Deseronto Archives

On this day in 1916, David John Powless, a woodworker, enlisted in Toronto. He was born in Prince Edward County on January 5th, 1869, the son of Jacob Powless and Nancy (née Zachariah), who were Mohawks. His first wife was Louisa Maracle, who died on February 15th, 1907 of influenza in Deseronto. He married Rose Hannah Mepham (née Hawkins) in Toronto on October 28th, 1910. Powless had five surviving children from his first marriage, Rose had one and they had three more children between 1911 and 1915. David’s two eldest sons, Charles David Powless and Harold Dean Powless had enlisted in August 1915.

David joined the 134th Battalion with the regimental number 799365. He was five feet eight and a half inches tall, with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and black hair. His service record shows that his unit sailed from Halifax on August 8th, 1916. In England, Powless was transferred to the 15th Battalion, which he joined in France in November 1916.

In June 1918 Powless was sent to England due to being over age for active service. He was transferred back to Canada on the RMS Llanstephan Castle, arriving in Montreal on October 8th. He was discharged from the army in Toronto on November 6th, 1918.

On this day in 1916, Charles Hyderman signed up in Deseronto. He was born in the town on July 25th, 1900, the son of John Hyderman and Eva (née Moore). He claimed to have been born in 1897.

Charles joined the 155th Battalion, with the regimental number 636363. He served in this battalion for nine months, sailing on the SS Northland from Halifax in October 1916. His service record shows that he was was transferred to the 21st Battalion for three months before being discharged for being under age and shipped back to Canada in April 1917. He re-enlisted in Kingston on October 18th, 1918 with the regimental number 2774115 and served in Kingston with the Canadian Army Service Corps. He was in hospital being treated for an infection between January and April, and was demobilized on May 3rd, 1919.

Hyderman married Ethel Gertrude McPhee on September 23, 1922 in Oshawa, at which time his occupation was printer. He died on March 31, 1975 in Oshawa.

On this day in 1916, Harry Stiner, a hotel-keeper, enlisted in Deseronto. He was born Uxbridge, Ontario on December 2nd, 1881, the son of Frederick Stiner and Mary (née Booth). On July 28th, 1903 he married Josephine O’Donnell in Uxbridge. In 1911 the couple were living in North Bay with one daughter and two of Harry’s siblings. When he enlisted, Harry and Josephine were living in Deseronto. By 1916 they had had three more children, one of whom had died.

Harry joined the 155th Battalion with the regimental number 636362. He was five feet six and a half inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. His service record shows that he left Canada on the SS Northland on October 17th, 1916. In December he was transferred to the 154th Battalion. He was admitted to hospital on January 22nd, 1917, suffering from asthma. Proceedings of a Medical Board note that his asthma was aggravated by the damp climate in England. (Harry mentions his asthma in a letter home.)They agreed that he was “unsuitable for military life”. He left England on May 13th, 1917 on the hospital ship Letitia and discharged as medically unfit on June 19th, 1917. Family tree information on Ancestry suggests that he died in 1954.

On this day in 1916, Hugh Brant signed up in Deseronto. He was born in Tyendinaga on May 4th, 1876, the son of Jacob Oak Brant and Margaret (née Williams), who were Mohawks.

He joined the 155th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 636364. He was five feet, nine and three quarter inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. Hugh Brant’s service record shows that he arrived in England on the SS Northland on October 18th, 1916. He joined the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles at the front on November 29th. He was admitted to hospital in London on June 6th 1917 with a gunshot wound to the left hand, which he received on June 1st, and suffering from granular conjunctivitis [trachoma]. This was a previous eye complaint which had been made worse by being gassed on May 26th. His eye problem was so severe that he was sent home to Canada for treatment. An article in the Intelligencer newspaper describes a welcome-home party put on for him.

Brant arrived back in Halifax on the hospital ship Araguay on November 6th, 1917. He was discharged as medically unfit for further service on February 28th, 1918 at Kingston.

Hugh was living in College Street, Deseronto in 1921, working as a labourer. He died on September 30th, 1956 and was buried in All Saints Cemetery, Tyendinaga.

On this day in 1916, William Henry Barnhardt signed up in Hagersville, Ontario. He was born in Tyendinaga on March 9th, 1896, the son of William and Sarah Barnhardt, who were Mohawks.

Barnhardt joined the 114th Battalion with the regimental number 739644. He was five feet nine inches tall, with a fair complexion, grey eyes and black hair. His service record shows that he went absent without leave on March 11th, 1916 and was struck off as a deserter on April 7th.

William married Mabel Amelia Barnhart on March 8th, 1923 in Deseronto. He died of pneumonia in Belleville General Hospital on March 30th, 1934 and was buried in All Saints Cemetery, Tyendinaga.

On this day in 1916, William James Watson signed up in Toronto. He was born in Deseronto on June 21st, 1893, the son of Ernest Arthur Watson and Annie (née Shane). He was working as a chauffeur when he enlisted.

Watson joined the 124th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 770157. He was five feet nine inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His service record shows that a medical board diagnosed him with chronic double otitis media on April 26th, 1916. He had been suffering from the ear infections for five years and was hard of hearing as a result. Watson was discharged from the army on May 5th, 1916 as medically unfit for further service.

William married Isabella Charlton in Toronto on January 17th, 1917, at which time he was a munitions worker.

On this day in 1916, Allen Asselstine signed up in Deseronto. He was born on May 24th, 1869 in Roblin, Ontario, the son of Henry Asselstine and Louisa (née Windover). He claimed to have been born in 1880. He had been married three times by the time he joined up. Firstly to Annie Godfrey in 1894, then to Ella Walker in 1899 and to Nellie Arthurs on November 25, 1915.

Asselstine joined the 155th Battalion with the regimental number 636336. He was described as five feet eleven and a half inches, with a dark complexion, black eyes and black hair. His service record shows that he served in Canada for two years (having deserted at one point) and was discharged on June 24th, 1918 because he was over age.

Allen survived the war and got married again on July 23rd, 1921 to Martha Elliot in Belleville. He died on December 14th, 1955 and was buried in Belleville.

On this day in 1916, Percy William Armitage enlisted in Kingston. He was born in Toronto on July 25th, 1892, the son of Elias Armitage and Hattie (née Fryer). The family were living in Deseronto at the time of the 1901 and 1911 censuses. Percy was a banker. His younger brother, Norman, had enlisted in May 1915.

Percy joined the 50th Battery of the 13th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade with the regimental number 304654. He was described as having a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair and was five feet six inches tall. His service record shows that he was transferred to the 52nd Battery. He arrived in England on September 26th, 1916 and went to France on August 28th, 1917. On November 6th, 1918 Percy was granted two weeks of leave in the UK. His leave was extended to three weeks because the war had ended. He returned to France in December. In March 1919 he was treated in hospital for a month for an infection. When he was examined prior to leaving the service in June he was clear of disease.

Armitage arrived back in Halifax on board the RMS Olympic on July 8th, 1919. He was demobilized at Kingston on July 11th. He married Lida Dorothy Lake after the war. He died at the Riverdale Hospital in Toronto on August 12th, 1974 and was buried in Newcastle, Ontario.