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…
.

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.

.
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.

Leonard Bundy

Essondale Honour Roll
Eaton Socon war memorial

Leonard Bundy, Corporal, 104^th Westminster Fusiliers; BCR 7^th Battalion.
Signed his attestation papers on the 23^rd of September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec; he was made a corporal the same day.     17083
     Hospital attendant at Essondale Hospital 
Born on the 12^th of January 1884, at Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire, England.

 

Recently found photograph of Leonard Bundy, which was part of a large collage of photographs of Essondale Hospital staff.  ca. 1914-1915?

FATHER: George Bundy
MOTHER: Mary Bundy

Leonard Bundy immigrated from England in 1907, the 1911 census, finds him living as a lodger in Toronto East, at 370 Berkley Street; and working as a Toronto policeman. The 1912 directories, show that he continued to live at the same place, and work as a policeman, until 1912; after 1913 no reference to him.

Corporal Leonard Bundy was wounded and missing his unit was in the area of Keersalaere to St. Julien, Belgium at the time.

      He was presumed dead on the 24^th of April 1915. His remains have never been found, so he is commemorated in the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial.

He is also commemorated in a war memorial at Eaton Socon

Virtual Memorial for Leonard Bundy

Page 613, of the Circumstances of Death Registers.

A family member has shared some of the Service file on this Page
NOTE: He is not commemorated on the Port Coquitlam, or Coquitlam cenotaphs, but he was noted in the Hospital Annual Reports

Ernest Lewer Buck

Port Coquitlam Honour roll

Ernest Lewer Buck  C.A.M.C.  Signed his attestation papers on the 13^th of April 1916 at Vancouver, B.C.  524866      sawyer.   Born on the 17^th of October 1872 at London, England. Home: was Port Coquitlam; the 1911 Census, mentions that he immigrated in 1903, and was a tallyman at the sawmill at the Coquitlam Lake dam.

BROTHER: Alfred William Buck,  of Perth, Western Australia.

1906 Census. Manitoba, Souris, Cartwright  
1911 Census New Westminster, Dewdney Riding , page11
 

1945 Cariboo Observer:  "Sergt." Ernie Buck in hospital. His health was deteriorating, mentioned frequently in the local newspapers from now on.

In 1946  special nurse-orderly, formerly with the Canadian Army Medical Corps Ernie Buck, accompanied Benjamin Grigin ⁽¹⁾ by plane to Vancouver.

⁽¹⁾ Benjamin Alfred Griffin (1870 - 1946 ) Benjamin died five days later at Essondale after Ernie Buck accompanied Ben to the Coast. Ben suffered from senile dementia, and is buried in the Woodlands Cemetery 
-------------------

1949 Ernie in Vancouver for treatment "Old Sarge" the branches oldest legionnaire, and general favourite.

1949 September   "Adjourner" missed
Considerable difficulty was encountered by the meeting in getting a motion of adjournment, due to the absence of the official "adjourner," E.L. (The Sarge) Buck. granddaddy of the Cariboo branch who at present is at the Coast getting medical attention.

 Cariboo Observer  6 July 1950  page one.

Last rites held for E.L. Buck

QUESNEL Legionnaires and members of the Quesnel Branch BPO Elks joined in paying final tribute to a departed brother when funeral services were held at the Church of St. John the Divine on Tuesday for Ernest L. Buck who passed away in Quesnel Hospital on the evening of June 29. He was in his 85th year.

      Service was read by Canon O. Berry, Padre of the Legion Branch here, and at the graveside rites were conducted by S.A. Hilborn, acting Chaplain for the BPOE, and Norman Palmer, Legion President.
Pipe Major Adam Smith played the Lament.

       Pall bearers were brothers of both the Legion and the Elks. Representing the Legion were George Johnston, Arthur Dixon, and Joseph Walker. Lodge brothers acting as pall bearers were P.L. Siemens, Arthur Collver and J. Sales.

     Born near London England in 1865. Mr. Buck lived in the Isle of Wight and at Brechen, Wales. He came to the Territory of Dakota with a band of Welsh immigrants in 1883. He acted as a Justice of the Peace in Cavalier County for many years.

     He moved to Manitoba at the turn of the century and arrived on the Pacific Coast about 1908. He located in Vancouver and worked with the B. C. Electric Co., as head teamster on a number of construction jobs.

     At the outbreak of World War I he enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps and served in base hospitals in England, returning home in 1919.

   Prior to moving to Cariboo about 20 years ago he had been located at Trail. On first coming to the Central Interior he was located at various points along the Nazko Road, eventually making his home in Quesnel about ten years ago.

    Known familiarly as "Sarge" to a wide circle of friends, he took an active interest in both Lodge and the Quesnel Legion branch #94  affairs.
He held life memberships in both organizations.

