Guysborough County's No. 2 Construction Battalion Enlistments, Part 9

This blog post is the ninth and final in a series, summarizing the information available on the life and First World War service of Guysborough County's 28 No. 2 Construction Battalion enlistments. Readers are asked to notify the blog author if there are any errors, or if a reader has additional information on any of the men profiled in these posts.

25, 26 & 27. Privates Angus, James Alexander & William John Tarbot/Talbot:

Brothers Angus, James Alexander and William John Tarbot were born at Sand Point, near Mulgrave, Guysborough County, sons of Edward and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Benoit/Bennett) Tarbot. The family surname was spelled “Tarbot” in earlier documents, but transitioned to “Talbot” in the years following the First World War.

James Alexander was the oldest of the brothers. According to his death certificate, he was born on April 1 1892. Military service files list William John’s birth date as September 2, 1896, while Angus’s birth date is recorded as May 15, 1897. Census records, however, suggest that Angus was likely born in 1898 or 1899.

At the time of the 1901 Canadian census, the three boys were living with their mother Lizzie in the household of their grandparents, James and Mary J. Tarbot, Mulgrave. On October 22, 1903, Lizzie married Dominick Marshall at Sydney, NS. The couple took up residence on Lingan Road, where Lizzie’s three sons became part of the household. Lizzie gave birth to a daughter Jennie in November 1906. By 1911, James, the oldest of the three brothers, was working as a labourer in the local steel plant, where his step-father Dominick was employed as a foreman.

Following the formation of No. 2 Construction Battalion on July 5, 1916, the three Tarbot brothers were among its earliest enlistments. James and William joined the unit at New Glasgow on July 25, while Angus enlisted the following day. The trio commenced their military service in a barracks on the Pictou waterfront and relocated to Truro with the battalion in September.

Angus, James and William spent the winter of 1916-17 in Truro and departed for overseas aboard SS Southland on March 18, 1917. The brothers arrived in the United Kingdom on April 7. Six weeks later, the brothers crossed the English Channel to France as part of a large detachment of No. 2 Construction personnel who landed on the continent on May 17, 1917.

The men were assigned to the Canadian Forestry Corps’ Jura District, near the Swiss border, where No. 2 Construction personnel worked alongside several CFC Companies, harvesting and processing timber in the mountainous region. The district’s mill specialized in the production of wooden ties for small-gauge railways constructed behind the front lines.

James and William remained in the Jura District for the duration of their overseas service. During that time, both were hospitalized with minor medical issues, but quickly recovered after treatment. In late December 1917, their younger brother Angus was part of a detachment of No. 2 Construction personnel transferred to CFC’s No. 1 District, Alençon, located in the Normandy forests. The group consisted mainly of No. 2 Construction men from the southern United States and Caribbean islands, judged by CFC officers to be susceptible to the Jura District’s colder winters. Angus worked in the Alençon district for the remainder of his time in France.

Following the signing of the November 11, 1918 Armistice, CFC harvesting operations ceased and sawmills processed the remaining harvested logs. CFC personnel then dismantled the mills and lumber camps. No. 2 Construction men were the first to return to the United Kingdom, gathering near Étaples and crossing the English Channel in one group on December 14, 1918.

While Angus and James departed for Canada aboard SS Empress of Britain on January 12, 1919, with the majority of No. 2 Construction men, post-Armistice health issues delayed William’s return until May 18, 1919, when he sailed for home aboard SS Aquitania. Angus and James were discharged from military service at Halifax on February 14, while William was discharged at the same location on June 2, 1919.

The brothers gave their post-war address as 79 Lingan Road, Sydney, the address where their mother and step-father resided. The trio remained in the Sydney area over the next several decades. Their mother Lizzie passed away from lobar pneumonia at 79 Lingan Road, Sydney, on March 24, 1934, and was laid to rest in New Calvary Cemetery, Sydney.

