Deseronto Archives

Arthur Dean, a machinist, signed up in Picton on this day in 1917. He was born in Deseronto on September 6th, 1885, the son of Paul Dean and Samantha (née Lindsay). He married Lottie Humphrey in Deseronto on August 27th, 1903, when he was working as a miller.

Arthur joined the 254th Battalion with the regimental number 1093348. He was five feet five and a half inches tall, with a ruddy complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. His service record shows that he went overseas on the RMS Olympic, arriving in England on June 9th, 1917.

Dean joined the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford, but was admitted to hospital in Eastbourne suffering from rheumatic fever in September 1917. In October he was in hospital again, this time with influenza, in Hastings. He was transferred to the Canadian Special Hospital in Buxton in December and did not rejoin his battalion until March 1918. He then served with various units in England before leaving that country from Liverpool on December 15th, 1918. Dean was demobilized in Kingston on January 29th, 1919. Family tree information on Ancestry suggests that he died on December 13th, 1940 in Rochester, New York.

Henry Ker Coleman, a bank clerk, signed up in Kingston, Ontario on this day in 1917. He was born in Deseronto on January 30th, 1897, the son of John Coleman and Julia (née MacMorine). By 1901 the family had moved to Stirling and they were living in Merrickville in 1911. When he enlisted, Henry gave his father’s address as Napanee and his own as 15 Court House Avenue, Brockville.

Henry joined the 72nd Battery of the Canadian Field Artillery with the regimental number 342974. He was five feet six and a half inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His unit arrived in England on the SS Ausonia on April 29th, 1917. His service record notes that he joined the 1st Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column in France on August 24th, 1917. He returned to England on March 30th, 1919.

Coleman left England on the RMS Olympic on April 15th, 1919 and was demobilized in Kingston nine days later. He married Stella Agnes Sweitzer on April 3rd, 1923 in Napanee, when he gave his occupation as ‘Clerk in Holy Orders’. Family tree information on Ancestry suggests that he died on November 30th, 1980, in Brockville.

Everett Elmer Hickerson, a tailor, signed up in Belleville on this day in 1917. He was born in Deseronto on April 17th, 1897, the son of William Hickerson and Elizabeth (née Burley). When he enlisted, he was living in Trenton.

Hickerson joined the 235th Battalion with the regimental number 1027660. He was five feet two and a half inches tall, with a dark complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. His service record shows that he arrived in England on the SS Megantic on May 14th, 1917 and was sent to France on March 16th, 1918 with the 15th Battalion. He suffered mustard gas burns on August 22nd and was sent to England to recuperate.

Everett left England for Canada on January 16th, 1919 and was demobilized in Kingston on January 28th. He married Carrie Ann Wellman in Trenton on September 26th, 1923 and died in Kingston on January 10th, 1950.

Clare William Malley, a drug clerk, signed up in Kingston, Ontario on this day in 1917. He was born in Deseronto on August 18th, 1895, the eldest child of William James Malley and Ada (née Moodie). His younger brother Arthur had signed up in April 1916. Clare had previously served in the 34th Battery of the Canadian Field Artillery (CFA).

Malley joined the 73rd Battery of the CFA with the regimental number 343972. He was six feet tall, with a dark complexion, black eyes and black hair. His unit travelled to England on the SS Lapland, arriving on February 24th, 1918. His service record shows that he went overseas in June 1918 and suffered a gunshot wound to the right arm on October 7th. He was sent back to England to recuperate.

Malley left Liverpool for Halifax on the troopship Royal George and was demobilized in Canada on March 27th, 1919. He married Elizabeth Laughlin on 26 July 1926 in Belleville, when he was still working as a druggist in Deseronto. He died in 1963 and was buried in Deseronto Cemetery. Elizabeth lived until 1996 and was also buried in Deseronto.

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.