Deseronto Archives

John Henry Irving, a clerk, was conscripted at Kingston on this day in 1918. He was born in Tamworth on October 30th, 1896 (some sources say 1897), the son of David Irving and Lavinia (née Brown). When he was drafted, Irving was living in Deseronto.

John joined the 1st Depot Battalion of the Eastern Ontario Regiment with the regimental number 3055373. He was five feet three inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His service record shows that he served in Kingston with No. 3 Battalion, Canadian Garrison Regiment and held the rank of acting sergeant when he was demobilized on December 9th, 1918. He had been suffering from bronchitis and was discharged as being medically unfit for further service.

Irving married Gladys Holmes Becket on November 30th, 1928 in Brockville, at which time he was working as a cashier.