Charles Sheldon Davies

Port Coquitlam honour Roll

Charles Sheldon Davies  Lcp.    10^th Battalion Canadian Engineers.    Signed his attestation papers on the 2^nd of June 1916 at Vancouver, B.C.  505370     contractor, home was in Port Coquitlam. Born on the 9^th of September 1886(1885) Rugby, Warwickshire,England.   Active 6^th Company, Canadian Engineers.
 Charles Sheldon Davies died on the 22^nd of January 1963, at the Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster,  and he is buried in the Coquitlam Cemetery; his home at that time was 2441 Shaughnessy St., Port Coquitlam.
Parents: Edward Davies, and Edna Thackwray Anderson.

In 1912 at Port Coquitlam Charles married Nellie Marshall (1891 - 1971).
   They produced a son, Charles Edward Davies
SERVICE RECORD: 10^th Battalion Canadian Engineers.  His father  was still alive and living at Rocky Lane, Moutan Green, Lancashire, but his mother Edna was dead.   Charles served in France. .

George Davison

Essondale Honour Roll

George Davison  British Columbia Horse; 48th Battalion.  Essondale employee. George was born on the 21^st of December 1884 at Wingate, Durham, England.
He signed his attestation papers on March 3^rd 1915 at Victoria, B.C.  430311 worked as a horse shoer.  Parents: James Davison, and Mary Tunnah. 

He was married in 1920 at Nakusp, to Rosa(Rose) Hannah Gregory,( 1896 - 1979 ) both were living there and he was working as a blacksmith.
  George Davison died at home on the 6^th of November 1943,  age 58 at Nakusp, he is also buried there, cause of death was silicosis; after a life of blacksmithing and mining, he had lived in Nakusp for 24 years, and in B.C. for 29 years.    
SERVICE RECORD:  3^rd Pioneers,48^th Battalion,  107^th East Kooteney Regiment.He was giving part of his pay cheque to his widowed mother, Mary Davison, 1 Wyndgate Terrace, Wingate, England.  After demobilization he moved to Coal Creek, then Fernie; then Naksup.  He suffered from influenza, during the war, fully recovered, and got away unscathed from any other injuries.
NOTE: Not sure if this is the same fellow mentioned in the Honour Roll, but he does fit the limited information that i have the best.

George Dalziel

 Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

George Dalziel  131^st Battalion "D"    Signed his attestation papers on the 28^th of February 1916 at New Westminster.  790737  stated that he was a  plumber; born on the 6^th of September 1879 at  Wishaw , Lanarkshire, Scotland.  He was active in the 104^th Regiment.  Home: was in Port Coquitlam, then it was crossed out, now Vancouver; but his wife continued to live in Port Coquitlam, and later moved to Vancouver..
  WIFE: Katharine Napier, Catherine Dalziel ( 1886 – 1955 )
George Dalziel died on the 5^th of September 1971 at the Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver. buried at Ocean View Cemetery, Burnaby, B.C.  He had lived in B.C. for 60 years, and was living at that time at 3407 East 45^th Ave., Vancouver.  He had retired in 1940. DAUGHTER:  Elizabeth Flockhart "Parsons",( 1912-1987 ).

131^st Battalion, 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.

1911 census:  South Vancouver:  Finds George staying with kates brother  James Napier,(1874 - 1930)  who was the plumbing inspector 

SERVICE RECORD: George and Katherine were  married on the 28^th of April 1911 at Edinburgh, Scotland.  He was serving in the 30^th battalion. Came down with influenza.  He received a severe concussion, which caused him deafness, and chronic tinnitus caused by the war.  George served  his country for three years.

Alfred G. Fitt

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

Alfred G. Fitt  131^st Battalion. He signed his attestation papers on the 18^th of April 1916 at Vancouver, B.C.   791030      logger( hooktender)  b.18 May 1872 ( 11 May 1868 )    Georgetown, Ontario.    Home: Port Coquitlam
Alfred died on the 14^th of February 1924 after staying four months at the Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, B.C. At the age of 55;  of mouth cancer, he is buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver,   Home: 1928-34^th Ave., East Vancouver, B.C.      Parents: James Fitt, and  Elizabeth Sykes  ( Shyles/Symes? )

Alfred’s father, James Fitt settled in 1854  at Esquesing, Ontario.
1861 census 
James Fitt (45 labourer logging),Elizabeth Fitt (24). Mary Fitt (18), James Fitt (16), George Fitt (14), Matilda Fitt (12)( married 1883 Winnipeg to Henry A. Manwearing), Emma Fitt (10), William Fitt (8),Elizabeth Fitt (6) born in Canada: Hariet Fitt (4), Jane Fitt(3), Maria Fitt (2)
1871 Census Esquesing, Halton, Ontario : James Fitts (55 farmer); Elizabeth (18); Jane(14); Joshua Fitt (10); John Fitt (8); Hannah  Fitt (6); Alfred Fitt (4).  

