Deseronto Archives

On this day in 1917 Cornelius Edward Dowling signed up in Winnipeg. He was born Richmond Township near Deseronto on November 3rd, 1889, the son of Robert Dowling and Mary (née Roach). When he enlisted, he was living in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and working as a bank clerk.

Cornelius joined the 174th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 693330. He was five feet seven and a quarter inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. On April 22nd he was transferred to the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada, where he was appointed Quartermaster Sergeant on May 13th, according to his service record. He fell ill in September 1917 and was admitted to Winnipeg General Hospital on December 3rd, 1917 with chronic appendicitis. His appendix was removed in St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, in January 1918 and he was released from hospital on February 22nd.

Dowling was discharged from the army on July 31st, 1918 as “medically unfit for further war service”. His intended address after discharge was 287 Redwood Avenue, Winnipeg. Dowling married Margaret Ellen Cusick in Thunder Bay (Port Arthur) on October 31st, 1927, at which time he was working as an insurance agent. Margaret died in Thunder Bay in 1937 and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of Deseronto Cemetery. Cornelius was buried there in 1962.