Form letter informing Mrs. W. Maberley that one of her sons has died. A full transcription of this letter at the end of this entry. Some time shortly after April 7th, 1917 Mrs. W. Maberley, the mother of Private Henry Kiddle, reg. no 745109, was informed of his death from pneumonia on April 2nd, 1917.... Continue Reading →
The Sadness of a Mother
Private Cecil Grant died of wounds on April 11, 1917. His family showed their grief through a poem that was printed in the Southwestern Ontario Memorial Album. The poem reads: Sleep on dear son, in your soldier’s grace, Your life for your country you nobly gave, No friends stood near you to say good-bye, But safe... Continue Reading →
Remembering
Each Remembrance Day brings a different meaning to my experience with my conception and perception of war. Last year I was able to attend my local Remembrance Day ceremony on a bright, beautiful Fall day. This year I wanted to work. I was going to take a vacation day off to go to the ceremony... Continue Reading →
Service Summary for Private John Taylor Dewar Regimental No. 730016
Born Leith, Scotland October 28, 1897. Immigrates to Canada and family is living at 14 Norfolk Avenue, Galt, Ontario. Galt is later to become the amalgamated City of Cambridge (1974). At the age of 18 joins the 111th Battalion attesting on November 11th, 1915 in Galt, Ontario. He is 5’ 4.5” tall. Weighs 112 pounds... Continue Reading →
The Coles Brothers
The genealogy is not a primary interest of this blog mostly because one could simply get mired in the genealogical details of each soldier. But brothers serving together are a subject of great interest in the blog's research. The slow, painfully slow, digitization of the Library and Archives of Canada records of the soldiers of... Continue Reading →
Service Records Available for the Dewar Brothers
Checked the LAC web site today and they have digitized and uploaded the service records for William Robb Dewar, 53902, 18th Battalion and John Taylor Dewar, 730016, 4th Battalion. These documents are in PDF format. Click here for William Robb Dewar, 53902, 18th Battalion. Click here for John Taylor Dewar, 730016 4th Battalion. For assistance... Continue Reading →
Summary of Service of Sergeant James Quaey Nelson, reg. no. 53947
You can't do history alone. A relative of Sergeant Nelson contacted this blog in response to a soldier's page created recently and this dialogue has enhanced my understanding of this member of the 18th Battalion. Thanks to Dennis Nelson for forwarding this information. Below is a service summary he created and I have edited it... Continue Reading →
Service History Summary of the Broadbent Brothers
Summary of the service history of the Broadbent brothers who served with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in World War 1. Three brothers, Arthur, Charles, and Ephriam all served with the 18th Battalion. William served with the 47th and the 44th Battalion. Arthur Windsor Broadbent Charles Wesley Broadbent Ephriam Edward Broadbent William David Broadbent Service No.... Continue Reading →
The Broadbent Family from Mitchell Bay, Ontario
Note: this post has been corrected to reflect update information brought to my attention. All the men below where brothers and William David was incorrectly identified as their father. Their father was Abraham Broadbent and Mary Jane Broadbent nee Bump. The Broadbent family from Mitchell Bay, Ontario sent 4 family members to war. All of... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 