James Fitt (63) in 1879, married Sarah Kennedy (53) both were widowed.
1881 Census 
1891 census  James wife and children from her first marriage
James Fitt  died 20 May 1899 Birtle, Manitoba, age 84.
The 1901 census  finds Alfred Fitt working as a fisherman, and living in South Vancouver.
1911 census Coquitlam: Working in a logging camp 
Alfred Fitt
Gertrude Elizabeth Fitt
Henry Fitt      b. March 1905, actually: Henry George Shelton (1905-1949)
Alfred Fitt      b.March 1907 actually: Alfred Shelton (1907-1971)

Gertrude Lillian Fitt  b. April 1909; married in 1926 to Arthur joseph Parker (she 18, he 21-parents: William, and Emily). [  Gertrude Lavina Fitt (1909-1983) Appears to have remarried in 1938 Peter Severin  Gundersen ( certificate is full of errors )

Dorothy May Fitt    b.January 1911 Coquitlam;  married in 1926 Kristopher Skjigstad Johnson, she was 15, he 28
Henry Shelton married in 1906 Vancouver,  Gertrude Evans, he was 45, she 25

On the 26^th of September 1912 at Westminster Junction, Alfred Fitt married Gertrude Elizabeth Shelton (widow) WIFE: Gertrude Elizabeth Evans Fitt. After Alfred died she remarried in 1924: John Thomas Faircloth (1877-1945).

131^st Battalion, No.16 platoon  Year Book   

Top Row: Richard Henry Vicary, A.W.P. Nesbitt, Raymond William Combs, E. Williams, Wilfred Casey Currie, Richard Empey, Earle Marsh Martin, E. Fraser, John Dearman Dransfield, Arthur Coppen Wardle, W. Crowe, Hal Russell Bowers.
Second Row: T.H. Muir, William Murray Webster, John Henry Bears, Alfred Charles Duncan, Wallace Vivian Tapp, P.O. Lillie, George Aloyssius Currie, James Stephens Ferguson, Steven Jerry Ross, William Daniel Ronald, J.H. Pierce, Charles Edward Daveney.
Third Row: William Wretham, Frederick Tupper, A. Kemeski, George Latimer, T.W. Burks, Harrold Pickton, Alfred Fitt, George Thomas Reid, Stephen Angus Patten, T. Lichow.
Fourth Row: A. Anderson, J.H. Willot, Henry Edward Webb, Arthur Farthing, Hayward Vernon Wedrick, Thomas Jefferson Davier, J. Allison, J.G. Woods, Thomas Henry Laity, Walter Henry Hayward.
Front Row: Lance-Corporal Leonard William Parren, Corporal Peter Leslie Birrell, Company Sergeant Major Richard Arthur Henderson, Lieutenant J. Scott, Company Quartermaster Sergeant Leslie George Rayner, Sergeant Donald Eastman, Corporal Albert Charles Healey, Lance-Corporal Peter Boyd Todd, Bugler Robert Carl Paige.     

SERVICE RECORD: Medically unfit. pain, left shoulder. Epiphora  in left eye.   went to Jubilee hospital, Victoria, then Resthaven. discharged overage, physically unfit.  injured knee 20 years previous,Dacryocystitis   At Vernon Camp he got dirt in eye digging trench for water supply. His tear sac was removed at the Vernon hospital, then he spent one month in Vancouver.

Frederick John Culliford

Coquitlam Honour roll

Frederick John Culliford  29^th Battalion, 1^st tunnelling company, 9^th Battalion, C.E.   75408   Signed his attestation papers on the 12^th of March 1915 at Vancouver, B.C.  Trade: logger. Frederick was born on the 20^th of November 1880 at Chester, Cheshire, England.   His father, Frederick Culliford, lived at the Blue Cap Inn (Today: Blue Bell Inn), Hampton Heath, Malpas, Cheshire; and his mother was Elizabeth Culliford.   Prior military service was with the Cheshire Regiment, 22^nd Battalion. 
Siblings of F.J. Culliford:
Margaret Albertina Culliford ( 1879 – ? )
Florence Elizabeth Culliford ( 1885 – ? )
Frederick David Henry Culliford (1887 – ? )
Minnie Gladys  Culliford  ( 1894 – ? )
Service Record:   states that within three-months of service in September 1915 he was found medically unfit for service, due to gonorrhoea, overcome the medical issue and continued to serve.  In his attestation he worked as a logger, but in the Service Record he is now a miner.  After the war he moved to 585 East Columbia St., New Westminster.
    After the war I only found him listed in the 1926,1927 directories; working as a grounds-man and living at 181-W.7th Vancouver.
Frederick John Culliford died on the 12th of February 1957 at St. Paul's hospital, Vancouver, B.C., he is buried in Forest Lawn cemetery, in Burnaby, B.C.  He apparently never married, and was working as a caretaker of a yacht club at Deep Cove, B.C.