    At the time the Elks Lodge #298  was chartered in Quesnel it was learned that he had been a member of the organization for 30 years prior to the formation of the first Lodge in Canada, and was for a time believed to be the oldest member in the Dominion.
This was later found to be incorrect.
    As far as can be determined he had no known surviving relatives.

Ernest Lewer Buck died on the 29^th of June 1950 at the Quesnel General Hospital, and he is buried in the Quesnel Cemetery.

NOTE: his death certificate states that he was born on the 14^th of October 1865, (Brentford, Middlesex) which appears to be a correct date; as usual never matches the attestation paper date of 17^th of October 1872.

Peter Brass

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

Peter Brass 68^th O/S Depot Field Battery, then 15^th Brigade
Signed his attestation papers on the 1st of May 1916, at Vancouver, B.C.
338857   railroad worker, living in Ruskin, B.C. Born on the 16^th of January 1882  Sandwick, Orkneys, Scotland.

FATHER: John Brass
MOTHER: Ellen Brass

SISTER: Annie Mary Brass

        The family appear to have been living at a place called Instably, Quoyloo, Sandwick, Orkney Isles, Scotland.

      Peter Brass, died at Mission, B.C. on the 12^th of July 1939, buried at the Hatzic Cemetery .
At the time of his death home was at Ruskin, and he was the Ruskin C.P.R. section foreman. He worked 2 weeks before his death of a pulmonary embolism

James Alexander Bonson

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

James Alexander Bonson  224^th Battalion Canadian Forestry.
Signed his attestation papers on the 3^rd of April 1916, at Vancouver, B.C.   299251      Service File: PDF   Bridge builder. Born on the 10^th of February 1869, at New Westminster, B.C.

      Discharged after only six weeks, his heart was showing issues, and he was deemed medically unfit.  But he was able to live a normal life.
  His father owned large tracts of land in Maple Ridge, obtained through Crown Grants

Left to Right: Robert Bonson, Mrs. Lewis Francis Bonson, James Alexander Bonson (on mother's lap), Marian Bonson, Henry Bonson, Mr. Lewis Bonson, and Charles Bonson. ca.1870?   Vancouver Archives  A47239

FATHER: Lewis Francis Bonson ( 1830 – 1917 )
MOTHER: Jemima Urquhart ( 1834 – 1915 )
Some of the Bonson family history from the Maple Ridge Museum

In 1899  James married Annie Georgina Haugh,( 1881 – )
Children with Annie:
Dorothy Marion Bonson, ( 1902 -  ),  Lewis Haugh Bonson, ( 1900 – )
Married in 1912 Henrietta Jessie Ewart Welsh, ( 1891 - 1974 )
SON: Ross. J. Bonson 

James Alexander Bonson, died on the 7^th of July 1954, at the Royal Columbian hospital, New Westminster, B.C. He is buried at  Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby.
A retired steam engineer

BROTHERS: Robert Forest Bonson (1862 – 1938 ),
                     Henry William Bonson ( 1864 - 1910 )
SISTER: Marion Bonson; Marion Hoy ( 1860 – 1943 )

Marion Bonson, daughter of Lewis Bonson at age sixteen. ca. 187?
New Westminster Archives IHP6716

A fonds exists from James Alexander Bonson at the Vancouver Archives

William Earle Bolton

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

William Earle Bolton  Lieutenant  Lord Strathcona's Horse "A" Squadron.
Signed his attestation papers on the 4^th of September 1914 at  Valcartier,Quebec.
    He was a student living in Port Coquitlam, at that time.   2465    Service File:  PDF  
Prior military activities: BCH; 22^nd S.L.H. 1yr.
Born on the 4^th of May 1892 at Toronto, Ontario.

     Some history about Bolton family  
             1901Census: Sault St. Marie, Ontario
             1911Census: Lloydminster, Saskatchewan

FATHER: William Daniel Bolton ( 1852 – 1932 )
MOM: Esther Walker ( 18 June 1856 – )

SISTER : Mabel "Beth" Gertrude Bolton, Mabel Gertrude Webster ( 1890- )
WIFE: Sarah Ethel Victoria Tyhurst, Sarah Ethel Victoria Bolton ( 1858 - 1939 ) they were married on the 22^nd of August 1918 in Brighton, England.
SON: Robert Earl Bolton, Randy Bolton
DAUGHTERS: Susan Bolton, Cathy Bolton

William Earl Bolton, died on the 24^th or 27^th of March 1936 at Ottawa, Ontario. He is buried in the Beechwood Cemetery,Ottawa, Ontario.

Eugene Frederick Biart

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll
Burnaby Honour Roll
 

Eugene Frederick Biart  Lieutenant   "B" Battery Royal Canadian Horse Artillery,(R.C.H.A.),  2^nd Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column, 6^th Canadian Artillery Brigade, Canadian Artillery Regimental Depot, and D.D. No.7, mentioned in despatches.

