Deseronto Archives

On this day in 1916 Milton Richard Crouse, a cloth cutter, enlisted for the first time in Oshawa. He was born in Deseronto on December, 16th, 1901, the son of Richard Crouse and Maggie (née Bradshaw), meaning that he was fourteen years old when he signed up.

He served five months in the 182nd Battalion with the regimental number 868317. He was five feet six inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He was discharged on October 9th, 1916 in Niagara-on-the-Lake as medically unfit after serving for five months and he enlisted again in the same battalion on October 10th, this time with the number 868394. A note on his service file states “Accepted as a bandsman. Not to be taken overseas.” There is also a note bearing Crouse’s mother’s signature, giving him permission to serve as a bugler.

Crouse (now with the rank of Acting Corporal) was once again discharged as being under age on February 24th, 1917.

In 1921 Milton was an inmate of the provincial jail in Regina, Saskatchewan. He married Lyla Elizabeth Grace Milligan on September 23rd, 1922 in Lindsay, Ontario. She died of tubercular meningitis in Toronto on January 6th, 1926. On April 23rd, 1927 Milton got married to Evelyn Hawley in Toronto. He got married for a third time in Brentwood, Essex, England in 1943 to Margaret Fuller. In 1956 Milton and Margaret travelled to England on the RMS Saxonia for a three month vacation in 1956. He died in Kensington, London, England on October 1st, 1959.

Peter Raymond, a mechanic, signed up in Timmins on this day in 1916. He stated that he was born in Deseronto on April 3rd, 1897. His parents were Louis Raymond and Adele (née Chartrand): they were living in Deseronto in 1891 with their children (seven at that point, Peter would be the tenth). They moved to New Liskeard, where Louis died of pneumonia in December 1909. Peter gave his current address as Schumacher, Ontario, and Adele’s as Uno Park.

Peter joined the 159th Battalion with the regimental number 649419. He was five feet five inches tall, with a fair complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His service record shows that Raymond arrived in England on November 11th, 1916 and was transferred to the 5th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops. He arrived in France on February 24th, 1917.

Raymond was twice promoted to Lance Corporal and twice requested to return to the ranks. He was twice disciplined for not obeying orders, the first time on October 31st, 1918:

31-10-18 Sentenced to 14 days F.P. [Field Punishment] #2 for W.O.A.S. [while on active service] (1) Hesitating to obey the order of a superior officer (2) Using obscene language.

Raymond arrived back in Halifax on the SS Megantic on March 5th, 1919. He was demobilized on March 31st. On August 10th, 1925 he married Lucienne Auger in Timmins, at which time he was working as a plumber.

Hugo Burghart Rathbun, a civil engineer, enlisted on this day in 1916 in Kingston. He was born in Deseronto on June 28th, 1890, the son of Herbert Rathbun and Agnes (née Bell). He was named after Herbert’s father, the founder of the Rathbun Company in Deseronto. By 1897 the family were living in Belleville: Herbert died there on April 4th of tuberculosis.

Hugo had served in the Ammunition Column of the 9th Brigade and he joined the 50th Battery of the Canadian Field Artillery as a lieutenant. His service record shows that in June 1918 he was seconded to the Canadian 2nd Divisional Artillery as a Gas Officer. He returned to England in January 1919 and returned to Canada in May, to be demobilized.

Rathbun was back at 28 Campbell Street in Belleville in 1921, living with his mother (who had married again and was again a widow) and his sister Helen. The household also contained a cook and a servant. Hugo was working as a salesman.

Hugo died in Belleville General Hospital on February 15th, 1930, after suffering convulsions caused by chronic nephritis, a kidney disease. He was buried in the Belleville cemetery.

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.