On February 21, 1920, William was working as a “machinist” at the time of his marriage to Violet Walker, daughter of John and Helen (Arsenault) Walker, Montreal, QC. The ceremony took place at St. Alban’s Rectory, Sydney, NS. The marriage was short-lived, as Violet appears to have passed away within the next three years. On March 17, 1924, William, a widower, married Agnes McKinnon, daughter of Roderick and Sarah (McDonald) McKinnon, Glace Bay.

William John Talbot succumbed to pulmonary tuberculosis at 116 Tupper St., Sydney, on February 9, 1945. He had retired from his position as  “steelworker foreman” with Dominion Iron & Steel Corporation the previous year. William was interred in the New Calvary Cemetery, Sydney, NS. There is no record of children from either marriage in available documents.

After returning to Sydney, Angus found work in the local coal mines. On September 26, 1926, he married Rhoda Hanrahan, daughter of Welsey and Rhoda (Morgan) Hanrahan, in a ceremony that took place at 36 Lingan Road, Sydney. Rhoda was a native of Dominion No. 6, while her father Welsey was born in Newfoundland.

Angus worked as a general labourer at the Sydney still plant until 1954. He passed away at Curry’s Lane, Sydney, on December 7, 1955, the result of chronic myocarditis, and was laid to rest in Hardwood Hill Cemetery, Sydney. There is no record of children in available documents.

On March 17, 1924, James Alexander married Margaret LeBlanc, daughter of Charles and Sophie LeBlanc, East Margaree, in a ceremony that took place at 79 Lingan Road, Sydney, NS. The couple had at least one child, Lawrence James, born in 1930. Following his first wife’s passing, James married Josephine Jarvis, daughter of George and Margaret (Mombourquette) Jarvis, Tracadie, in a ceremony that took place in Mulgrave, NS.

James passed away at St, Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish, on October 9, 1970. Widowed at the time of his death, he had been residing in Mulgrave prior to being admitted to hospital following a heart attack. James was laid to rest in New Calvary Cemetery, Sydney. A son William, 113 Tupper St., Sydney, was listed as informant on his death certificate.

28. Private Hartley Fraser Jackson:

Hartley Fraser Jackson was born in Birchtown, near Manchester, Guysborough County, on September 10, 1898. Hartley’s father, William Henry Jackson (DOB February 20, 1865), was also a Manchester native, the son of John and Agnes (Devost) Jackson. On May 19, 1887, William Henry married Sarah Elizabeth Williams, daughter of John and Caroline Williams, Tracadie, in a ceremony that took place in Manchester.

By 1901, the Jackson household consisted of William, Sarah and five children—Caroline “Carrie” (DOB September 15, 1889), Mary E. (DOB March 20, 1890), William Ernest (March 15, 1893), Fannie E. (DOB March 1, 1895) and Hartley. Over the following decade, three more children joined the family—John J. (DOB September 1901), James (DOB May 1906) and Charles A. (DOB June 1907). Sarah Jackson passed away sometime after 1911. On December 22, 1916, William married Maryanne Morris, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Morris, Birchtown, in a ceremony held at Sunnyville, Guysborough County.

Five months prior to his father’s second marriage, Hartley enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at New Glasgow, NS, on July 16, 1916. At the time, he gave his birth date as May 15, 1897, which differs from the information contained in 1901 (September 10, 1898) and 1911 (September 1899) census documents. Hartley identified his older sister Fannie as his next of kin and gave his address as Boylston, Guysborough County.

Hartley was briefly hospitalized with tonsillitis at Truro on March 21, 1917, but was discharged in time to proceed overseas with No. 2 Construction aboard SS Southland one week later. The unit disembarked at Liverpool, United Kingdom, on April 7 and traveled by train to a military camp at Seaford, England.

On May 17, 1917, a detachment of approximately 500 No. 2 Construction personnel crossed the English Channel to France, in the company of 11 officers. Upon disembarking at Le Havre, the group made its way to the Canadian Forestry Corps’ Jura District, near the Swiss border, where the men commenced work alongside several CFC Companies, harvesting and processing timber in the mountainous region.