        Signed his attestation papers on the 23^rd of September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec.   6100   clerk.   Born on the 26^th of March 1890 Dover, Kent, England
Military service prior: 3 years with the R.F.A. (territorials)      Service File: PDF 

        Eugene served in England and spent 34 months in France at the Front. His only medical issue was a severe case of Furunculosis, (boils).
After the war he became an accountant, retired in 1950 and appears to have lived primarily in Vancouver, B.C.

MOTHER: Lavinia Biart
FATHER: Charles Francois Biart, Charles Francis Biart
Eugene, died on the 29^th of October 1970, at Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, B.C.
he was cremated.

Married in 1917 Mildred Newing, Midred Biart ( 1889 – 1963 )
WIFE:(2) Elfrida Muriel Gorill Foster, Elfrida Muriel Gorill Biart

Archie Beaton

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

Archibald Beaton, Archie Beaton.   Canadian Railway Construction. Corps.
      Signed his attestation papers on the 9^th of April 1915, at Vancouver, B.C.   398
Bridge foreman.  Born on the 27^th of March 1880(1877), at Commercial Cross, Prince Edward Island.

FATHER: Murdock Beaton, Murdoch Beaton
MOTHER: Christine Matheson, Christine Beaton

1891 census finds the family in the Commercial Cross area, and lists the children;

Catherine Beaton,(1875 - ), Bella Mary Beaton, (1880 – ), Norman Beaton, Mary Annie Beaton..

Archie Beaton died at the Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, B.C. on the 19^th of January 1956, and was buried in the Hatzic Cemetery, Mission, B.C. ( Find-a-Grave reference )
Archie was single, and was a retired C.P.R. bridge superintendent, after working 42 years for the company. Home was somewhere along the Lougheed Highway, in Port Coquitlam, B.C.

George Bates

Port Coquitlam Cenotaph

Virtual Memorial for George Bates

George Bates, British Columbia Regiment 29^th Battalion   75527  Enlisted on the12^th of November 1914.  Service File: PDF
Born  22^nd of August 1887 Toronto, Ontario.  machinist.

FATHER: Norman  Bates
MOTHER: Sally,   of Mena, Arkansas

WIFE: Katherine “Kate” she moved to Holland Cottage, Denbigh, North Wales; then appears to have moved back to B.C.

Died in hospital on the 31^st of August 1915, at 9:20 A.M., age 28. He is buried at the Shorncliffe Military Cemetery, Kent, England.  Cause of death was, Peritonitis, on autopsy showed a perforated gastric ulcer

NOTE:  The virtual memorial mentions that he was married to a Katherine Dacre, in 1912; but the information on the marriage certificate does not match this George Bates, in numerous instances.
Katherine Bates ( 1882 – 1959 ) 
DAUGHTER: Doris M. Grant

David Edmund Baird

Port Coquitlam cenotaph

Port Coquitlam cenotaph, western side plinth

David Edmund Baird  29^th Battalion, British Columbia Regiment.
      Signed his attestation papers on the 11^th of November 1914 at Vancouver, B.C.   75565   laborer. David was born on the 14^th of May 1895, in Quebec

  "Killed in Action" on the 13^th of August 1916 while his unit was in the St. Eloi Sector.
  David is buried at Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderan, Belgium.     Virtual Memorial for David Edmund Baird

MOTHER: Mary Jane Peever, Mary Jane Baird 1870 – 1943
FATHER: William John Baird

BROTHER: B or E. Baird
SISTER: Susan Ann Baird , Susan Ann Cook  14 June 900 Thornby, Quebec – 1988

NOTE: Sadly very little appears to be known about this fellow.

Stanley Cooke Ballard

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

Stanley Cook Ballard, Stanley Cooke Ballard  131^st Battalion   790398      Service File: PDF  Stanley signed his attestation papers on the 14^th of January 1916, at New Westminster, B.C. His brother Norman Spencer Ballard, enlisted at the same time, both were living in Port Coquitlam at that time.   tinsmith. Later after the war a trucker.  Born on the 21^st of February 1895  at Sandhurst, Kent, England.   Active: 104^th Regt.

FATHER: Thomas Ballard 1866 – 1928
MOTHER: Frances Matilda Cooper 1865 – 1945

Married to Mary Chalmers
SON: John Thomas Ballard

Stanley Cooke Ballard, died on the 16^th of December 1982 at the Burnaby General Hospital, Burnaby, B.C. and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, in Burnaby.

