Robert Albert Victor Cheale

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll
Central School Honour Roll

Robert Albert Victor Cheale,  Corporal 131^st Overseas Battalion. Signed his attestation papers on the 14^th of January 1916 at New Westminster 790399     b.12 December 1897 Bexhill, Sussex, England. He lived in Port Coquitlam with his parents, and worked as a carpenter. Active: 104th Regiment, New Westminster. Service file: while emptying 6-pounder shells, accidently dropped match and received 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns to the right side of his face; he was hospitalized for a few weeks then returned into the fray.

Photo from 1916, 131st Battalion , 14th Platoon; Robert is pictured in the front row, far right.

Father: George Cheale  1863 – 28 December 1941 age78. worked as a carpenter; lived in Port Coquitlam.
 Mother: Jane Langridge b. 27 August 1861 Sussex, England - d. 8 June1925 Port Coquitlam, age 63.

1911census, finds the family living at Harrison Mills; it appears that the family moved to Port Coquitlam in 1913, at which time Robert's father built the John Kilmer Residence at  1575 Pitt River Road, today more easily seen from Knappen Street. ( photo from the PoCo museum ) Followed in 1914 by a home at 1824 Pitt River Road, and another next door 1828 Pitt River Road, built in 1922. Robert's father George was a well trained English carpenter, who probably built many more homes than these three.

After the war, Robert returned to Port Coquitlam, and in 1926 he married Nellie Greenwood, (1901 – 1984 )

Brother:   Percy Cheale
Sisters:   Mrs. E. Bartons
Mrs. Florence Gertrude Pricilla Goodsell, VI ( 1893 – 1973 ) she was married in 1913
 
Jeannie Cheale married in 1923 Clarence Edward Nichols;  In 1932 as a widow she remarried, becoming Mrs. Jennie Georgina Davidson West, ( 1904 – 1971 )

Also a Bernice Cheale, Bernice Donald 

Robert Albert Victor Cheale, died on the 22^nd of January 1977 at the Royal Columbian hospital, New Westminster, he was cremated.   Retired postal supervisor, and was living at 108-711 7^th Avenue, New Westminster, B.C.

Alexander Mainland Campbell

Essondale Honour Roll

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

Alexander Mainland Campbell, Sapper. 13^th Field company Canadian engineers, also in the 6^th and 12^th, Canadian Engineers.  Alexander signed his attestation papers on the 29^th of February 1916, in Vancouver, B.C. Van.   504701  he listed his occupations as a  carpenter, concrete construction worker. He was working at Colony Farm, and his wife is listed as living there also with their children.  Alexander was previously active in the 91^st Highlanders, Hamilton, Ontario.   He was born on the 3^rd of November 1888, at Hamilton, Ontario. and died on the 14th of June 1929, age 41,  from a skull injury from a car accident in Burnaby, B.C. he was living  at Essondale, working as a stone mason.
        His wife was, May Farquhar ( Marie Farquhar?) they had at least two children: John Alexander Campbell,(1911-) and William James Campbell (1913- ); according to his death certificate the family moved here in 1911, which coincides with the birth of John Alexander Campbell.
       During his war service he received medical attention for gonorrhoea, and he suffered through a bout of influenza in 1917.  During the war his wife moved to Vancouver, then to Hamilton, Ontario; and it appears that the family moved back here immediately after the war, because an A.M. Campbell is listed as working as a manager for the P. Burns & Co. in 1920.
Alexander’s parents were: Alexander McNab Campbell, and Elizabeth Barlow

NOTE: also miss-spelled as Alexander Maitland Campbell.

Alexander Hugh Lewis Taylor Campbell

Port Coquitlam Honour roll

Alexander Hugh Lewis Taylor Campbell AKA Louis.    lieutenant, in the Canadian Army Dental Core.  761135  enlisted in the 121st Battalion; previously served with the 18^th field ambulance. Dental surgeon. Born on the 13^th of October 1878  at Stranraer, Scotland. At the time of his signing his attestation papers he was living somewhere along Manning Street, Port Coquitlam; later moved to 1650 Hollywood Crescent, Victoria.  Married in 1913  to  Emily "Francis” Gestner Huntington Crawley (1893 – 1971 ). Children: Alexander Hugh Lewis Taylor Campbell, AKA Allistair (1914 – 1985 ) he became a doctor; Miriam Annie Campbell,( 1917 – ).   Parents were: Capt. George Campbell, and Mina Taylor.
Alexander Hugh Lewis Taylor Campbell, died on the 16th of November 1951 at home, which was at 3691 Point Grey Road, Vancouver, B.C.,  and he is buried in the Ocean View Burial Park, Burnaby, B.C.

