Category: Soldiers
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Sergeant Walter Leigh Rayfield VC in the Great War
Sergeant Walter Leigh Rayfield VC a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy in the British Empire. His Victoria Cross displayed at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Early Life The 1891 English census shows ten-year-old Walter going by the last name Lee,…
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Nursing Sister Matilda Ethel Green in the Great War
Nursing Sister Matilda Ethel Green born 14 August 1886 in Listowel, Ontario, and later graduated at Medicine Hat General Hospital, Alberta. Next of kin: Harold E. Green, brother, Harmsworth, Manitoba. Mother Mrs S S Green, father Mr James Green of Girdwood Farm, Manitoba. Green enlisted 23 April 1917 in Calgary, Alberta, at this time, Matilda…
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Private George Webb in the Great War
RE-UNIONIS OUR ABIDING HOPETHY WILL BE DONE Private George Webb spent six months on the Western Front with the 116th Battalion in the Great War. George Webb born 19 December 1883 in Tottenham, Middlesex, England. Attestation Private George Webb 1090410 enlisted with the 253rd Overseas Queen’s University Highland Battalion, Cobolt, Ontario on 12 March 1917.…
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Private Hormisdas Haynes MM and Bar in the Great War
Private Hormisdas Haynes born 19 August 1874 in St James Parish, Montreal. Son of Johnny and Mary Louise (Rheaume) Haynes of Montreal. Husband of Marie Florida Haynes (nee Plessis-Belair), of 3086 St Dominique, Montreal. Married 11 September 1909. Their son, Joseph Alexandre Sosthène Haynes, baptized 27 May 1910. Attestation Hormisdas (Hormidas) Haynes (Hayiens) 2002009 attested…
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Major Roderick Bell-Irving DSO MC in the Great War
The Bell-Irving Family The Bell-Irving family descendants of Henry Bell-Irving, a Glasgow, Scotland, merchant. Bell-Irving resided in Milkbank, Dumfries County, and in 1851 he married Williamina McBean Irving. The couple had seven children, two of whom later established the family in Vancouver. The eldest son, Henry Ogle Bell-Irving (1856-1931) and his brother, Dr Duncan Bell-Irving,…
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Sergeant Thomas Ricketts VC in the Great War
17-year-old Newfoundland soldier Sergeant Thomas Ricketts VC the youngest-ever recipient of the Victoria Cross, Monday 14 October 1918. On enlistment, Tommy stated his age as 18 years and 3 months, much older than his real age of 15. Like many of his buddies, Tommy lied about his age to enlist. Later in October 1918, one…
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Private Vincent Zwingel in the Great War
Private Vincent Zwingel born 1 May 1880 in Suwałki, Russia. Suwałki located about 30 kilometres from the southwestern Lithuanian border and gives its name to the Polish protected area, known as Suwałki Landscape Park. Vincent a labourer and resided at 50 Stephen Street, Montreal (later 535 St Antoine Street, Montreal), his wife Mrs Tena (Antanina)…
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Major Albert Desbrisay Carter DSO in the Great War
HE DID THAT WHICH WAS HIS DUTY TO DO Major Albert Desbrisay Carter DSO & Bar, Croix du Guerre, the only son of Leonard & Ettie (Goodwin) Carter. Albert the highest scoring ace to serve with No.19 Squadron. On 19 May 1918, captured behind enemy lines after his Sopwith Dolphin earlier shot down by Leutnant Paul Billik of Jasta…
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The Norris Brothers in the Great War
The Norris Brothers of the Great War, Sergeant Alfred Norris MM and Bar, born 10 June 1892, and Private James Norris, born 29 June 1899, served together with 1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Company. Middle brother Lance Corporal Leonard Norris, born 3 October 1894, attested later on 30 March 1916, and served with the 8th…
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Matron Margaret Clothilde MacDonald RRC in the Great War
Matron Margaret Clothilde MacDonald appointed Matron-in-Chief of the Canadian Nursing service, becoming the first woman in the British Empire to obtain the rank of major during a nursing career of over thirty years. Early Life Margaret Clothilde MacDonald born 26 February 1879 in Bailey’s Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada. The third daughter of Donald…