The family immigrated from England in 1903 and the 1911 Census finds the family living at Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

SIBLINGS:  Frances Edith Ballard,  Thomas Sidney Ballard , (1890-1962), Percy Samuel Ballard,(1893-1964), Lillian Annie Ballard  "Rowland",(1897-), Norman Spencer Ballard,(1899-1966), Harold Edward Ballard,(1900-1976), Alexander Espenette Ballard,(1906-), Bessie May Ballard "McLeod",(1908-)

No. 15  Platoon

Top Row:  William John Reeves, Henry Ashley Jennings, Thomas Dickinson, Alfred Ralph Solloway,  Charlie Strand, George Royle, Albert William Buckett, Edward Lake, Isaac Simpson Robbie,  Francis James Robertson, Joseph Eugene Blais.
Second Row:  William John Theodore Ayling, Duncan Rodman, James John O'Donnell, William Ross, L. Paul,  Clarence Cecil Clarke, Sidney Cleave, Alfred Bert Mouldey, Cecil Henry Smith,  Major Forest Weeks, Robert Edward Mundon, J. Bruce.
Third Row:  Roland Roy Abbott, L.H. Wadlund, Ernest Hide, Harry Arthur Aves, John Henry McCormick, J. Reid, G.H. Nicholls, John Charles McInnes, Frank Johncock, B.L. Davis, R. Thoreson, C. Nicholls.
Fourth Row:  N.A. Craig, G. Johnson, D. McLeod, J. Clarke, J.A. Melton, J. Brown, Harold Thomas Routley,  J. Edwards, Alphonse Joseph Angelo, A. McIntyre.
Front Row: Lance-Corporal Thomas Mars, Corporal Andrew Fletcher Hill Moore,
                           Company Sergeant Major Richard Arthur Henderson, Lieutenant Ronald O'Hanley,  Company Quartermaster Sergeant L.G. Rayner, Sergeant William Thomas House, Corporal Leonard William Hookham, Drummer Stanley Cooke Ballard.

Norman Spencer Ballard

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll
( Norman is also mentioned on the June 22 1917 Central School Honour Roll )

Norman Spencer Ballard  131^st Battalion.  Signed his attestation papers, along with his brother Stanley Cooke Ballard on the 14^th of January 1916 at New Westminster, B.C  790397  Service File: PDF     labourer. Born on the 16^th of October 1898 at the, Lomas Farm, Sandhurst, Kent, England.  Active: 104^th Regt.   He saw action in France.

FATHER: Thomas Ballard  1866 - 1928
MOTHER:  Frances Matilda Cooper 1865 – 1945
The family immigrated to Canada from England in 1903, and the 1911 Census captured them at Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

SIBLINGS:
Frances Edith Ballard,  Thomas Sidney Ballard, (1890-1962), Percy Samuel Ballard(1893-1964), Lillian Annie Ballard "Rowland",(1897-), Harold Edward Ballard,(1900-1976), Alexander Espenette Ballard,(1906-), Bessie May Ballard "McLeod",(1908-)

 Norman, married Dorothy Louise Zimmerman in 1937 at Los Angeles, California.

  Dorothy Louise Ballard  and Norman Spencer Ballard

  photo sent by a relative

Norman Spencer Ballard, died in July 1966 Redondo Beach, California.

Bugle Band, 1916

Top Row (left to right):  William Henry Gracey, Lance-Corporal William Sprott Gamon,
       Norman Spencer Ballard, Kenneth Douglas Muir, Clement Fleury, John MacKay Linn, Robert Carl Paige, S. McRorry, Charles Walter Eldon Byard Gilley.
Second Row:  Edward Cadenhead, William Roy Donkersley, Francis Thomas Appleyard, J. Broughton, G.S. Menzies, Lance-Corporal  Manning Armstrong Mortison, Thomas Phillip Malone, William Arthur Fox, Lance-Corporal William Lipp Ross jr.,  F. McKenzie.
Third Row:  R.C. McDonald, Corporal George Grady, C. Money, (Claude Vincent Money?) A.G. Shaw, Harry Raymond Barker, F.G. Wood, C. Stewart, Victor Thomas Crispin, R. Reid, Harold Armitage, H.R. Hunter, Thomas George Braine.
Front Row:  William Kearsley, Drum Major A.S. Leslie, Rolf Ingvald Hendricksen,(Ralph Ingvald Henricksen)

George Phillip Bainbridge

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

George Phillip Bainbridge 103^rd Battalion.   Signed his attestation papers on the 10^th of February 1916 at Victoria, B.C.  706952  contractors secretary. Born on the 16^th of January 1886 South Elkington, Linconshire, England.   Home: 1121 Mears Street, Victoria.

