WW1 CEF Soldier Charles H. Welsh

My husband has an outstanding collection of Canadian WW1 artifacts - photographs of soldiers who were in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), Pay Books, Medals, and more.

This is the Pay Book of Gunner Charles H. Welsh #335325 who attested on February 4, 1918. His pay book gives his next of kin as his father David H. Welsh, and his mother Mary Ann Welsh, both of Palmerston Ontario.

Charles signed up in Guelph Ontario and a note in his pay book refers to him having deposited a will in Ottawa Ontario in September of that year. At some point he went to England as a page in the book is stamped "1918. Milford Camp, Witley, Surrey"

 

There are a few loose cards tucked into the pay book.

1. Canadian National Railways showing he is in Lower section of Car E. (no date)

2. Card showing his quarters are on E Deck, Compartment Q and he has one hammock. His mess is in Compartment A2, second sitting

3. A non-personalized standard "goodbye" from Buckingham Palace wishing him a safe return to his home and loved ones, also thanking him for his service. Signed by King George (a rubber stamp)

Thanks to the digitization project by Library and Archives Canada (LAC) we can view Charles' full personnel file online.There we learn that his full name is Charles Henry Welsh and he was born July 1, 1897.

If you are interested, you can download his entire WW1 file.

Remembering WW1 Soldier W. J. P. Bullock

One of the framed photos of CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force) soldiers on our wall is labelled "Pte. W. J. P. Bullock" of Toronto Ontario. This young man enlisted on September 2, 1915, one year  after WW1 began in August 1914.

Research on Ancestry.com found more details including his full name - William James Percival Bullock. William was born July 12, 1894 making him just 21 years old when he joined the CEF. His father was listed as Arthur Bullock. 

Young William was just 5'6" tall but that was a fairly normal height for the times. He is listed as having a fair complexion with brown hair and eyes. 

William Bullock War Graves Record

Sadly my research revealed that young William was killed almost one year to the day he enlisted. The War Graves Circumstances of Casualty shows him as being buried in Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery near Albert, France having died on 4 September 1916.

 According to the records, William was wounded at Pozieres, taken to South Midland Casualty Clearing Station but died of his wounds the following day. 

You can see his tombstone here. 

William is found in the 1911 Census for Toronto Ontario with his parents, Arthur and Elizabeth Bullock. He is one of 8 children.His father was born in England, his mother in Ireland.

William's older brother, Albert Latimer Bullock, also joined the CEF but he survived the war, returned home and married in 1923. His death occurred many years later in June 1965 in Toronto Ontario.  

William will be remembered in our home. 

Remembering WW1 Soldier Douglas McNabb

Private Douglas McNabb's framed WW1 photograph hangs on our wall. We don't know Douglas and we are not related. But he is one of several CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force) soldiers who we honour. 

His framed photo was probably taken before he left to go overseas. This was a common thing for young soldiers to do before departing. Eaton's Department Store and other places offered a lovely military background for these soldiers' photos. Sometimes framed photos were not ordered until a soldier had been killed. A mother would take her boy's photo and order the backdrop and frame to memorialize him.

Douglas' framed inscription reads

Pte. Douglas McNabb

177th Battalion CEF

Enlisted at Victoria Harbour Ontario Feb. 13, 1916

Simcoe Foresters

Research on Ancestry.com found more details about Douglas and his service. His Attestation Papers reveal that he was born 14 Apr 1896 in Victoria Harbour (which co-incidentally is about 5 minutes from my home), his mother was Agnes and his full name was Douglas Burns McNabb. One of the witnesses to his papers was a Wallace Burns - possibly a relative.





20 year Douglas was listed as having a ruddy complexion, brown hair and brown eyes and tall - 5' 10" in height. He was assigned to the 177th Battalion. 



Birth records on Ancestry.com reveal  his father as Alexander McNabb and his mother was Agnes Burns.  I was happy to see that young Douglas survived the war and is found on the 1921 census for Victoria Harbour with his parents and a younger brother John. Douglas' occupation is given as fireman. I also found him in the 1945 Voter's Lists for Victoria Harbour, still working as a fireman. There is no wife listed with him so perhaps he was a life-long bachelor. In any case he will be remembered in our home for his service.

