Deseronto Archives

On this day in 1916 contractor Robert William Frayne enlisted. His first attestation paper has not survived, but he enlisted again on May 8th, 1919 and stated that he had previously served in the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery between May 18th, 1916 and October 15th, 1918. He said that he was born in Deseronto on July 23rd, 1877. He was living in Victoria, British Columbia when he signed up and had previously been living in Nanaimo, at the time of the 1911 census, with his wife Lily and two small children.

On his second enlistment, Frayne was given the regimental number 1286139. He was five feet nine inches tall, with grey eyes, a dark complexion and black hair. His service record shows that he joined the Canadian Army Service Corps and served with them until September 30th, when he was demobilized in Victoria. In the 1921 census he was back with his wife and three children in Fernwood Drive, Victoria, working as a driver. He died in North Vancouver on December 24th, 1959.

On this day in 1916 Robert John Luffman signed up in Barrie. He was born in Deseronto on December 2nd, 1895, the son of Jason Luffman and Catherine Dennee. Jason died in 1899 and Catherine married John Eggleton Brown in 1901. By 1911 Robert was living in Midland, Ontario with his grandparents, Robert and Annie Luffman.

Robert joined the 157th Battalion with the regimental number 644861. He was five feet four and three quarter inches tall, with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and light brown hair. His service record shows that Luffman arrived in England on board the SS Cameronia on October 28th, 1916. He arrived in France on November 29th and served with the 1st Battalion until May 1917 when he was injured by shrapnel in the head and right leg. He recovered in hospital in England but was readmitted in August and in December with infections. In January 1918 he was seriously ill with pleurisy, followed by bronchitis. His medical records show that he had poor heart function after this, and he was sent home to Canada on the SS Tunisian, arriving on October 7th, 1918. He was discharged on December 5th, 1918 at Whitby, as medically unfit for further service.

In 1921 Robert Luffman was back with his grandparents in Midland, working as a tailor. He married Agnes Alma Pearson in Midland on 15 November 1921. He died in Midland on October 1, 1940 of heart failure and dropsy (oedema), which was determined to have been caused by his service in the army.

Ernest Russell Brant signed up in Cobourg on this day in 1916. He was born in Tyendinaga on March 15th, 1891, the son of Josiah Brant and Elizabeth (née Moses), who were both Mohawks. His eldest brother, Charles Arthur Brant had enlisted in Saskatchewan in March.

Ernest joined the 139th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 815004. He was five feet eight inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His service record shows that he was transferred to the 28th Battalion in January 1917 and served in France with that unit.

Brant received a gunshot wound to the back of his head on August 21st, 1917 at the Battle of Hill 70 and was sent to England to recover. After it had healed, he had an operation on his eye to remove a growth (pterygium). He rejoined the 28th Battalion in France in April 1918.

Edward George Rathbun Rogers, a bank clerk, signed up in Kingston on this day in 1916. He was born in Deseronto on September 13th, 1894, the son of Frank J. Rogers (manager of the Bank of Montreal in Deseronto between 1893 and 1896) and Ann (née Read). His name was Edward George Fitzgerald Rogers when his birth was registered. Frank died in 1897 and Ann in 1908. Edward gave his next of kin as his eldest sister, Frances Aileen Rogers.

Rogers joined the 50th (Queen’s) Battery with the regimental number 318990. He was five feet eight and a half inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was discharged in October 1916 as medically unfit, but signed up again on February 28th, 1917, and this time was considered fit for overseas service. He joined the 72nd (Queen’s) Battery. His service record shows that he arrived in England on April 7th, 1917 on the SS Missinabie and arrived in France on August 24th to serve with the 1st Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column. He was treated in hospital in March 1918 for an infection and in March 1919 for tonsillitis.

Edward returned to Canada on the SS Regina on May 28th, 1919 and was demobilized in Kingston on May 31st. He married Edith Pearl Moffat in Toronto on September 22nd, 1924 and died in Huntsville on July 21st, 1969.

On this day in 1916 Albert Wright signed up in Deseronto. He was born in Deseronto on April 29th, 1878, the son of John Wright and Sophia (née Allan). Sophia had died in October 1915.

Albert joined the 155th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 637114. He was five feet eight inches tall, with a dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His service record shows that he sailed from Halifax on the SS Northland in October 1916 and arrived in France on March 15th, 1917, where he served with the Canadian Railway Troops. He was admitted to hospital in December 1918, suffering from dizziness and general pain and was diagnosed as being mentally unstable (psychasthenia). Wright was invalided home to Canada and discharged in Kingston on July 17th, 1919 as medically unfit, to the custody of the Special Committee on Returned Soldiers.

In 1921 Wright was back in Deseronto, living with his father and his older brother William. He died on February 20th, 1946.