    Information from the web, provided by a granddaughter: Judy  re. Scots in Boer war:  My wounded “Vet” is my grandfather, Alexander Hugh Lewis Taylor Campbell, b.1878 Stranraer, Scotland. I'd love to be able to know some of the facts, including which battle, so forth. The family lore is that he was on his horse, it was shot and they fell. The horse landed atop Grandad. He suffered a hip injury, and an eye/facial bones injury. Apparently they lay in the hot sun for hours before being found and rescued. Grandad may have been shot too, but I don't know that.

NOTE: It is mentioned in his service file that he has ptosis in his left eyelid, something he may have acquired from his Boer war service..

Thomas Cameron

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

T. Cameron, probably Thomas Cameron 238th Battalion . Signed his attestation papers on the 28^th of July 1916, at Vancouver, B.C.  1036961  working as a logger. difficult to read but his date of birth appears to read as 10^th of June 1876 or 1874, but his death certificate probably has it correct at 10^th of June 1868, he was born at Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Living in Vancouver, B.C., he was single. Brother: Jack Cameron,( John Cameron ? ) Hillcrest, Alberta.  Prior to serving he had been active with the 5^th Militia Sturgeon Falls, Ontario.
        His Service Record, states that his brother is John Cameron, and also a sister, Barbara Cameron.  He was discharged early with a diagnosis of cirrhosis of his liver, and  nephritis in 1917.
The medical staff diagnosed him as an alcoholic, and he also acquired syphillis during his war time efforts.
Thomas died at the Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, B.C. on the 20^th of January 1929, at the age of 59.

John Bruce

Port Coquitlam Cenotaph

Port Coquitlam cenotaph, plinth, west side

John Bruce, "Jock Bruce"   Private  790597  
Born at Renton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland on the 11^th of July 1889, his attestion paper states that he was a ships riveter.
He played for the local Black & Gold football team. John enlisted on the 11^th of February 1916 with the 131^st battalion, and was Killed In Action, KIA on the 22^nd of August 1917,in France at the age of 28.
Virtual memorial for John Bruce
 His father was David Bruce, of Renton, Dunbartonshire. John also left a sister behind Jean Bruce, who possibly became Mrs. Jean McIntyre.
At his death he was in the Canadian infantry ( Western Ontario Regiment ), 47^th Battalion.  John is memorialized at the Vimy Ridge memorial

 Article from a display at the Port Coquitlam Museum, probably from the Coquitlam Star, newspaper. The article is transcribed in full, below.

 Jock Bruce killed

       It came as a shock to the many friends of Jock Bruce in the city to learn that he had made the supreme sacifice "Somewhere in France." Jock was one of the most noted footballers on the coast, and for two seasons previous to his enlistment was a member of Coquitlam's famous black & gold team. He played on the Mainland team against the Vancouver Island team several times and was recoginized as one of the best centre half-backs in the game in the Province. The same thing that made hime a great footballer no doubt made him a great soldier. Jock never worried over those things, and was always willing to take a chance.
An incident that happened at Vernon in 1916, when the 131st Battalion was in training there, shows his canny Scotch way of overcoming difficulties. He was acting as stretcher-bearer in a sham battle and one of the men, weighing about 200 pounds, had to be carried back of the lines supposed to be wounded. When Jock saw him and noticed his size, he said, "Na, he's na wounded; he's deid," and left him on the field to walk back.

NOTE: the area where John was born is long noted for its capable football players

Rather poor quality scan of the 131^st Battalion, No. 15 Platoon

Top Row  -— W.J. Reeves, H.A. Jennings, T. Dickinson, A.R. Solloway, C. Strand, G. Royle, A.W. Buckett, E. Lake,L. Robbie, F.J. Robertson, J.E. Blais.

Second Row — W.J. Ayling, D. Rodman, J.J. O'Donnell, W. Ross, L. Paul, C.C. Clarke, S. Cleave, A.B. Mouldey, C.H. Smith, M.F. Weeks, R.E. Mundon, John Bruce.

Third Row — R.R. Abbott, L.H. Wadlund, E. Hide, H.A. Aves, J.H. McCormick, J. Reid, G.H. Nicholls, J.C. McInnes, F. Johncock, B.L. Davis, R. Thoreson, C. Nicholls.

Fourth Row — N.A. Craig, G. Johnson, D. McLeod, J. Clarke, J.A. Melton, J. Brown, H.T. Routley, J. Edwards, A. Angelo, A. McIntyre.

Front Row — Lee.-Corpl. T. Mars, Corpl. A.F.H. Moore, Co.S.M. R. Henderson, Lieut. R. O'Hanley. Co.Q.M.S. L.G. Rayner, Sergt. W.T. House, Corpl. L.W. Hookham, Drummer S.C. Ballard.

