Deseronto Archives

Alfred Sydney Lee, a bartender, signed up on this day in 1916 in Toronto. He was born in England on June 8th, 1892, the son of George Lee and Alice (née Garrad). George died in early 1902, when Alfred was nine years old and Alfred’s mother moved in with a man called William Keeley in 1903 (they did marry, but not until 1925).

Alfred was the eldest boy of the five children  from Alice’s first marriage. Perhaps he and his new stepfather did not get along, as Alfred left England to come to Canada at the age of 13 in 1906 as a Home child. He travelled with 100 other boys from the Fegan Home on the Empress of Britain. The picture below shows the boys from this group, with Alfred circled in red.

1906 Fegan Boys, courtesy of the British Home Children in Canada site

Lee joined the 92nd Battalion with the regimental number 193596. He was five feet five inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue/grey eyes and brown hair. He gave his next of kin as his mother, Alice Lee, of 15 Cancel Street, Walworth, London, England and his present address as Deseronto. (Alice Keeley’s address in the 1911 census was 16 Cancel Street.)

[As they signed up in the same place on the same day, one regimental number apart, it seems likely that Alfred Sydney Lee and Arthur Owen Francis knew each other.]

Alfred’s service record shows that he arrived in England on May 29th, 1916. He joined the 73rd Battalion in France on September 11th. On January 29th, 1917 he was wounded and hospitalized with concussion. He went back to duty on February 13th, but was troubled with deafness and tinnitus afterwards. In April 1917 he was admitted to hospital again with a fever and was there until July. He spent the rest of the war in England and was granted permission to marry on August 29th, 1918. Alfred married Florence Ada Calver in Camberwell, Surrey, England on September 28th.

The couple returned to Canada on the SS Scandinavian in October 1919 and were living in Oshawa in 1921, but they went back to England in 1923. Florence died in Mansfield in 1962 and Alfred died in Eastbourne in 1979.

Arthur Owen Francis, a porter, signed up in Toronto on this day in 1916. He was born in Stratford, London, England on February 9th, 1895 and came to Canada on the SS Kensington in 1907 with his parents, John and Emma (née Smee) and four siblings. Their passage was paid by the West Ham Distress Committee, which had been established as part of the British Unemployed Workmen’s Act of 1905. His father was a porter and the family were heading for Deseronto. In 1911 they were living on Foresters’ Island, where John was the caretaker.

Francis joined the 92nd Battalion with the regimental number 193595. He was five feet five inches tall, with a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. His service record shows that he sailed from Halifax on the RMS Empress of Britain on May 20th, 1916. In August he was assigned to the 92nd Battalion, and a month later was transferred to the 42nd Battalion and left England for France.

In August 1917 Francis was granted 14 days of leave in Paris. In September 1917 he was admitted to hospital with an infection and was treated for three months in England. He rejoined the 42nd Battalion in France on January 5th, 1918. On August 8th the 42nd Battalion was involved in the Battle of Amiens, seeing action at Hill 102, which is described in the Battalion’s war diary (page 1, page 2, page 3).

42nd Battalion war diary, 8th Aug 1918 p.3, courtesy of Library and Archives Canada

War Diary
42nd Canadian Battalion, R. H. C. Sheet 6
1918 August 8th CONT. Headquarters in the Wood and the situation was such that we were able to have lunch in the open at which were present besides the Brigadier, the G.O.C. [General Officer Commanding] of the Cavalry Division which had gone through us, two aeroplane pilots, one of whose machines had crashed and the other who had made a landing near us and later left in his machine, and several Tank officers of the tanks which had taken part in the engagement. The G.O.C. Cavalry Division stated that the Canadians were the first Infantry troops through which his Division had gone into action at any time. About 9.30 that night the Battalion Transport and Details came up to CLAUDE WOOD and joined the Battalion.
The captures of the Battalion included:
3 8″ Howitzers 4 loaded G. S. Wagons
4 4.1 Howitzers 8 horses
1 Anti-Tank Gun 2 Searchlights
1 H. V. 4.5 Gun
1 Grenatenwerfer
and many machine guns, and it was estimated 200 prisoners, also large quantities of ammunition and equipment.
Total casualties were:-
Officers WOUNDED: Lieut. E. G. Evans, Lieut. R. P. Crowe
OTHER RANKS KILLED: 12; DIED OF WOUNDS: 2; WOUNDED: 29
TOTAL CASUALTIES – ALL RANKS: 45

Francis was wounded by a gunshot to his right ankle in this engagement and invalided to England, where he spent a month in hosptial.