Robert Carruthers

Port Coquitlam Honour roll

Robert Carruthers    1^st Canadian Division Cyclist ( Canadian Corps Cyclists Battalion ) 2141  Robert signed his attestation papers on the 14^th of October 1914 while onboard the S.S. Ruthenia ⁽¹⁾   he was born on the 18^th of March 1883 at Penrith, Cumberland, England. He was living in Port Coquitlam, and working as an insurance broker. Robert has the distinction of being the only person on the Honour rolls in the Tri-Cities to have served with the Cyclist Corps, a great resource about them can be found HERE   
 
SERVICE RECORD:   Medical discharge, due to deafness 30 August 1918, he served for just a few weeks over three years, primarily in France. His wife stayed in Port Coquitlam, while Robert was away and then in 1916 she moved to 2547-45th Avenue, Kerrisdale, Vancouver.  Robert apparently had some sort of nasal abnormality, that was thought to be a partial cause of his deafness, which was intensified by him serving his country so he was discharged, before he could become totally deaf.

Service Bicycle Mark IV (Source)

Robert Carruthers, married in 1912 Emily Marlowe ( 1884 — 1958 ) He was a broker living in Coquitlam at this time. Witnesses were: Frank H. Seabrook, broker;  and George Roy Leigh, manager Coquitlam Insurance Department.

1912 Directory advertisement

Robert Carruthers, died on the 9th of May 1967 at Essondale hospital, Coquitlam, B.C.  His parents: Thomas Marlow & Elizabeth Stalker
Robert Carruthers is buried in the Mountain View cemetery, Vancouver, B.C.

—30—

     Some information about his fellow associates in the  Coquitlam Investment Company Limited:
  George Roy Leigh / G. Roy Leigh   26 January 1888 Peterborough, England. – 6 June1961 Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, B.C., he was 73.  parents: George Thomas Leigh, and Cathleen Gibson.  Retired in 1958, city clerk for 23 years. In 1913 Roy married Alice Lucy Seabrook ( 1888 — 1969 )  
      In the 1911 Census: we find living at Sunshine Falls, North Vancouver; F.H. Seabrook ( 1874 — ) and his wife Fedelia ( 1884 — )  they had immigrated in 1904. Their guest was George Roy Leigh, school teacher, who had immigrated the year before in 1910.
  “For More Than 40 Years, G.R. Leigh has Guided Destiny of Port Coquitlam”
        Those words were printed in the Vancouver Sun on April 17, 1954, in honour of the retirement of G. Roy Leigh. Arriving from Northamptonshire, England in 1912, Leigh was a charter member of the Port Coquitlam staff when the city was incorporated in 1913. Soon after, the boundless optimism which had swept through the city had faded amidst hard times. By 1921, the war, Spanish Flu, fire and flood had taken their toll on the city and its finances. Some 75 percent of all properties reverted back to the city through tax sales. The remaining 25 percent carried the burden of debt payment and maintenance.
       While other cities were defaulting on their loans and going into receivership, Port Coquitlam remained steadfast under Leigh’s no-nonsense, honest and gentlemanly approach. He lowered salaries, reduced overhead and costs and re-negotiated debts with bondholders.
          In addition to his roles as assessor and city clerk (a role he assumed in 1938 from John Smith) he had served as the first president of the Municipal Officers Association of B.C., Secretary of the School Board, Justice of the Peace, as well as being a judge and police magistrate. It is likely not a stretch to say that Port Coquitlam as it exists today would probably not have been the same if it were not for Leigh, who passed away in 1961. The original Leigh School in Coquitlam as well as Leigh Square  both carry his name. 

—30—

Francis Henry Seabrook  born in 1874 at Peterborough, England. Parents:  William Seabrook and Jane Hooker.   In 1909 he married Marie Emma Fedelia Seguin (1884—). Her preferred first name was: Fedelia
George Roy Leigh was married to Francis H. Seabrook’s sister Alice Lucy
      They appear to have became naturalized American citizens in 1936; they  appear to have been living in the Los Angles area for a few years.