FATHER: Issac Bainbridge
MOTHER:  Marion King

WIFE: Deborah Beverley (1885 – 1971 )
DAUGHTER:  Amity L. Brewster, married to,  L.W. Brewster

George died on the 16th of February 1981 at West Vancouver. He spent many years  as a philatelist and numismatic

NOTE:  Unknown what his connection was to Coquitlam or, Port Coquitlam

Ernest Austen

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

    Ernest Austen  131^st Battalion  "D" Co.   Attestation paper signed on the 2^nd of February 1916 at New Westminster, B.C.  790527 Service File: PDF.  linotype operator. Born on the 5^th of August 1880  Tonbridge, Kent, England.    active: 104^th Regiment . Living at Port Coquitlam. [  I suspect that he was involved with Coquitlam Star, newspaper concern ]
WIFE: Annie Austen
Ernest spent 9 months in Canada in the 131^st Battalion, and then was sent to England for three months where he was assigned to the 47^th battalion, and from there to France.
Discharged at Vancouver 31^st of March 1919, with slight hearing loss, from a concussion.
FATHER: Quelas Austen
MOTHER: Annie Cooper
Ernest Austen 5 August 1874 – 7 January 1952  buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, B.C.
In 1913  Ernest, married Annie Seaker  ( 1884 – 1972 )
His wife's maiden name frequently is miss-spelt: Seeker, Secour.
     Her parents were: Robert Seaker, and Harriet Brown
The family lived for many years at  2546  East 45th Ave., Vancouver. Ernest appears to have spent most of his career as a  lino typist, compositor, retiring in 1944.

No. 14 Platoon

Top Row: G. Brown, Percy Gibb, Hosford Franklin Nagle, Leslie Lemuel Evans Goldsmith, William Gower, S. Brown, John Simon Whittaker, James Alvin Scott, J. Gourlay, F. Jackson, P.J. Leidmeier, Frederick Harvard.
Second Row: Marmaduke George Bateman, Ralph Wellington Atkinson, Herbert William Henry, Harry Gower, J. Walker, John Gleave, James Arthur Hayne, Joseph Ladoux,
William Perry Patten, J. Stewart, D. Dougherty,(David or Daniel Dougherty).
Third Row: George Dalziel, J. MacKenzie, Justin Dorr, G. Williams, John Henry Griffiths,
William Henry Lawrence, A. Henderson, Ernest Turner, Wilfred Harold Coleman,
Walter John Wigmore, Edward Cadenhead, Abe Denson.
Fourth Row: Albert Richard Eden, David Gillies, James Glass, William Herbert Simpson, F. Grant, Ernest Austen, James Joseph Shea, Roy Torrence Hildebrand,
Martin Marin Beadle, James Lyall Goldsmith.
Front Row: Corporal Harry Carter, Company Sergeant Major Richard Arthur Henderson,
Lieutenant Vyvyan Chard Brimacombe, Lieutenant Keith Campbell MacGowan,
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Leslie George Rayner, Sergeant Edward Groves,
Corporal Robert Albert Victor Cheale, Bugler Victor Thomas Crispin.

Source: 131st Battalion album, 1916   New Westminster Public Library  ( low quality scan )
But I have elaborated on the names list

Ralph Wellington Atkinson

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

Ralph Wellington Atkinson  131^st Battalion  790491 Service File: PDF   carpenter.  Born on the 23^rd of October 1875 Whitchurch Township, York County,Ontario. Home: Port Coquitlam, at enlistment. WIFE: Margaret “Maggie” Ann Morley,( 1877 – 1949 ) 
Second WIFE: Minnie Brillinger ( 1883 – 1964 )
Ralph signed his attestation papers on the 8^th of February 1916 at New Westminster, B.C.
FATHER: Richard Atkinson ( 1846 – 1926 )
MOTHER: Catherine Steckley ( 1851 – 1906 )
Ralph W. Atkinson, died January 2^nd,1954, and is buried at the Heise Hill cemetery, Gormley, York, Ontario.
CHILDREN: Ethel May Atkinson (25 March 1901 - ), Charles Ambrose Atkinson ( 1903 - 1904 ), Lambert (Luke) Everett Atkinson ( 1905 -  1987 ), Dorothy Pearl "Burton" ( 1908 - 1998 ), Samuel Atkinson  ( January 1912 - March 1912 )
Siblings:  Samuel Atkinson 1872 - 1955
Selena Ethel Atkinson 1876 - 1954
David Ambrose Atkinson 1879 - 1900
Edith May "Galbraith"  Atkinson 1884 - 1974
Flossie Arvilla Pearl Atkinson ( 1894 - 1969 )