On November 13, 1917, Hartley was part of a group of 50 No. 2 Construction men attached to No. 37 Company, CFC, located at Cartigny, near Péronne, France.  The No. 9 District (Bordeaux Group) to which No. 37 belonged operated behind the forward area, the closest CFC operation to the front lines. The No. 2 Construction men sent to Cartigny had numerous disciplinary infractions on their service record. It was thought that an assignment not far from the front lines would have a positive effect on their behaviour.

Hartley’s service record contains six infractions prior to his departure for Péronne. For a young man who was either 18 or 19 years old at the time and unfamiliar with the demands of military service, this is perhaps not surprising. In general, CFC camps were “rough and tumble” operations, not unlike Canadian lumber camps of the day, and District war diaries describe numerous incidents among CFC personnel.

While working at Péronne, Hartley and his compatriots experienced the impact of the German Spring 1918 offensive. Given the code-name “Operation Michael,” the massive attack on the Allied line commenced on March 21, 1918. During the following two weeks, German forces advanced approximately 65 kilometres toward Amiens before Allied forces managed to re-establish solid defensive positions.

The advance placed the CFC operation at Péronne within range of German artillery, forcing all personnel to retreat to a CFC camp at Wail, where they remained for the remainder of their service in France. During his time there, Hartley was admitted to No. 59 Casualty Clearing Station with a “wounded neck” on May 4, 1918. His service file contains no details on the circumstances in which he was injured. Hartley was discharged to duty five days later, suggesting that the injury was not serious.

Following the signing of the November 11, 1918 Armistice, CFC units ceased cutting operations and processed any remaining harvested logs. No. 2 Construction personnel were the first to leave the continent, gathering at Étaples, France, and crossing the English Channel on December 14, 1918. One month later, the bulk of the unit’s members boarded SS Empress of Britain and departed for Canada.

Huntley was part of this group, arriving at Halifax on January 22, 1919. He was discharged from military service on February 11 and returned home to Manchester. On November 20, 1920, Hartley married Cora May Morris, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann Morris, Manchester. The young couple initially established residence in their home community, but later moved to Priestville, on the outskirts of New Glasgow, where Hartley worked as a general labourer.

Hartley and Cora raised a family of three children—Gladys (Mrs. Richard Evans, Halifax), Evelyn (Mrs. James Reddick, Vale Rd., New Glasgow), and Henry (Halifax). Private Hartley Fraser Jackson passed away at Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow, on March 27, 1969, the result of “acute pulmonary oedema” (fluid buildup in the lungs). He was laid to rest in Lorne St. Cemetery, New Glasgow, NS.

Guysborough County's No. 2 Construction Battalion Enlistments, Part 8

 This blog post is the eighth in a series, summarizing the information available on the life and First World War service of Guysborough County's 28 No. 2 Construction Battalion enlistments. Readers are asked to notify the blog author if there are any errors, or if a reader has additional information on any of the men profiled in these posts.

  

22. Private Robert Shephard: 

According to the 1901 Canadian census, Robert Shephard was born in Mulgrave, Guysborough County, on June 23, 1893. His parents, Isaac Shephard and Emma Reddick, were married at Pirate Cove, near Mulgrave, on August 19, 1891. Isaac was the son of William and Susan Shephard, Oyster Ponds, while Emma was the daughter of Moses and Frances Reddick, Pirate Harbour.

The marriage was Isaac’s second—on June 19, 1884, he had married Susan Bowden, daughter of Peter and Sophia Bowden, Tracadie. The couple subsequently had two daughters, Mary and Rebecca, and a son, Charles Christopher. Susan passed away sometime prior to 1891, leaving Isaac to care for three young children until his second marriage to Emma.

By 1911, five more children had joined the Shephard household—William M. (DOB December 15, 1891), Robert (June 23, 1893), Caroline “Carrie” (DOB April 20, 1895), Isaac Gardiner (DOB September 29, 1899), and George David (DOB July 30, 1901).