No idea if there was a familial relationship with
Frank Herbert Seabrook ( 1868 — 1937  )
who was into much the same business.

1907 Directory advertisement

 NOTES:
(1)


LAKE CHAMPLAIN / RUTHENIA / KING GEORGE V / CHORAN MARU 1900
The LAKE CHAMPLAIN was built by Barclay, Curle & Co,Ltd, Glasgow in 1900 for Elder Dempster's Beaver Line. She was a 7,392 gross ton ship, length 446ft x beam 52ft, one funnel, four masts, twin screw and a speed of 13 knots. Accommodation was provided for 100-1st, 80-2nd and 500-3rd class passengers. Launched on 31/3/1900, she sailed on 15/5/1900 from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to Quebec and Montreal. On 21/5/1901, she was the first merchant ship to be fitted with permanent wireless telegraphy apparatus and on 6/4/1903 was taken over with the rest of Beaver Line's fleet by Canadian Pacific. In 1906 her accommodation was modified to carry 150-2nd and 1,000-3rd class passengers and on 7/3/1913 she was renamed RUTHENIA. She commenced sailings between Trieste and St John,NB on 20/3/1913 and completed 5.5 round voyages on this service, the last starting in Jan 1914. On 4/2/1914 she left St John,NB for London and in Sep 1914 commenced her last London - Quebec - Montreal voyage. She arrived at Belfast in Nov 1914 and was converted into a dummy of the battleship HMS KING GEORGE V. In summer 1915 she became a store ship and in 1916 was used as a naval oiler. In 1929 she became an oil hulk at Singapore and in 1942 was captured by the Japanese and renamed CHORAN MARU. Recaptured by Allied forces in 1945, she stranded in the Moesi River in 1946, was refloated and towed to the Clyde. Arriving there on 18/6/1949, she was broken up at Dalmuir. [North Atlantic seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, Vol.3,p.1308] [Canadian Pacific, 100 years by George Musk]

Rudolph Robert Corbett

Central School Honour roll

Rudolph Robert Corbett  43^rd Howitzer Battery, Canadian Field Artillery   307610  Rudolph signed his attestation papers on the 6^th of December 1915 at Guelph, Ontario.  He was a student, born on the 12^th of February 1896 at Mimico, York, Ontario.
His parents:  Thomas Corbett ( 1856 — 1923  ) and,
      Annie Maria Young ( 1856 — 1940 )-(Funeral director file)
      At New Westminster in 1920, we find Rudolph who normally was working as a rancher in Princeton, B.C., with enough time to get married to Minda Alvilde Hanson.  And later in 1940 he was living in Toronto.

Brothers:   Arthur Ernest Corbett ( 1880 — 1960) ;  Frederick William Corbett,( 1889 — 1962 )  also Thomas Edward Corbett ( 1885 — 1934 )

Sisters:  Marie Emmeline Corbett "Freeman"( 1883 — 1955 ); Helen Corbett "McLeod" ; Florence Amy Corbett "Swackhamer" ( 1894 — 1958 )

SERVICE RECORD:   states that he was demobilized on the 7^th of April 1919 at Toronto, Ontario.

NOTE:  No idea when he or his wife passed away. His brother Frederick William Corbett, also served in WWI

Frederick William Corbett

Port Coquitlam Honour Roll

Frederick "Fred" William Corbett   Cpl. 6^th Field Company, C.E.F. 11^th Canadian Engineers  503130   Fred signed his attestation papers on the 31^st of January 1916 at Vancouver, B.C., he listed is occupation as driver , and he was living in Deroche, B.C.
       He was born on the 3^rd of June 1899 at Toronto, Ontario.  Fred was demobilized on the 17^th of June 1919, and he moved to 419-4^th Street in New Westminster, B.C.  He served his country long enough to earn his Class “A” War Service badge.
His parents: Thomas Corbett  ( 1856 – 1923 )   and Annie Mary Marion
See the entry of his brother, Rudolph Robert Corbett for some details about  Fred’s siblings.
Fred was married to Shirley Lena Huggard ( 1894 – 1966 ) 
They had at least one son:  Kenneth "Ken" Huggard Corbett ( 1923 – 1978 )

Frederick William Corbett died on the 24th of May 1962 at Essondale, he is buried in the Fraser Cemetery, in New Westminster. His death certificate states that he retired in 1948, and that he had been practicing mixed farming since 1918 

William George Coleman

Port Coquitlam Honour roll
Central School honour roll

William George Coleman  No.2 Section Skilled Railway Employee,
No.13 Light Railway Operating Company, C.E.F. 2125396
      William signed his attestation papers on the 21^st of March 1917 at New Westminster, he was working as a wiper and fireman for the CPR.
Born on the 3^rd of December 1899 Boissevain, Manitoba ( He wrote down 1897 originally but got caught ) home was in Coquitlam.
His parents were,  Robert John Coleman (1873-1940)  and  Margaret Cecilia Meakin (1879-1965) they lived at 2215 Central Avenue in Port Coquitlam, the home today is gone replaced by typical budget infill homes.  