Notes for Ralph Wellington Atkinson ( found online, transcribed here.. )
       Ralph served in the Army in WW1. It looks, from the cap badge in his picture as if he served with the 29^th Battalion. They were also known as the Westies. His attestation papers and a copy of the cap badge are in the photo scrap book.He had served with the 104^th Regt militia but joined up in New Westminster on the 8 Jan 1916. His service number was 790491
We ordered his service record which is summarized as follows:
In any event, he was attested in New Westminster BC on the 8th of February 1916. He shows his date of birth as 23 Oct 1875 and that he was born at Bethesda Ontario. He was living in Port Coquitlam at the time and Maggie’s address as next of kin was Port Coquitlam. He shows his occupation as a carpenter and that he had been a member of the 104th Regiment as a member of the militia.
He was 40 years old when he signed up. That is really old for a soldier to sign up. He was 5’ 83/4” tall. He had no abnormalities except a scar on his left leg. He showed his religion as Methodist.
He joined the 131st Battalion on the 8 Feb 1916. His regimental number was 790491. He completed a form called Particulars of Family of an officer or man enlisted in the CEF. There are some details on it, particularly that Maggie would have a Richmond Hill address while he was overseas. He lists three children at that time, Ethel May 15, Lambert 10 and Dorothy 8.
He arrived in England on the SS Coronia from Halifax on the 11 Nov 1916. He is trained at Shorncliffe, and then posted overseas to the 29^th Battalion in France on the 14 Feb 1917. It is perhaps worthwhile noting that at this time new battalions coming from Canada, were broken up and the men used to re-supply the existing battalions. The 29^th Battalion was also known as the Vancouver Battalion as most of its original men were from that area. It was a Battalion that was in the 2nd Contingent that went over and Uncle Ralph appears to have joined it in France. The cap badge in the photo of he, Maggie and the children is of the 131^st Battalion.
On the 10^th of April 1917, he enters hospital for an accidental cut on his right thigh. He is discharged the 11^th of May 1917.
On the 13 June 1917, he is hospitalized with appendicitis and is transported to Bologne France for an appendectomy. He is discharged back to the 29^th Battalion on the 18 July 1917.
12^th Jan 1918 he is granted 14 days leave.
The 8^th of Feb 1918 he received a Good Conduct Badge (This is an inverted fabric chevron worn on the lower sleeve that indicates a good soldier) Returns to the 29th the 3^rd of May 1918.
The 11^th of August 1918, during the Pursuit to Mons, he receives a gun shot wound to his right forearm. He is treated and evacuated to England. He is treated at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital in Seaforth England. He is discharged to the 3^rd CCD ? on Light Duty in Shorncliffe in Nov 1918. By that time the war is over and he is sent home on the 7 Dec 1918. He arrives in Montreal on the SS Olympic and is discharged at Toronto on the 6 Jan 1919.
Famous battles he was in were Passchendaele, Amiens and Arras.
He is not mentioned in the 29^th Battalion’s War Diary.
After the war, there seems to be pay records that he received, at least for a short time, some pension.
There are also records indicating that a portion of his pay was sent to Maggie in Canada by the War Office.
He came back to Ontario and worked as a carpenter. He became a contractor and builder in Richmond Hill. Louise told us that he had a little terrier dog and that he used to put a mint on his nose and tell him not to eat it until he told him to. The dog would faithfully let the candy sit there until Ralph said OK.
He died 2 Jan 1954 sitting in Cliff Gordon's car on the main street of Stouffville. Apparently suffered a heart attack.

--- 30 ---

If the following newspaper article is correct the story of his death above is incorrect.

Stouffville Tribune, Stouffville, Ontario 7 January 1954, page one

William John Alward

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

William John Alward  Driver in the 68^th O/S Depot Field Battery.  Attestation papers: 339089 (1) – (2)  Service File: PDF    Signed the papers on the 12^th of July 1916 in Vancouver. railroad fireman. Home: Coquitlam.  born on the 21^st of January 1892 Havelock, New Brunswick. Died on the 21^st of July 1958 at Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, B.C. William is buried in the,  Cranbrook General Cemetery. At his death home was, 121 9th Ave., Cranbrook, B.C.. And he was a locomotive fireman, for the C.P.R.

FATHER: George Chipman Alward ( 1858-1939 )
MOTHER: Alva Cusack

In 1922 at Cranbrook, William married, Margaret Elizabeth St. Eloi ( 1900 – 1970 )

DAUGHTER: Geraldine A. Holmes neé Geraldine A. Alward
SISTER: Mabel Josephine Alward, ( 1894 - )
And probably more siblings, and children.

David Oadis Allport

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

David Oadis Allport    Corporal in the 131^st Battalion.  791052       born on the 8^th of September 1873 in Odessa, Ontario. farmer.  widow. SON: Elmo (Elms) Oscar Allport, Drafted 3352380   (23 July 1896 Jolliette, Quebec – ) David was active in the104th Regiment, and signed his attestation papers on the 16^th of May 1916 in New Westminster, B.C.