Remembering WW1 Soldier Alton C. Young

Alton C. Young's military photo hangs on our wall. We aren't related but he is one of several WW1 soldiers whose life we remember with respect.

Alton had his photo taken in his C.E.F. uniform before heading overseas to join the fighting. This was a typical thing that many men did before leaving.

Sadly he did not return and his framed photo bears these few details:

Alton C. Young

87th Battalion Canadian Infantry

died of wounds received at Arras, Sept. 28, 1918

Enlisted at Sherbrooke

Research on Ancestry.com found more details about Alton and his short life. His attestation papers reveal that he was born Alton Charles Young on 26 August 1894 in Quebec. His father's name is given as Charles. Searching birth records provides his mother's name of Almeda. Census records for 1911 indicate he was one of 7 children.

Alton was tall for those times - 5'11" with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He enlisted on 3 January 1918 and was only in the war for 9 short months before being killed at Arras.

A search of the C.E.F. Commonwealth Grave Registers confirms his death on Sept. 28, 1918 and describes his wounds as

Gunshot wound to head, right arm and left arm. Died of cerebral hemorrhage and a fractured skull at Totting Military Hosptial in Totting England.  Alton was buried in Grave #181615 in the Canadian Military Cemetery in Brookwood, Surrey England. A photo of his tombstone can be seen.

His father Charles living in North Hatley Quebec was noted as his next-of-kin. Young Alton was only 24 when he was killed. He was not married so left no descendants to honour him. But someone did honour and remember him for they kept this framed photo for many years until it ended up in an Antique Store in Ontario. Thanks to my husband, Alton now has a place of honour in our home. His story will be passed on.

CEF Commonwealth Grave Register for Alton C. Young

C.E.F. Attestation Papers for Alton C. Young

Free Access to Civil War Records on Fold3

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Explore Civil War documents featuring everything from military records to personal accounts and historic writings. Soldier records include service records, pension index cards, “Widows’ Pension” files, Navy survivors certificates, Army registers, and much more. Other record types include photographs, original war maps, court investigations, slave records, and beyond. Items such as the Lincoln Assassination Papers, Sultana Disaster documents, letters to the Adjutant General and Commission Branch, and the 1860 census are also contained in the Civil War Collection.

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Fold3 Honor Wall for Military Ancestors

Fold3 now has an Honor Wall where you can pay tribute to a military ancestor. It's a very nice way to honor those who fought for our freedom.

Why not take a moment to visit and create a tribute or add to an existing memorial.

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? 

Lost & Found: Arthur Fitzgerald's WW1 ID Tag

WW1 ID Tag Canadian Soldier

This is another Tribute  for a Canadian soldier.  His name and service number are given on the front of his WW1 ID Tag - A. Fitzgerald, Service Number 55422.

This tag is made of aluminum and we know it was issued early in the War. Aluminum was expensive and at some point tags were made out of a pressed material which was between paper and cardboard in feel.

We do not know the meaning of the two letters at the bottom - E. C./G.

Back of WW1 ID Tag

The reverse of this tag shows the soldier's unit (19 Batt. Inf. which stands for 19th Infantry Battalion) and at the bottom the word Canadian is stamped. This designated which country a soldier's unit was in.

Who was A. Fitzgerald? Did he survive the War? Our curiousity was piqued and research begun.

First stop was the online CEF database. Using the service or regimental number provided on the tag, we found the Attestation papers for Arthur Fitzgerald born in Eastbourne, Sussex England on 12 November 1891.

His mother is listed as Lady A. Fitzgerald of Kilkea Castle, Mageney, Co. Kildare Ireland. He works in the Telegraph Office of the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway)

Interestingly Arthur enlisted in 1914 on his 23rd birthday. I next went to Ancestry.com to search census records and ships passenger lists. I was curious when Arthur came to Canada. Unfortunately nothing conclusive turned up in either set of records.

I did find one marriage record which might be Arthur's. The marriage took place in Toronto in September 1919 between Arthur Maurice Fitzgerald born England, age 28 and Berna Wilhelmina Guest.  Arthur is named as the son of Charles John Oswald Fitzgerald and Alice Fitzgerald. 


There are several online family trees which indicate this is indeed the correct Arthur whose WW1 ID Tag we have. One tree shows Arthur as dying in Toronto in 1968.  