Francis got married while he was recovering in England to Dorothy Florence Kingsnorth in Southwark, Surrey, on December 22nd, 1918. He returned to Halifax on the RMS Aquitania in January 1919 and was demobilized in Kingston on February 18th.

In 1921 Arthur and Dorothy were living in Thomas Street, Deseronto with their one-year-old son. Arthur’s parents and siblings were living in Dundas Street in the same census. Arthur died in 1976.

On this day in 1916, Wilfred McKendry signed up in Deseronto. He was born in Lennox and Addington County on September 8th, 1900 (registered as Wilfred Laurier McHenry), the son of Edward McHenry and Annie (née Howard). He claimed to have been born in 1898 when he signed up.

Wilfred joined the 155th Battalion with the regimental number 637051. He was five feet five and a half inches tall, with a fair complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His service record shows that a medical board met at Kingston on August 17th, 1916 and determined that he was only 15 years old. They recommended he be discharged as under age; he left the service on August 23rd.

McKendry married Juanita Madeline Cole on July 5th, 1924 in Napanee (going by the name Stanley Wilfrid MacKendry). By 1940 the couple were in Detroit, Michigan with their two children. Stanley died in November 1965.

Edgar William Covert signed up in Deseronto on this day in 1916. He was born in the town on October 30th, 1900, the son of Frank Covert and Maud (née Bassett). On his attestation paper, Edgar gave his date of birth as October 1st, 1899.

He joined the 155th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 637071. He was five feet three inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His service record shows that he was examined by a medical board at Camp Barriefield in Kingston on August 21st, 1916 and determined to be under age and undeveloped. He was discharged from the army on August 23rd.

Edgar married Laura Hearns in Napanee on August 14th, 1924. They left Canada for Rochester, New York in September 1924 and Edgar died there in August 1981.

On this day in 1916 William George Woodgate signed up in Belleville. He was born in Romford, Essex, England on January 9th, 1880, the son of William Woodgate and Amy (née Smith). The Woodgate family had left England for Canada in 1908 and were living in Deseronto at the time of the 1911 census. By 1913, William was married to Maud Beatrice Rand. In that year the couple had a daughter and William was working as the cemetery caretaker in Deseronto.

Woodgate joined the 155th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 637032. He had military experience in the Royal Marines. He was later transferred to No. 3 Special Service Company. He was described as five feet eleven and three quarter inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown/grey/bald hair. He had tattoos on his arms: a lady in pannier dress on his right forearm and a crown with other devices on his left. His service record shows that he served in Canada for the duration of the war and was suffering from an inguinal hernia. William was discharged from Camp Barriefield in Kingston on January 23rd, 1919, with the rank of sergeant. In 1921 he and his wife and three daughters were living in Humberstone, Ontario and William was working as an engineer.

Ambrose Clause signed up in Belleville on this day in 1916. He was born in Deseronto on November 29th, 1889, the son of Wellington Clause and Sarah (née Maracle), who were both Mohawks. On July 14th, 1910 he married Mary Brant in Tyendinaga.

Clause joined the 155th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 636999. He was five feet nine inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair.

Ambrose’s service record shows that he was discharged from the army on October 5th, 1916 due to being medically unfit for service. A medical board convened at Camp Barriefield in Kingston reported as follows:

Examine and Report on the present state of health of the private above named.

Find that:-

1. He was admitted to the Kingston General Hospital, on August 4th., 1916 follwoing a severe haemorrhage of the lungs, which took place on a route march on the above date.

2. Sputum analysis positive for T.B.

3. Disability 100%.

4. Estimated duration of disability 6 months.

5. Sanitarium treatment indicated as above.

Ambrose never fully recovered from tuberculosis, although his record notes that in 1918 he was well enough to be working as a section man for the Canadian National Railway after his discharge.

Circumstances of casualty for Ambrose Clause, courtesy of Library and Archives Canada

Was re-admitted to Sanatorium Sept. 26, 1919. Pt. was a far advanced active case of Pul. & Laryngeal Tuberculosis. The disease progressed steadily from the time of re-admission he being confined to bed the entire time. The Laryngeal condition progressed rapidly as did the Pulmonary. Disease terminated fatally July 10-20.

Death due to Service “BPC list 2.12.21”

Clause died from the disease on July 10th, 1920 at the Sir Oliver Mowat Memorial Hospital in Portsmouth, Kingston. He was buried in Christ Church Cemetery, Tyendinaga.