WIFE: Elizabeth Jane Bell, ( 1875 – 1914  Port Coquitlam; complications from a  placenta praevia )  He remarried in Ontario in 1921 to, Emma May Burrows.
DAUGHTER: Beryl G.  Davisson, neé Beryl G. Allport ( 4^th May 1898- )
Allport Family in the 1881 Census: Ontario, Lanark South, Elmsley North.
DAUGHTER: Carmen Allport
    
FATHER: Darius Allport 1842-1929
MOM: Marjory Honour Fuller 1850-1924 ( had 12 children )
Brother: Harry Warren Allport, (22 July 1885 – 1962 Smith Falls, Ontario) he homesteaded in  the NW sec 17 Twp 41 R23 W3, not far from his brother. Harry was drafted 305615Brother?:  Royal Garfield Allport ( 1893 - 1969 )



Excerpt from Battleford Sheet, (Saskatchewan)
Red square is David Oadis Allport’s crown grant and NE Section 24 Twp 41 Range23 W3 ( also:  SW Section 36 Twp 40 Range23 W3; . NOT on the above map, it would be directly below )
Blue square is Harry Warren Allport’s crown grant  NW section 17 Twp 41 Range23 W3

Another map of the land grants, taken from a geological map

The nearest town is Unity, Saskatchewan.

NOTE:  So unknown when David died, and also if he actually saw active service in Europe.

William Roderick Allison

Port Coquitlam Cenotaph

“Rod” Allison is commemorated on the eastern side of the
plinth of the Cenotaph located in Port Coquitlam’s Veteran’s Park

Eastern side of the plinth

      Photo of William Roderick Allison from a 1921 commemorative album, created
by the Bank of Montreal, for whom Rod worked for in Port Coquitlam.

Source: Memorial of the Great War, 1914-1918 : a record of service (1921)

William R. Allison
Gunner, Canadian Garrison Artillery, C.E.F.

      Was born in New Westminster, in 1897, the son of William Allison, Bank manager. After completing his education in the schools of his native place he entered the service of the Bank of Montreal. He enlisted early in 1917, in his 19th year, as a Private in the Canadian Infantry and arrived in France with his unit in the following autumn. He was sent almost immediately with his unit to the Ypres salient to take part in the operations for the capture of Passchendaele Ridge. He had been a year on active service when he was severely wounded by enemy fire in September, 1918, in an attack during the Canadian advance towards Cambrai. He was evacuated to England for treatment, but his wounds proved fatal and he died in the hospital at Buxton, Derbyshire, on February 24th, 1919. He was one of three brothers who served in the war.


William Roderick "Rod" Allison, 68th Battery.   Born on the 17^th of May 1897 at New Westminster, B.C.   339636   He enlisted on the 3rd of April 1917, and listed his occupation as bank clerk, and living in Port Coquitlam. His next of kin was his father  William Allison, 1234 St. James St., Oak Bay, Victoria, B.C.
“Rod” was a Gunner in the 4^th Canadian Siege Battery, 2^nd Brigade, Canadian Garrison Artillery Died 24^th February 1919 aged 21.

1918 November 7  The Daily Colonist

Gunner, Allison

     Gunner, W. Roderick Allison, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. William Allison, of 2382 Saratoga Avenue, Victoria, has been wounded during the recent fighting around Cambrai, and is now in hospital in England with injuries to the chest and a fractured right arm.  One of his brothers, who belongs to the Princess Pats, is also in hospital after a long period in the trenches, and a second brother is first mechanic with the R.A.F. in Ontario.

1919 March 1, page 5 The Daily Colonist

Gunner Allison dies

New Westminster, Feb. 28.--- A cable was received today that Gunner William Roderick Allison, youngest son of Mr. William Allison, former Auditor-General of the province, and a nephew of the late Sir Richard McBride,  had succumbed in hospital at Buxton, England. He served sixteen months in France with the artillery. Before going overseas he was on the staff of the Bank of Montreal at Port Coquitlam. He was 22 years of age.

Article  From  The Daily Colonist 1917 December 16 

    GERTRUDE ALLISON
( the mother of three fighting men )

         Dear women, the beloved of our fighting men, remember how they need us now, to "stand by" and send them help to "carry on"! Delay is defeat! Delay is betrayal!

          Canada is entered for the finish, and must not falter! Sink all party feeling, now. Vote for the Union Government, pledged to send immediate help. Without it our men must fail. What then will come to us? Not only their contempt, be well assured. To wait for volunteers is fallacy. Dear women, there never was such an opportunity for us to help! Let us seize it! Let us use it!