NOTE: Sadly very little is known about him, he is not memorialized at his birthplace.

Henry Banham

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll
Essondale Honour Roll

Sergeant-major Henry Banham , Canadian Military Police Corps., No.11 Detachment.  Essondale employee   b. 14^th of August 1866, Staines, Middlesex, England.   Signed his attestation papers  ( Front  ---  Back ) on the 1^st of October 1917 2583301  Service File:  PDF    at the time he was living at Old Drill Hall, Victoria.  WIFE:  Hannah Elizabeth”Lizzie” Miller (Muir) living in Regina.   military policeman.  23 years with NWMP, was a sergeant ( No.: 1206 ); 8 months with the Corps of Guides. 
He served his country until February 28,1919, then he went back to Essondale to work.
After the war the 1919 to 1931 directories lists Henry as an attendant  at Essondale
Henry Banham died on the 27^th of July 1945, at Vancouver, B.C.; age 78. At the time of his death he was living at 2296 Tolmie St., Vancouver,B.C..
Obituary: July 30^th, 1945 Vancouver Daily Province: Riel Rebellion veteran passes.

       Henry Banham, dies age 78 lived in Vancouver for nineteen years. wife in Regina, SON: Harry C., Los Gatos, Santa Clara, California; two brothers in Queensborough, Ontario, and a grandson, Capt. Harold Banham, R.C.O.C., overseas.
Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver in the returned soldiers plot.
Engaged NWMP 27^th of April 1888; ended on 26^th April 1900, re-engaged 6^th of April 1901, retired to pension 6 December 1909 a pension of $239.25 per year for life
served 23 years and 245 days, first at Montreal and then at Moose jaw and Depot, Regina for 8 years. Following his re-engagement in 1901 he served in the Regina area, except for a period in 1903 when he was recruiting in Winnipeg, and Brandon, Manitoba.
in 1903 he won best shot gold medal at Calgary rifle match. when he retired he still had not received it, and was given $25 instead. In 1931 he was awarded $300 in lieu of script for service during the 1885 Riel Rebellion, he was working at Essondale at this time. On April 8, 1935 Henry was awarded the RCMP long service medal.
FATHER: William Banham.
MOTHER: Mary.
SON: Henry Cecil Banham, born 29^th July 1892  also served his country. Signed his attestation papers on the 1^st of October 1915 at Winnipeg, Manitoba  153896  occupation was a driver. WIFE: Kathryn / Katherine
Henry Cecil Banham became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1937, and later was drafted into WWII.

Ernest Whitman Bigelow

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

Ernest Whitman Bigelow  196^th Battalion, ( Western Universities ) C.E.F., 46th Battalion
Signed his attestation papers on the 17^th of June 1916 at Vancouver, B.C., he was living in Port Coquitlam.
  911998   Service File: PDF   Barrister.  Born on the 4^th of June 1889 at Canso, Nova Scotia.

In 1914 granted the permission to be a notary public, working in Port Coquitlam
Went to France, in April 1917  and at Vimy Ridge while bringing in the wounded he was shot in left arm. Sent to No.1 Convalescent Depot, Bologne.  At the end of May 1917 sent to England, where in June he had gonorrhoea.   He was discharged as medically unfit on the 30^th of April 1918.

NOTE: apparently 1 in 9 soldiers would suffer from this disease, and the prostitutes favored the Canadian soldiers because they were better paid, than the other countries personnel.

FATHER: Abraham Whitman Bigelow ( – 1918 ) (first marriage to, Emma M. Wylde  )
MOTHER: Sarah Pyle ( 1861 – 1943 ) married in 1879

SIBLINGS: Lila Emma Bigelow "Moffatt", Hazel Carrie Bigelow "Hastie",( 1886 - ); William Samuel Bigelow, ( 1887 - 1963 )-{ 463732 }

1891 Census: Guysborough,Canso, Nova Scotia. Captures the family; Abraham Whitman Bigelow was a local merchant, hotel keeper…
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Ernest Whitman Bigelow, after the war he lived in Port Coquitlam, and practiced law in the Coquitlam-Mission, B.C. area.

Advertisement from October 1919, which ran in the paper until the middle of 1921 in the Abbottsford Post

 
  He died on the 20^th of May 1933 at Essondale Hospital; where he had spent the last 10 years of his life, being admitted on the 1st of September 1924.  he was single and suffering from sarcoma of his lungs, and  dementia praecox.   He is buried in Fraser Cemetery,  IOOF plot, New Westminster, Veterans section Lot 8 Blk.10.

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NOTE: On the Find-a-Grave site, the listing for Ernest Whitman Bigelow, has a wild story at the bottom that does not fit in at all with what is on the death certificate.