On August 10, 1916, Robert Shephard enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at New Glasgow, NS. Almost six feet in height and 185 pounds in weight, he was considerably larger than the vast majority of his comrades. Robert listed his mother Emma, who was living in New Glasgow at the time, as his next of kin.

Robert departed for overseas with No. 2 Construction Battalion aboard SS Southland on March 28, 1917, and arrived at Liverpool, UK, 10 days later. He proceeded to France with a large contingent of No. 2 Construction soldiers on May 17, 1917. The group travelled to the Canadian Forestry Corps’ (CFC) Jura District, near the Swiss border, for service alongside several CFC Companies, harvesting and processing timber in the mountainous region.

On October 1, 1917, Robert was admitted to CFC Hospital, La Joux, for treatment of a “contusion leg.” Details on a later medical report indicate that he suffered an “injury [to his] left ankle” that resulted in a lump.” A second form states that Robert had suffered a “broken ankle while in service.”

Before month’s end, Robert was discharged from hospital and eventually returned to full duty. He remained at Jura for the duration of his time in France. On August 10, 1918, Robert was awarded a Good Conduct Badge, having completed two years of service without a disciplinary infraction. In late August, he enjoyed a 14-day leave to the United Kingdom and rejoined his comrades on September 15.

Harvesting operations ceased after the signing of the November 11 Armistice. CFC personnel processed all harvested logs before beginning the task of dissembling their sawmills and camps. No. 2 Construction personnel departed France on December 14, 1918, and reported to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot, Bramshott, UK.

For reasons not explained in his service file, Robert returned to Canada later than the main group of No. 2 Construction personnel. On February 20, 1919, he left the UK aboard SS Lapland and arrived in Halifax nine days later. On March 24, he was formally discharged from military service and returned to New Glasgow, where he took up residence on Marsh St.

Robert spent his remaining years in New Glasgow, where he worked for Standard Clay Products Ltd. The largest manufacturer of clay products in Canada, its New Glasgow factory produced salt glazed, vitrified sewer pipes, culvert pipes, flu and stove linings, fire bricks, and a variety of other fired clay goods.

Robert Shephard in his later years (Source: Calvin Ruck, The Black Battalion)

A bachelor throughout his life, Robert was a member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34 and 2nd Baptist Church. He passed away at Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow, on April 19, 1983, at 90 years of age and was laid to rest in Brookside Cemetery.

23 & 24. Private George William Tarbot and Private Wallace Tarbot:

According to the 1901 Canadian census, George William Tarbot was born at Sand Point, Guysborough County, in July 1884, while his brother Wallace was born at the same location in August 1888. Their parents were James Tarbot, Sand Point, and Mary Jane Benoit (aka Bennett), Arichat. While the family surname was spelled “Tarbot” in older census documents, its spelling gradually transitioned to “Talbot” in the years after the First World War.

James was first married to Annie Campbell, a relationship that resulted in a family of seven children at the time of the 1881 Canadian census. (George later listed James and Annie’s oldest child—his half-brother Frederick—as his next of kin on his military attestation.) George and Wallace were two of at least six children born after James’ marriage to Mary Jane. According to the 1891 and 1901 census records, the family also included Jane (c. 1887), Josephine (c.1889), Louise (c. 1891) and Sarah (c. 1893).

By 1912, Wallace had relocated to New Glasgow, where he worked as a common labourer. On May 12 of that year, he married Elizabeth Blackney, daughter of Gottlieb and Margaret Blackney, in a ceremony held at the United Baptist Church. Four years later, he enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at New Glasgow on July 25, 1916. At the time of his overseas departure, there were three children in the Tarbot household—Fred, age two; Albert, age one; and Leonard, age three months.

Wallace’s brother George enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Pictou on October 2, 1916. He initially identified his half-brother Frederick Tarbot, Glace Bay, as his next of kin, but later replaced Fred’s name with that of his sister, Mrs. Louise Gregory, Lingan Rd., Sydney. At the time of his enlistment, George was working as “moulder”—a worker who pours molten metal into moulds to produce steel products. George’s occupation and his choices for next of kin suggest that he had been living in Sydney prior to his enlistment.

