Clarence Joseph Johndrew signature

Clarence Joseph Johndrew, a munitions worker, was called up in Kingston on this day in 1918. His birth was registered in Deseronto with a date of December 18th, 1893, with his parents named as Matthew Johndrow and Exina (née Marlo). In 1901 he was living with Matthew and Kate Johndraw. (Johndrow/Johndraw/Johndrew are anglicizations of the French name Gendreau.)

Clarence joined the 1st Depot Battalion of the Eastern Ontario Regiment with the regimental number 3058079. He was five feet three and a half inches tall, with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. His service record shows that he served in Canada at Queen’s Military Hospital, Kingston, and was demobilized on October 31st, 1919, classified as medically unfit for further service.

This photograph of Clarence (from the Floyd Marlin collection in the Archives) was taken later in life, at Point Anne. A note on the back says that he and his wife Anne ran a gas bar and hamburger restaurant on the corner of Green and Dundas Streets in Deseronto.

Clarence Johndrew