At Vancouver in 1932 William married  Edna Cecilia Nelson (1907- 1961 )
No idea how many children came of this union.
Numerous brothers: Wilfred Harold Coleman (1897-1968)
  Herbert Lawrence Coleman ( 1898-1945) and
   Robert Alfred Coleman (1904-1983)
and a sister:   Lily May Coleman (1900 - 1992) married Ernest Cook, they divorced, then she married John Merrick, and she became, Lillian May Merrick
 
Service Record: Inside his records is this statement: “Not to be sent overseas until 19 years of age” after he was caught lying about his age.
Served in France with the railway building units as a telephone operator. 
He sent his hard earned money back home to his father in Port Coquitlam   William was in England from March to June of 1917, then over to France from June to March, then back to England from March to November of 1918, then back to Canada in December, and he was then discharged on the 7^th of February 1919 at Vancouver, B.C.
Primarily employed as a telephone operator,  and very sober according to one of the comments in his file.

William George Coleman died on the 27^th of August 1973 at home in Vancouver, he is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby.

Wilfred Harold Coleman

Central School honour roll

Wilfred Harold Coleman  131^st Battalion, 158^th Battalion. 790559
   Signed his attestation papers on the 7th of February 1916  at New Westminster, B.C. He worked as an electrician Wilfred was born on the 29th of April 1896 at Boissevain, Manitoba. He was living in Port Coquitlam with his wife, Caroline  Martha Elizabeth Baird ( 1898 – 1960 ) they were married in 1916 at New Westminster  he was working as an electrician at this time.

Children of Wilfred and Caroline:

Dorothy Margaret Caroline "McChesney" ( 1916 - 1962         )
      she was married to  Joseph George McChesney
Marshall David Coleman ( 1920 - 1964 ) married to Joyce Estelle Merrick
Possibly more children to be found..

His previous military service was with the 158^th Battalion, 104^th Regiment, for a period of sixteen months. 
     His parents were: Robert John Coleman 1873 – 1940 & Margaret Cecilia Meakin  1879 - 1965
They had numerous children see the other two Coleman entries on this blog, both are brothers of Wilfred.

Service Record:  He was designated as medically unfit on the 19^th of September 1916 at the Vernon Camp.  He was previously for one month in the 158^th Battalion from the 6^th of January 1916 to the 6^th of February 1916, then in the 131^st Battalion from February until September 1916.  He was having troubles with abdominal pain, from a previous appendix operation.     He tried to serve his country.

Wilfred  died on the 14^th of May 1968 at the Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, B.C. at the age of 67.  He had retired in 1960 and was living at 2212 Hawthorne Avenue, Port Coquitlam.

No. 14 Platoon( photo from the 131st Battalion year book, 1916 )

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.

Herbert Lawrence Coleman

Not found on any list, but he should be on Port Coquitlam’s honour roll

Herbert Lawrence Coleman No. 5 Company R.C.G.A., C.E.F.  2602051   Born on the 25^th of May 1898 at Winnipeg, Manitoba.   Bert signed his attestation papers on the 21^st of May 1918 at Esquimalt, B.C.  At the time he lived in Port Coquitlam, and was working as a CPR switchman.
The 1911 census places him living with his parents in Vancouver at 736-7^th Avenue; 
Robert John Coleman (1873 - 1940)  was his father born in Ontario; he worked as a contractor and builder.
Mother was Margaret Cecilia Meakin (1879 - 1965)  they were married in 1896 at Morton, Manitoba.

Children of Robert and Margaret Coleman:
 
Wilfred Harold Coleman (1897 - 1968)
William George Coleman (1899 - 1973)
Lily May Coleman (1900 - 1992) married Ernest Cook, they divorced, then she married John Merrick, and she became, Lillian May Merrick
Robert Albert Coleman (1904 - 1983)

Service Record:  discharge certificate:  No.5 Company R.C.G.A. he was a gunner.  Discharged at Esquimalt on the 5^th of December 1918, at the end he was attached to the 11^th artillery depot, Esquimalt . 