George and Wallace spent the autumn and winter of 1916-17 training with No. 2 Construction Battalion. While the unit’s headquarters were initially located at Pictou, a move to Truro in September 1916 was no doubt an inconvenience for Wallace, as his family remained in New Glasgow. On March 23, 1917, the brothers departed from Halifax aboard SS Southland and arrived at Liverpool, England, on April 7.

Exactly one month after Wallace arrived overseas—May 7, 1917—his youngest child, five-month-old Leonard, died after contracting measles. Ten days later, Wallace and George crossed the English Channel to France with a large contingent of No. 2 Construction men, destined for service with the Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC) in the Jura District, near the French - Swiss border.

The brothers remained at Jura throughout their time in France. Work in a busy timber harvesting and processing operation could be hazardous at times. On October 6, 1917, Wallace was admitted to CFC Hospital, La Jeux, for treatment of fractured ribs. He spent one month under medical care before returning to duty. One week after Wallace entered hospital, George arrived at the same facility for treatment of a “contusion” to his right hand and was discharged on November 22, 1917.

The winter and spring of 1917-18 passed at Jura without further medical incidents. On July 25, 1918, Wallace was awarded a Good Conduct Badge, having completed two years of military service without a disciplinary infraction. Two days later, George was admitted to hospital for the second time, on this occasion for treatment of “myalgia gen. sev. [general severe].” Considering his age at the time—George was in his mid-30s—it is perhaps not surprising that more than a year of rigorous work in the forestry operation had taken its toll.

On August 16, George was “invalided sick” to the United Kingdom aboard the hospital ship Panama and posted to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot (NSRD), Bramshott. The following day, he was admitted to Military Hospital, Woking, for medical treatment. In mid-September, George was transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital, Epsom. He spent another six weeks under medical care before being discharged to NSRD, where he remained for the duration of his time overseas.

Meanwhile, Wallace continued to work alongside CFC personnel in the Jura District. Following the signing of the November 11, 1918 Armistice, CFC Companies ceased cutting timber but processed any harvested logs into lumber. Personnel then began the process of dismantling their sawmills and camps.

No. 2 Construction’s personnel were the first CFC workers to leave France, crossing the English Channel to the United Kingdom on December 14, 1918. George and Wallace were reunited at Bramshott, but followed different paths in returning home.

George departed for Canada aboard SS Aquitania on January 25, 1919, and was discharged from military service at Halifax on February 19, 1919. Military authorities dispatched his British War and Victory service medals to Vale Rd., New Glasgow, on February 25, 1922, suggesting that he was living at that location following his discharge. No further information is available on George’s post-war civilian life or his death.

For reasons that are not explained in his service file, Wallace’s return to Canada was delayed for several months. On January 27, 1919, he was transferred to 2nd CCC [Casualty Clearing Centre], Ripon, the first stage of his journey home. He departed for Canada on May 18, 1919, and arrived at Halifax one week later. Wallace was formally discharged from military service on June 2, 1919, and returned home to New Glasgow.
 
Over the subsequent years, Wallace and Elizabeth had four more children—Lena (1920 - died in infancy), Josephine (1923 - died in infancy), Edna Arvilla (1927 - 2002) and Fred (? - 1977). Wallace worked in the local community as a miner and cement worker until 1946. He passed away at Camp Hill Hospital, Halifax, on July 9, 1949, the result of stomach cancer that had spread to several other organs, and was laid to rest in New Glasgow.

Guysborough County's No. 2 Construction Battalion Enlistments, Part 7

This blog post is the seventh in a series, summarizing the information available on the life and First World War service of Guysborough County's 28 No. 2 Construction Battalion enlistments. Readers are asked to notify the blog author if there are any errors, or if a reader has additional information on any of the men profiled in these posts.