Gertrude McBride ( 1866 – 1945 ) was the mother of William Roderick Allison, and was a New Westminster May queen in 1877, eldest daughter of Arthur Hill McBride ( 1836 - 1909) warden of the B.C. Penitentiary, and Mary Agnes D'arcy (1866-1945 ), her brother was Sir Richard McBride

Richard McBride ca.188-
Source: New Westminster Archives  IHP2209

Sir Richard McBride, K.C.M.G.  1903
photographer: John Savannah.  source:  Vancouver Archives A35778

Arthur Hill McBride, ca.187-  Arrived in New Westminster in 1869 and was first warden of the B.C. Penitentiary.     Source: New Westminster Archives   IHP2464

Father: William Allison  1865 - 1929
On the 4th of August 1914 William Allison, Auditor-General signed a $1,150,000 cheque to pay for two submarines that were originally built for the Chilean government, but they never took possession of them.
William worked for the Bank of B.C., and its successor Canadian Bank of Commerce, then the Land Registry Office, in New Westminster, later was the Government Agent for Hazelton. Government passed Audit act in 1913 he was appointed Auditor-General April 1, 1913 - January 1, 1917, then the office was abolished. not another Auditor-General until 1977. The very first Auditor-General was in 1861.
William was a brother-in-law of Sir Richard McBride who led the Conservative Government at the time. William also warned that the government was spending more than the incoming revenue in December 1913.
He married Gertrude McBride on the 12^th of October 1892 at New Westminster, B.C.

They had three sons:

Arthur Leonard Allison  1893 - 1959    Arthur married, Viola Petrie, in 1921 at Vancouver.  Arthur also served in war as a mechanic in the R.A.F., in Ontario.

Alexander John “Jack” Allison ( 1895 – 1970 ) Alexander married Sarah Beatrice “Bea” Matheson, in 1935 at New Westminster. Attestation 487528
Jack was  seriously wounded at Lens, but recovered from his injuries and returned to New Westminster. A graduate of Royal City High School, Jack Allison was a noted local athlete. He had begun his study of law at Osgoode Hall in Toronto, Ontario, and was articling at the law firm of Whiteside, Edmonds, and Whiteside. However, in 1916 he interrupted his study of law to enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. After the war, he returned to his studies and graduated from Osgoode Hall in 1921.Upon his return to New Westminster, he opened his own office in the Westminster Trust Building.
Allison Street, in New Westminster was named after him in 1973. Lived at 901 Edinburgh Street, New Westminster for a long time. Became Alderman, and Mayor of New Westminster in his career.


  18 January 1916, postcard, mailed from Canadian Convalescent Camp, Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey, England.
  Left to Right: Thure Storme, 790668 (1898 – 1975 ), Jack Allison, Hugh  Stone Cunningham, 154572  ( 1894 – 1971 ),  Norman  Geoffrey Miller Lougheed, 487313
( 1894 – 1984 )  Norman, used  the name of  Miller Lougheed
Source: New Westminster Archives  Record ID 30454
 

William R. Allison's grave at Buxton Cemetery, Buxton, Derbyshire, who died 24 February 1919.  Source:  New Westminster Archives, Record ID: 30441

Headstone at the Buxton Cemetery, Derbyshire England

Virtual memorial to William Roderick Allison

Kenneth James Charles Alison

Port Coquitlam Honor Roll

Kenneth James Charles Alison, signed up in New Westminster March 10, 1915. attestation paper: (1) - (2)  29754 stated he was a mechanical engineer, and single.  He was born in Sydney, Australia on the 7th of February 1891.  His father was: Clarke Alison.
I find a reference to a 2nd Lieutenant Royal Artillery, Australia with the same name; and a death in 1936.

Thomas Alexander

Port Coquitlam Honor Roll

Thomas Alexander, signed up in Vancouver October 1st 1915.  129848 (attestation paper: (1)-(2)  he was a carpenter, born 26 June 1885 (1883 on dcert.) in Darby Ayrshire, Scotland.
Thomas was married January 30, 1914 in Port Coquitlam, to Nellie Gibson, the daughter of, William Gibson, and Helen Marshall. His parents were William Alexander, and Elizabeth unknown.

Nellie Alexander, nee Gibson was born in Scotland August 4th, 1890, and died in Vancouver on the 30th of April 1943, buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, B.C.

Thomas Alexander died in Vancouver on the 22nd of May 1938, at the age of 54 years, and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, B.C.
At least one child: Helen G. Hunter.

Goal for this blog

First post on this blog.
It will contain mostly a quick summary of those who served their country during World War one, in the Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Essondale areas of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
It will also include numerous names not previously listed in the historical records of those who served, and also many corrections of spelling errors frequently found in the records.

       Commenting is open to all, but is moderated; if you have anything to add to the information being presented please contact me, and I will update the information.  This project started out looking at the folks who served from the Essondale Hospital  /  Colony Farm institutions, but it became quickly obvious that there was a lot of overlap between the neighbouring municipalities, and also that there was many people who had been missed.

         The goal was to find photographs, pictures of the people who served, put a face to the name, sadly not very many were found. But the hope is that by placing the information online, eventually family or other researchers will point the way to some imaging, or more information about the people.
Lest WE Forget