Arthur's father is listed as Col Sir Charles John FitzGerald Birth 8 JUN 1840 in East Indies Death 28 Feb 1912 in Eastbourne, Sussex, England. Sir Charles married Lady Alice Fitzgerald in 1882. Lady Alice's information is given as Birth 12 DEC 1853 in Kilkea Castle, Kildare Death 16 DEC 1941

Lady Alice was the daughter of a Marquis, Charles Fitzgerald. I have no other information on Arthur.

Tribute to Ira Harry Huehn WW1 Soldier in PPCLI

Ira Harry Huehn was born 10 June 1895 in Toronto. He enlisted in the CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force) on August 15, 1915 when he was just 20 years old.

He gave his mother, Mrs. H. E. Huehn as his next-of-kin. He was a bank clerk and had served 3 months with the Queen's Own Rifles before enlisting.

Ira was sent to the PPCLI (Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry) which co-incidentally is the unit my youngest son served in as an infantry soldier from 2000-2005.

Sadly Ira was killed in action at Sanctuary Wood less than a year after he went to war. His death is recorded as 4 June 1916

A search of Ancestry revealed that Ira's parents were Henry and Minnie and that he had older sisters Ethel and Lydia

photo found by Annette F.

We have Ira's Death Medal, Silver Cross (see photo on left) and WW1 Medal.
Ira's father died in October 1914 and his poor mother lost her husband and only son in a two year span. 

This blog post is meant as a tribute to Ira and all those who fight and have fought for our country.

Ira Huehn's Death Medal

Ira Huehn's WW1 Medal - front

Ira Huehn's WW1 Medal - back

Canada, CEF Burial Registers, First World War, 1914-1919

Canada, CEF Burial Registers, First World War, 1914-1919 

Sadly Ira's body was never recovered for burial. I often think of how his mother and sisters must have grieved, not only for the loss of Ira but thinking of how he was never laid to rest.

Lost & Found: A. L. Bowers WW1 ID Tag

This is a Canadian soldier's WW1 ID tag from later in the war. The early aluminum tags were phased out as aluminum was expensive, and these pressed material tags issued.

This tag is stamped with the name A. L. Bowers and Regimental Number 2498308.

The next line has a "P" presumably for rank, and the bottom has the soldier's unit. In this case it is 4C.M.R. which stands for 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles.

We also have two of Pte Bowers'  medals stamped with his name and Regimental Number on the side.

Who was A.L. Bowers? Did he survive the war? My hunt began with the online CEF database where using the Regimental Number on the ID tag I found the Attestation Papers of Arthur Leslie Bowers born 13 April 1894.

Arthur was living in Oshawa but was born in Engfield England. He gave his father, also living in Oshawa as his next-of-kin but failed to provide his father's name.

Pte. Bowers' WW1 Medals

He is a horse driver and a single man. His attestation took place in August 1917 in Toronto. I wanted to know more about Arthur so using Ancestry.com I searched census and marriage records. There was nothing conclusive in the census records for 1911 or 1901 but marriage records showed Arthur marrying in October 1924.

Arthur was listed as Arthur Leslie Bowers living in Oshawa born England age 30 son of Arthur John Bowers and Kate Anne Brant. His bride was Elizabeth Daisy Dunk born England age 30. Her parents were George Dunk and Mary Emily Wilcox.

Once I found the marriage record I was able to locate the family in the 1911 census for Athol Township, Ontario. The father Arthur Bowers, a baker, was shown as immigrating from England in 1910. His date of birth was June 1865 in England. His wife Kate was born March 1866 in England. Their children were listed as Leslie (this is Arthur Leslie) age 17, Slanty [?] a son age 10, Sidney age 7 and May age 2.

I next found the family sailing from Bristol England to Quebec on the Royal George on 2 June 1910. They are going to Picton Ontario. The passenger list revealed the name of their second son - Stanley.

My curiousity and genealogy obsessed mind wanted to know more. I looked for the family in the  1901 England census and found them living in Enfield, Middlesex England. Kate was listed as born Dalston, London England and Arthur gave his birth place as Carshalton, Surrey, England.

Little 6 year old Leslie was born in Enfield, Middlesex, England, as was his 9 month old brother Stanley.

I was unable to find death records for Arthur Leslie Bowers.