19. Private Joseph Alexander "Joe" Parris:

According to the 1901 Canadian census, Joseph Alexander “Joe” Parris was born at Sand Point, Guysborough County, on March 20, 1899, the son of Charles Levi and Annie Elizabeth Parris. Charles was the son of Isaac and Caroline (William) Parris, while Annie was the daughter of Richard and Anne (Borden) Reddick.

Pte. Joe Parris (center) with brother Bill (far right)

At the time of the 1901 census, Joe’s older brother, William Winslow “Bill,” and younger sister Maria were also part of the household. By 1911, a fourth child, Rita, had joined the Parris family. Census records assembled that year list Joe’s birth date as March 1898.

Joe enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at New Glasgow, NS, on July 25, 1916. His attestation papers record his year of birth as 1897, one or two years earlier than census records indicate. Joe was among the unit’s earliest recruits, as it was authorized only three weeks previously. If the 1901 census entry is accurate, he was only 17 years old at the time.

No. 2 Construction established its initial headquarters at Pictou, in a barracks on the waterfront formerly occupied by the 106th Infantry Battalion. In early September, the unit relocated to Truro, in the hope that the more central location would assist with its recruitment efforts. Joe’s older brother Bill enlisted there on October 10, 1916.

No. 2 Construction Battalion officially mobilized on March 17, 1917, and departed from Halifax aboard SS Southland 11 days later. Joe and Bill were among the approximately 600 men who arrived with the unit at Liverpool, United Kingdom (UK), on April 7 and made their way to Bramshott Camp. Shortly afterward, the unit was reduced to “Company” status, as it was short of the required number of men for “battalion” designation.  

On May 17, 1917, Joe and Bill were part of a detachment of 495 “other ranks” (OR) that crossed the English Channel to France for service in the Canadian Forestry Corps’ (CFC) Jura District, near the Swiss border. Here, the men worked alongside several CFC companies, processing, harvesting and shipping timber in the mountainous area.

On December 12, 1917, Joe was part of a group of 180 No. 2 members dispatched to Central Group, No. 1 District, Alençon. The majority were men from the Caribbean Islands or southern United States, and Jura’s CFC medical officer was concerned that the harsh winter conditions might affect their health. His brother Bill accompanied him to Alençon.

For the remainder of his time in France, Joe worked alongside the men of No. 54 Company, harvesting timber in the Normandy forests. The Alençon camp was more diverse than the Jura district, its work parties including a number of Russians, as well as German prisoners of war.

In mid-September 1918, Joe received the standard two weeks’ leave to the UK granted to soldiers after 15 months’ service in the line. In the aftermath of the November 11, 1918 Armistice, the men at Alençon enjoyed a day-long holiday before returning to work. While harvesting operations ceased, personnel processed the remaining harvested timber before beginning the process of dismantling the lumber camp and sawmill.

No. 2 Construction’s personnel were the first to depart France, returning to the UK on December 14, 1918, and reporting to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot, Bramshott. One month later, the men boarded the Empress of Britain for the return trip to Canada. The vessel docked at Halifax on January 22, 1919. Joe was discharged from military service on February 12 and returned to Mulgrave.

On December 1, 1924 Joe married Annie Jane Jarvis, daughter of George and Margaret (Mombourquette) Jarvis, Tracadie. The couple established residence in Mulgrave, where Joe joined the local Royal Canadian Legion branch in 1929. Tragically, Annie Jane died at Mulgrave on November 12, 1936. In her late 20s at the time, her death was attributed to a heart condition and lobar pneumonia.

Two years later, Joe married Viola Jane Borden, daughter of Stanley and Lottie (Williams) Borden, Tracadie, in a ceremony that took place in Mulgrave on July 11, 1938. Over the ensuing years, the couple raised a large family in Mulgrave. Joseph Alexander Parris died on April 19, 1972, and was laid to rest in St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Cemetery, Mulgrave.

A more detailed story of Joe Parris’s story, intertwined with an overview of No. Construction Battalion, was posted to this blog on January 30, 2014.