On this day in 1916, George Fayette Palmer signed up in Deseronto. He was born in Monticello, Indiana on March 28th, 1868 (he claimed 1871), the son of Samuel Ball and Emma (née Palmer). He described himself as an “expert explosive man” on his attestation paper and gave his next of kin as his wife, Clara L. Palmer, whose home address was 1825 3rd Street West, Seattle, Washington.

Palmer joined the 155th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 636973. He was five feet seven and a half inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown and grey hair. His service record shows that served in Canada he rose through the ranks to become Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant and was discharged in Kingston on April 20th, 1918 in order to take up a commission in the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Garrison Regiment.

George signed up again on September 20th, 1918. At this date he had the rank of lieutenant and stated that he had served for six months in the 155th Battalion and one year seven months in No. 3 Special Service Company.¹ He gave his occupation as “Lawyer and manufacturer”. This time, he gave his next of kin as Emma J. Palmer, his mother. He was demobilized in Kingston on April 15th, 1919.

Grave of George Fayette Palmer and Edith Pearl Steele, courtesy of FindaGrave.com (uploaded by Carole Sprickerhoff)

After the war, George was living in Thomas Street, Deseronto, married to Edith Pearl Steele and living with her parents and a stepson, Basil Branscombe (Pearl’s son from her first marriage). He was working as a wholesale grocer. His first wife, Clara, was in Seattle with their son and was divorced.

Pearl Steele Palmer died on February 18th, 1932 and George died on November 3rd, 1934. On his death registration, he was described as a newspaper reporter. Both George and Pearl were buried in Deseronto Cemetery.

¹Special Service Companies were formed to make use of men whose health was less than perfect (or who were under or over age). They undertook activities such as guard duty.

Albert Arthur Winsor signed up in Deseronto on this day in 1916. He was born in Addlestone, Surrey, England, the son of George Winsor and Kathleen (née Taylor) and came to Canada on the SS Canada in February 1913. He married Andrina Campbell in St. Mark’s Church, Deseronto, on January 21st, 1915. Andrina was a Scot who came to Canada in 1913 as a domestic servant with the Women’s Domestic Guild of Canada.

The witnesses to Albert and Andrina’s marriage were Ellen and Arthur Rosendale and in October 1914 Albert and Andrina had been the witnesses at Ellen and Arthur’s wedding. Ellen Glenny and Albert Winsor had travelled to Canada on the same ship in 1913.

Winsor joined the 155th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 636960. He was six feet tall, with a fair complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. His service record shows that he left Canada on the SS Northland in October 1916 and joined the Canadian Army Service Corps in France a month later. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in January 1919. Andrina travelled to England during the war and the couple did not immediately return to Canada: Albert was discharged in London on August 16th, 1919 and was intending to live in Chertsey, Surrey.

He died in Vancouver on July 15th, 1970.

George Leo Smart signed up in Deseronto on this day in 1916. He was born in Tyendinaga on April 7th, 1898, the son of Henry Smart and Julia Ann (née Moses), who were both Mohawks. His older brother Harold (Harry) had enlisted in February 1915.

Smart joined the 155th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 636959. He was five feet seven and a half inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His service record shows that he was admitted to hospital in Kingston with measles in June 1916, then sailed from Halifax on the SS Northland on October 17th, 1916. George was transferred to the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in France on July 1st, 1917. In October he was admitted to hospital suffering from a fever, and in February 1918 he was injured again when he sprained his ankle. He received a gunshot wound to the right wrist on August 14, 1918 in the attack on Parvilliers and was struck off the strength of the battalion two days later when he was sent back to England to recuperate. The injury resulted in a loss of movement and feeling in George’s right hand.

George Leo Smart travelled back to Canada on the SS Caronia, arriving on April 5th, 1919. He was demobilized in Kingston on April 8th. He married Doris Sero in Tyendinaga on Decemeber 14th, 1920.

Wilbert Brant signed up in Deseronto on this day in 1916. He the son of Frank Brant and Mary (née Moses), who were both Mohawks, living in Tyendinaga. Wilbert claimed to have been born on November 27th, 1897. The 1901 census record for his family suggests that he was actually born in December 1899.

Wilbert joined the 155th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 636958. He was five feet nine and a half inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. Wilbert Brant’s service record shows that he was discharged at Camp Barriefield in Kingston on July 12th, 1916 for being under age. If the census date of birth for him is correct, he would have been 16 years old when he was discharged.

Brant married Harriet Beatrice Claus on September 22nd, 1919 in Oshawa when he was 22. One of the witnesses to the marriage was George Leo Smart, another Mohawk veteran who signed up the day after Wilbert. Wilbert and Beatrice were still in Oshawa at the time of the 1921 census, living with members of the Claus family.