In 1923 Herbert married Annie Isabella McLean ( 1899 - 1951 ) at this time he was a CPR yard foreman. Annie’s parents were the children of some of the early area pioneers:
 Donald McLean,( 1856 – 1930 ) and  Annie Munday ( 1863 - 1945 )
Herbert died on the 24th of October 1945 at St. Vincent's Hospital, in Vancouver, at the age of 47. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby, B.C. At the time of his death he was the General yard master, of the CPR yards.  

Samuel Brown

Port Coquitlam

( Sam is not on the official Honour Roll, but he should be )

Samuel Brown, Sam Brown  131^st Battalion  791031  Signed his attestation papers on the 12^th of April 1916, at Vancouver, B.C.  Home was Port Coquitlam, where he was working as a logger.  Born on the 24^th of March 1876 ( NOT the correct year ) near Belfast, Ireland.
Brother: George Brown, of Castle Green, Comber, Ireland.
Service record:  France 16½ months with the 4^th Labour Battalion. 

      He was discharged from service on the 18^th of November 1918 at Victoria, B.C., after 31 months of service.  It appears that his true age was discovered, and he was discharged as unfit because there was a law that retired anyone who was overage.

      In January of 1919 he is back in Port Coquitlam, for a short time.  One of the records states that he was born in 1867, and he was 51 years of age, in 1918.

No. 14 Platoon( photo from the 131^st Battalion yearbook of 1916 )

Top Row: G. Brown, Percy Gibb, Hosford Franklin Nagle, Leslie Lemuel Evans Goldsmith, William Gower, Samuel 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.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

His parents were Samuel Brown, and Margaret Jane Anderson

Children of:

Elizabeth Brown  born:19 June 1866 Holywood, Down, Ireland   ( NE of Belfast )
Agnes Brown       born: 10 Feb. 1864 Comber, County Down, Ireland
Jane Brown          born: 9 Jan. 1869 County Down, Ireland
Samuel Brown     born: 8 Oct. 1871 Castlereagh, County Down
Sarah Brown         born: 10 Nov. 1872 Castlereagh, Down, Ireland (  SSE of Belfast )
Samuel Brown      born: 24 March 1875   Down, Ireland
Hugh Brown          born: 3 Oct. 1880 Unicarville, Ballymaglaff, County Down, Ireland
  
1901 census    house 10  in castle lane, Comber, County Down, Ireland
Finds : Agnes ; Jane, and Sarah  listed as working in a flax mill. And their widowed mother, Margaret Jane Brown, age 57; and Robert Brown 17, working as an apprentice carpenter
  

   Samuel Brown 781031
( not dated, from the Find-a-grave website )

Grave marker in Veterans section of the Fraser Cemetery, New Westminster
( photo from the Find-a-grave website )

The description about Samuel Brown at the Find-a-grave website is correct for the most part, but one main error is the fact that Samuel actually worked as a gardener for the Pacific Mills at Ocean Falls, B.C., from at least 1925 to 1946, in 1947 he was admitted to Essondale, where he spent the last seven years of his life.
Samuel Brown died on the 5^th of August 1954 at Essondale hospital, Coquitlam, B.C., at the age of 88; he had spent 44 years of his life in B.C., and 22 years elsewhere in Canada.   See also the Bowell & Sons obituary card for Sam Brown
Note: on the Find-a-grave site, the researcher states that Sam immigrated in 1887 and worked in the northern wilds of B.C. as a logger, and that he was born in 1865 (which is what the death certificate states, which does not align correctly with the Irish birth certificates in the LDS database.

Also the family appears to have had ties to Comber, in County Down, Ireland, they are mentioned a few times in some of the Comber History website texts. 

Richard Cullen

Coquitlam honour roll

Richard Cullen,  Lieutenant.  121^st Battalion, B.C.R.. Captain.  524743
Signed his attestation papers on the 10^th of December 1915 at New Westminster, B.C. He was born on the 14^th of May 1882 at Margate, Kent, England.   Job:  schoolmaster. Sister: Helen Maurian Cullen, Mrs. P.C. Wood, (b.1868) Tyrone House, Margate, Kent, England.
Father: John Cullen is listed, but his father is really Thomas Cullen and his mother was Anne Bullock, and he had a brother who was also a school master: Alfred Richard Cullen ( 1880 – 1958 )
Previous military service was with the 11^th Irish Fusiliers of Canada.
Served in the 121^st Battalion in France, 16^th reserve battalion; BCR Depot; 2^nd Depot Battalion, B.C.R.; Canadian Machine Gun Depot; C.M.G. Reserve pool; 1^st Battalion, C.H.C.C.