Nelson Maracle signed up in Simcoe, Ontario on this day in 1916. He stated that he was born in Deseronto on March 3rd, 1888 and he gave his next of kin as his wife, Clare. They were living in Vanessa when he enlisted. He had previously served in the 49th Regiment.

Nelson joined the 133rd Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 797660. He was five feet six inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His service record shows that he was struck off the strength of the battalion on July 8th, 1916 for being illegally absent.

S.O.S. 8-7-16. Illegally Absent. Sentenced to one year in jail for A.W.L. [Absent Without Leave]

Maracle was taken on the strength of the Canadian Mounted Rifles on December 11th, 1916 and was finally discharged on February 10th, 1917, as a deserter.

On this day in 1916 William Edward Maracle, a wood turner, signed up in Deseronto. He was born in Tyendinaga on November 19th, 1870, the son of James Maracle and Rachel (née Brant), who were both Mohawks. He married Julia Ann Williams, who died on April 10th, 1912 of tuberculosis. They had three sons and a daughter and the eldest two, Philip and Solomon, had already enlisted.

Eddie joined the 155th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 637122. He was five feet seven inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair.

His service record shows that Maracle went absent without leave before his unit left Canada. He was discharged on his return as being medically unfit (he was 46 years old, considered to be overage).

Eddie tried to enlist again, on December 15th, 1916 in Kingston, but was rejected as medically unfit. In 1921 he was living with a new wife, Mary, in Tyendinaga.

On this day in 1916 Joseph Corby, a sailor, signed up in Deseronto. He was born on October 10th, 1874, the son of Louis Corby (a Mohawk born in Kahnewake) and Elizabeth (né Green), who was a Mohawk of the Bay of Quinte. His two younger brothers, Jake and Harry, had already enlisted. Joseph married Mary Frances Maracle on April 1st, 1897 in Tyendinaga. By 1911 they had two sons and were living in Park Street, Deseronto. Joseph’s eldest son, Sam, enlisted in February 1915.

Joseph joined the 155th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 637096. He was five feet seven and three quarter inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair.

Corby’s service record shows that he was examined by a medical board on September 6th, 1916 and discharged from the army for being medically unfit.

10. (a) Disease or disability. Over age. Bunions both feet, right eye blind.
(b) Date of origin. Prior to Enlistment
(c) Place of origin. Unknown.
(d) Cause. Unknown.

11. Present Condition. (Most Important). (To include full description of present disabling condition or conditions.) Shows marks of senility, large painfull bunions both feet, blind in right eye.

In the 1921 census, Mary Corby and her two sons were living in College Street, Deseronto. She was described as a widow.

William Harry Anderson, a printer, signed up in Alameda, Saskatchewan on this day in 1916. He was born in Deseronto on April 17th, 1895, the son of Alexander Anderson and Georgina (née Asselstine). The family had moved to Alameda by the time of the 1901 census.

Harry joined the 152nd Battalion with the regimental number 925727. He was five feet seven and a half inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His service record shows that he was transferred to the 5th Battalion in April 1917.

Anderson was involved in the Second Battle of Passchendaele and was awarded the Military Medal.

William Harry Anderson’s Military Medal citation, courtesy of Library and Archives Canada

This man was a runner in “C” Company during the operations of the 10th November 1917 and repeatedly carried despatches to and from Company to Battn Headquarters, and over the open through the fire of snipers from VENTURE FARM and so enabling communication to the kept up with our exposed flank.

Anderson was awarded 14 days’ leave in Paris over Christmas 1917. He returned in January with an infection and spent nearly two months in hospital being treated.

Harry received a gunshot wound to the wrist in September 1918 and left hospital a month later. He departed England on April 26th, 1919, on board the RMS Empress of Britain. He was demobilized on May 7th, giving his home address as 152 Higgins Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Arthur Lionel Malley signed up on this day in 1916 in Cobourg. He was born on December 8th, 1896, the son of William James Malley and Ada (née Moodie). He noted on his attestation form that he had attended two courses with the Royal School of Artillery. The photograph above was taken in 1914, when Arthur was a member of the Deseronto Fire Team.

Malley joined the Cobourg Heavy Battery with the regimental number 1260514. The picture below shows the fourth draft of this unit, which left for England in June 1916. Arthur was five feet ten inches tall, with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. His service record shows that he arrived in England on June 28th, 1916 on the RMS Empress of Britain. He was promoted to Corporal on the following day, but reverted to the rank of Gunner at his own request in January 1917. He served with artillery units in England and was posted to France in May 1918 to join the 12th Canadian Siege Battery.

Fourth Draft of the Cobourg Heavy Battery, courtesy of Cobourg Public LIbrary

Malley was demobilized in Montreal on May 11th, 1919. He married Hellen Isobel Weaver in Trenton on June 20th, 1928, when his occupation was customs clerk. He died 0n May 13th, 1952 and is buried in the Deseronto Cemetery alongside his parents.