Lost & Found: William Bulger WW1 Medal

One Side of WW1 Medal

Pte. W. R. Bulger's name is stamped on the side of this Canadian WW1 Medal which my husband and I have in our WW1 collection. In tribute to Private Bulger and all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in defense of our countries, I will be posting images and research on the various soldiers whose identified items are in our collection.

Pte. Bulger's Regimental Number is difficult to read but it ends in 2369. He is noted as being assigned to 2-CMR which stands for 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles.

A search for his Attestation papers online reveals that his full name was William Robert  Bulger and his Reg. Number was 3032369. He was born Sept. 28, 1888 in Georgetown Ontario but was living in Toronto when he enlisted.

His next-of-kin was his mother, Mrs. Margaret Bulger in Toronto. He gave his occupation as Attic Trimmer. The year he enlisted is not given but it was probably either 1917 or 1918.

Sadly William never made it home from the war. He was killed August 11, 1918 and is buried 3/4 Mile South of Amiens, France in the Hospital Military Cemetery. 

Side View Medal with William Bulger's Name

The CEF Burial Register states that "while en route to his Battalion he was wounded by a bomb dropped from an enemy airplane. He was evacuated to #48 Casualty Clearing Station where he succumbed to his wounds" It was further noted that he had penetrating schrapnel wounds in his back.

Thanks to Lisa Haas we can also read a newspaper clipping about William's death. Lisa's great-grandfather's brother was married to William Bulger's sister and Lisa had this clipping in her research files.

Bert's WW1 Letter to Ada, Jan. 1, 1915

 Please see the first entry and photo from Ada Harland's Diary which I began transcribing a year ago. Ada's daily entries are repetitious and brief and difficult to follow as she uses abbreviations and letters (almost like a code) probably due to space limitations. Included with the diary and photo was this letter from the man who eventually became Ada's husband.

F. Coy
1st B.C. Regiment
York Hill
Salisbury Plain


Jan. 1, 1915


Another day has passed into the limbo of forgotten things, likewise the record of an eventful year is closed. Today your letter arrived, a letter which means so much and yet is all to [sic] brief. Would you think me rude if I condense this letter somewhat.


Last night was New Year's Eve, and the boys celebrated by getting uproariously drunk, and made it an all night session. Only Rowe and myself refrained from participating in the festivities, and consequently were dubbed "Sissies".


Billie Brierton [see FN 1] early succumbed to the potent libations and by 10:30 I had him into bed where he remained entirely oblivious to the racket until this morning. To sleep was out of the question, so Rowe who is laid up with a poisoned knee, and myself had a long talk, and with the exception of a trifling disturbance the night passed uneventfully.


This morning the effects of the night's debauch were all to [sic] plain to see. E. Coy. [Company] cook staggered into the Cook House and asked me to get breakfast ready for his men as well as my own. All day I have done double duty cooking for 250 men practically without assistance, and to tell the truth I am just about ready for a good night's rest.


Your letter makes me realize what a selfish brute I really am, here I have been writing page after page about my own disappointment at leaving you, yet never have intimated in any way, or even allowed for the possibility that you thought so well of me.


What I have done to deserve such a love as yours I do not know, nor cannot conceive, to know that you love me is enough, and I will do everything I can and so conduct my life as to make myself worthy of this great love of yours.


There is no danger whatever of my assaulting your friend the Orderly Corporal although my fingers itch to get a hold on him. You see it is a serious offence to strike an N.C.O. [Non Commissioned Officer] and means a long term of detention.


Yes, the handkerchief bears your initial and I sahll carry it with me through the days to come, as Knights of old carried the gage of their lady love.


Now dear heart I must write, goodnight and take you in my arms for that long lingering breathless kiss you wish and hold you colse to my heart for the rest of time.


With all my love, from
Your own
Bert xxxxx


PS The Princess Pats have been in action and lost heavily. We expect to go within the next two weeks, and go to the firing line direct


LAK Bert x

FN1:

Sadly Billie Brierton (whose name was William) did not survive the war. His death is found in the CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Forces) War Graves. He was killed in action in France on 24 Apr 1915 and his body never recovered.

Billie's Attestation papers are online. He was 25 years old when he enlisted in 1914 and was sent to the same regiment as Bert.