Richard died on the 1^st of January 1967 at the Jesmond Rest Home, 668 Dallas Road, Victoria, B.C.
He  lived in the province for 55 years, with the last 21 years living in the Victoria area. He never married, and his death certificate states his birthday as the 14^th of May 1879, which differs, as usual from his attestation paper date of 1882.  He had retired in 1948, after working as an accountant for thirty years.  He is buried in the Royal Oak burial park, in Saanich, along with some more family members.  A niece: Norah Dorothea Cullen, Norah Dorothea Wagget,  gave the information used on his death certificate 

Richard first shows up in the 1913 New Westminster directory, listed as a teacher at the  Lord Kelvin School, a job he held until going overseas in August of 1916. 
By 1922 he is found back in New Westminster, working as a clerk for the Public works Department and in the 1936 directory for New Westminster he is a clerk working for the B.C. Government. Next he shows up in Victoria Directory in 1948 as a clerk with the B.C. Government, which was the year that he retired.

Lord Kelvin School with students on lawn. - [ca. 1912]
    ( photograph from the New Westminster Archives IHP7989   and 31 more images )

   This building was fairly new in this image, it replaced another one on the site, both have been torn down, but a Lord Kelvin Elementary school still exists at the same address:  1010 Hamilton Street, New Westminster, B.C.

NOTE:  It is interesting how confusing these records can be sometimes, an example is below:  A death record for a Richard Cullen who was a sergeant in the 32^nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. and he died on the 17^th of June 1917 in Belgium. the service number given 53021  is for a Stanley B. Rourke
But there are two,  Richard Cullen’s listed in the C.E.F. files, and both made it through the war and lived normal lives. But we have this mysterious other Richard Cullen.
     Threw me off for a while, thinking that the dead Richard Cullen was the person that I was interested in, until I was able to go through the actual service files, which of course continue to have notes past the date of death of the mysterious Richard Cullen.

William Chrystall

Port Coquitlam honour roll
Essondale hospital honour roll

William Chrystall, 131^st Battalion  790388   William signed his attestation papers on the 13^th of January 1916 at New Westminster, B.C. He was working at Colony Farm as a groom at this time. His previous military service was with the 104^th Regiment.
Service Record: Sapper. 47^th battalion.  Shrapnel in left leg on the 16^th of March 1917, then lost his right eye  on the 6^th of May 1917, during the fighting at Vimy Ridge. The eye was replaced with an artificial eye, and after three months recuperation he continued to serve his country, first in the Railway,11^th Engineer Depot, then in the Forestry Depot, here in Canada.
William was born on the 12^th of September 1887 at Hatton, Aberdeenshire, Scotland   and he died on the 5^th of January 1975 at the Langley Memorial Hospital, Murrayville, B.C., he is buried in the Langley Lawn Cemetery, Langley, B.C. At the time of his death he was  living at 23198 Old Yale Road, Langley, and practicing general farming. Five other family members are also buried at this cemetery

Father: George Chrystall   Mother: Elizabeth Smith 
Brother: James Smith Chrystall,(1884 - 1970)
Sister: Francis Chrystall
William Chrystall in 1923 was married to  Annie Jane Andrews (1901 - 1975) they were living in Agassiz, B.C. at the time.
    Sons: Robert Andrew Chrystall, (1926 - 1999);
               Kenneth "Ken" G. Chrystall,(1938- )
    Daughters: Elsie Chrystall (1932 - 2010); Grace Chrystall,
                      Jean Chrystall, Betty Chrystall
        His war injuries did not slow him down, since he competed in November 1923 in the first plowing contest held in the Chilliwack area in 25 years and he won, gaining 55 points out of 60, and becoming a champion plowman.   In 1926  the newspapers mention that he was working at the Agassiz experimental farm,  and a son (Robert Andrew Chrystall) was born on the 18th of February; and the same paper in 1927 mentions that the family is moving to Murrayville, in Surrey, and that William is leaving the Agassiz experimental farm.

