3056604 (Regimental Number) and GNR (Gunner) R. Culbertson  C.F.A. We believe that CFA stands for Canadian Forces Artillery.

His Attestation Papers indexed provide more detail. Full name Walter Roy Culbertson, born November 26, 1888. The front of his form has been scanned and it shows that he was born in Cornwall Ontario and is single. He's a salesman and gives his father's name as James J. Culbertson, also residing in Cornwall.

Walter enlisted on 8 October 1917 in Kingston Ontario.

See http://www.smeaton.org/Eamer_Detailed_Genealogy.pdf p. 113 for more details on the Culbertson family. Walter Roy's parents were James Culbertson and Laura Gallinger.

In November 1922 Walter married Catherine Graveley in Cornwall [Source: 019259-22 Walter Roy CULBERTSON, 33, Clerk, Cornwall, Cornwall, s/o James G. CULBERTSON & Laurie GALLINGER; married Catherine Grace GRAVELEY, 34, Cornwall, Cornwall, d/o Walter GRAVELEY & Catherine MACGILLIS; witn Walter GRAVELEY & John GRAVELEY, both Cornwall & Isabella McGILLIS, Harrison, 6 Nov 1922, Cornwall on http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maryc/sdg1922.htm]

What happened to Walter? 

7 comments:

Annette Fulford said...

I love these posts. I believe CFA stands for Canadian Field Artillery. After 1917 most men were conscripted into the Canadian Expeditionary Force. There was only one page for that. You can learn more about 1917 Conscription in Canada at the Canadian War Museum at http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/guerre/conscription-e.aspx

Annette Fulford said...

His name is spelled wrong on the passenger manifest but he arrived home after the war on the hospital ship Essequibo in March 1919. Go by his regimental number(right hand side of page). It shows he has a GSW (gunshot wound) L. Hand. I have sent you a copy of the page.

Olive Tree Genealogy said...

Thanks Annette!

Anonymous said...

According to the Phillip Eamer descendancy chart you linked with this post, Walter's mother's name is Louise or "Louis", not Laura. Given that info, Walter or Roy as he calls himself, signed his brother's (Edwin Harvey Culbertson's) death certificate in 1932. He states that he is still residing in Cornwell at that time. source: Ancestry.com, Ontario Death Certificates.

vesta said...

just located Walter's tombstone

http://cornwallroots.info/cms/cornwall/tombstones/Tombstones_list.php?ListBox1=&ListBox2=&s_Surname1=CULBERTSON&s_Surname=&TombstonesPage=2

vesta said...

Walter's obit. I am thinking that he got remairied after Grace died.

http://cornwallroots.info/cms/cornwall/obits09/bmsobitstbl_maint.php?s_Deceased=CULBERTSON&s_Spouse=&s_Volume=&ID=33935

Olive Tree Genealogy said...

Vesta, I wasn't able to get to the tombstone or obit with the links provided.

I also could not view them by "backing up" the URL given to the root http://cornwallroots.info/

But by searching for the site Cornwall Roots I was able to go to the main page of the site and search and find them.

Cornwall Roots at http://cornwallroots.info/cms5/

Great sleuthing, thank you!