Francesca, a writer of a blog regarding the history of Kingston, Ontario, has sent me a mystery. Us (me at least) amateur historians/historiographers can be a canny bunch of information gathers. Francesca wrote me:
“…I’ve attached a photo that I took several months ago in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery here in Kingston. It’s of a gravestone that reads “18th Bn. C.E.F., QMS H. McGinley, 1892-1930.” Back when I took the photo I remember doing some preliminary research but I never found anything conclusive about this person. Perhaps you can find some leads!”
As she did not find anything conclusive on this soldier my preliminary research has come to the same conclusion. Something is amiss with the headstone or the source records. The headstone reads:
18th Bn C.E.F.
Q-M-S H. McGinley
1892 – 1930
A initial search using that surname only offers up 22 results. Of the 22 results only 2 have a forename initial of “H” and none of the soldiers appear to be born in 1892. An examination of the individual attestation papers indicate that:
- 4 of the LAC records have no attestation papers to review. None of these records have a forename starting in “H’. These records also have not birth year.
- All the other records tend to be regimental numbers and places of enlistment that were not related to battalions that acted as reinforcement battalions to the 18th Battalion.
- Of those with attestation papers there are 3 that enlisted in Toronto, where some replacements came from.
- As the LAC records do not have, as of yet, digitized service records a more comprehensive search cannot be made.
- A keyword search at the LAC using MacGinl* finds no records.
- A review of the 1915 Nominal Roll found no soldier with a similar name.
Hopefully the transcriptions of the War Diaries will make mention of Quarter Master Sergeant H. McGinley or another soldier’s service record will record a promotion in which he is referenced.
But, as of now there is a head stone at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kingston that may be a member of the 18th Battalion.
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History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 
There is a death for a Hugh McGinley in Kingston. Born Oct 15, 1892 Ireland and died Dec 31, 1929 at age 37. Buried in St. Mary’s cemetery in Kingsville on Jan 3, 1930. No family names listed but looks like they state ‘M’ for married. Pipe fitter by trade. Died of bronchial pneumonia. States he was in Canada for 15 years. Not much of anything else found.