Transport Section( photo from the 131st Battalion year book of 1916 )

Top Row: H. Bates, G.T. Robertson, Peter McKechnie, J. McLean, William Thomas Cook, William Chrystall
Middle Row: Ernest Swarbrick, George Shuttleworth, J. Robertson, James Lobban, William Donkersley, G. Thomas, C. Fenton

Front Row: H. MacDonald, Alexander Baldie, Corporal Gerald Langridge Stock, Sergeant Duncan Montgomery, Lieutenant Bertram James Vine, Sergeant Charles Clare Bell, Corporal E. Sturton, J. McMillan

William Cross

Port Coquitlam honour roll

William Cross  lance corporal.   C.C.B. Section  No.1 Field Ambulance C.E.F., 4^th Canadian C.C.S.    524743    William signed his attestation papers on the 8^th of March 1916 at Victoria, B.C. At the time he was living at 502-2^nd Street, New Westminster, B.C. Job: hospital work. He was born on the 9^th of September 1887 at Rockwell Green, Wellington, Somerset, England.

Father: Thomas Cross, senior; Lower Foxmoor, Rockwell Green, Wellington, Somerset.  Mother: possibly Florence Cross?   William had previous military service with the 18^th Field Ambulance, for 2½ months.
He served in France with the 4th Canadian Casaulty Clearing Station (C.C.S)

He was married in England on the 29^th of July 1916 to
Ida Louise Hawkings, Ida Louise Cross (1889 - 1972)
They had at least one child a daughter Mrs. ?.M. McCallum

William Cross died on the 26^th of May 1976 at the  Lions Gate Hospital, in North Vancouver.  His home at that time was at 441 Kelly St., in New Westminster. He was retired after being a chief orderly at the mental hospital in New Westminster.

NOTE:   a useful resource about the medical units which includes links to the daily diaries.  Nice :)

Ernest John Crawford

Port Coquitlam honour roll

Ernest John Crawford  War Service Class "A" badge; 48^th Battalion(3^rd Pioneer); 7^th Infantry Battalion    431186   Ernest signed his attestation papers on the 23^rd of June 1915 at Victoria, B.C.  Job: locomotive fireman. He was born on the 25th( 28th) of March 1889(1890) at Waterford, Ireland. Mother: Jane Morrison.  Brother: Hugh Morris Crawford, Mount Merrion Blackrock County, Dublin. 
  Ernest married  at Vancouver in 1930 to Helmi Nygard (1907- 1967 ) They had at least one child: John William Crawford.
Ernest’s time in the army appeared to have been lively


So after having shrapnel damage his right hand and ear; then a little later shrapnel shoulder; later again shrapnel left wrist. He served three years and wanted more.

X-ray of his left wrist, Ouch! found in his service file.

Ernest John Crawford lived on past the war until the 18th of January 1953, when he died at St. Vincent's Hospital, at Vancouver, B.C.

Richard Talbot Clegg

Richard Talbot Clegg  138^th Battalion   811217 / 826644   Signed his attestation papers on the 8th of December 1915 at Edmonton, Alberta.  Job: Messenger.
    Born on the 22^nd of January 1899 at Blackburn, England.  Home was Edmonton at the time of his signing the papers.
       Mother: Alice Talbot ( 1870 – 1951 )  Father: Henry Clegg
Wife: Doris Enid Searle ( 1903 – 1989 )
Son: Robert Clegg
Daughter: S. Margorie Clegg “Taylor”
His service record states that at 100-110lbs and 5’2” tall he was considered to weak and small for the task.  He and his wife were postmasters at Bilby, Alberta from 1939 – 1952, Richard was also active in the second world war according to the post office records.
Richard died on the 15^th of October 1980 at Victoria, B.C. He was divorced at the time of his death, and his remains were cremated.

Sidney Brock Cleave

Port Coquitlam honour roll

Sidney Brock Cleave  131^st Battalion. 791095   Signed his attestation papers on the 25^th of April 1916 at Vancouver, B.C. Job: bushman, logger. Living in Port Coquitlam. Sidney was born on the 27^th of January 1872, actually 1869  at Cheriton Fitzpaine, Devonshire, England.  Active military service: 3 years with the Devon Yeomanry.  Married to Anna “Annie” Sophia Wismer,(1886 – 1953 )  Sidney served in France for one year, then he was classed as unfit, because of being overage, then sent to England in 1917 then served with the 1^st Canadian labour battalion. He immigrated to Canada in the early 1900’s. 
Sons: Stanley Brock Cleave,(1927 - 1999)
John L. Cleave,
Lloyd James Cleave,(1922 - 1951)
Daughter: Blanche Maria Cleave; Blanche Maria Plummer,(1912 - 1992)
 Sidney Brock Cleave died in the Royal Columbian hospital, New Westminster, B.C. on the 24^th of January 1950, he is buried in the Maple ridge cemetery.  He lived along Mitchell Road in Maple Ridge, making a living at mixed farming.

 

 No. 15 Platoon

( Photo from 131st Battalion 1916 )

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, John 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.

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.