20. Lance Corporal William Winslow "Bill" Parris:

William Winslow “Bill” Parris was born at Sand Point, Guysborough County, on September 2, 1897, the oldest of Charles Levi and Annie Elizabeth Parris’s children. Bill was employed as a “railwayman” when he enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Truro, NS, on October 10, 1916. His younger brother Joe had joined the same unit in late July.

On March 28, 1917, Bill departed for overseas aboard SS Southland. The vessel arrived at Liverpool, UK, 10 days later. No. 2 Construction Battalion’s personnel then made their way by train to Camp Bramshott. Shortly after their overseas arrival, a shortage of personnel—less than 700 men “all ranks”—led officials to reduce the unit to the status of a “Company.”

On May 16, Bill was promoted to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal without pay. The following day, he crossed the English Channel with a large detachment of No. 2 Construction men. The group travelled to the Canadian Forestry Corps’ (CFC) Jura District, where the men commenced work alongside several CFC Companies, participating in all aspects of the lumber camp’s operation.

The first entry in No. 2 Construction Company’s July 1917 war diary mentioned a “General Sports Day” held at Jura to celebrate the “50th Anniversary of Confederation of [the] Dominion of Canada.” The unit’s men did particularly well, the diary commenting: “Our Track team carried off the honours and won the day.”

The No. 5 District CFC war diary provided further details:

"Dominion Day celebrated by the 11 Forestry Companies and No. 2 Construction Company in this District (No. 5). Field sports held at Chapois….  During the day, the [No. 2 Construction] Band… by their excellent music... greatly assisted in entertaining the crowd and making the holiday a success."

Private Davis, an American No. 2 Construction recruit, placed first in the 100 yard-dash and second in the running broad jump, while Private Whims, one of two brothers from Saltsprings Island, BC, placed first in the sack race "by a big margin".  Bill Parris, the only Nova Scotian listed in the results, placed second in the 440-yard dash. No. 2 Construction Company earned a total of 17 points in the day's events, placing third overall among the 14 French, American and Canadian participating teams.

Three days after the Dominion Day festivities, Bill was “deprived of [his] L[ance Corporal] stripe” for “malingering” (feigning illness). He served at Jura until late December, when he was part of a group of 180 No. 2 Construction personnel transferred to No. 1 District CFC, Alençon. During the ensuing months, the men worked alongside CFC Companies, harvesting timber from the Normandy forests.

The CFC ceased its forest operations shortly after the November 11, 1918 Armistice. Its personnel processed harvested logs before commencing the task of dismantling operations. No. 2 Construction’s men were the first to leave France, crossing the English Channel on December 14, 1918, and reporting to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot, Bramshott.

Bill and his No. 2 Construction comrades departed for Canada aboard the Empress of Britain on January 12, 1919. The vessel arrived at Halifax after a 10-day voyage. Bill was formally discharged from military service on February 14, 1919, and returned to Mulgrave, where he resumed work as a railwayman.

On July 7, 1920, Bill married Mary Jane Ash, daughter of Charles and Sarah Jane (Desmond) Ash, Monastery, in a ceremony that took place at Tracadie. Over the ensuing years, the couple had nine children, five of whom died in infancy or childhood. A sixth child, Duncan Collins Parris, was killed in a car - pedestrian accident at Point Tupper in 1953. William Winslow Parris died at St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish, on October 3, 1968, and was laid to rest in Mulgrave. His wife Mary Jane passed away at Mulgrave in 1977.

21. Private George William Reddick:

According to his attestation papers, George William Reddick was born at Mulgrave, Guysborough County, on April 28, 1892. George’s father Walter was the son of Moses and Caroline (Sheppard) Reddick, Pirates Cove, while his mother Margaret was the daughter of Joseph and Catherine Izzard, Boylston. The couple were married at Mulgrave on May 1, 1884.

Lance Cpl. Bill Parris (left) & Pte. George Reddick

At the time of the 1901 census, the Reddick family included parents Walter, age 41 (DOB March 12, 1860), and Margaret, age 37 (DOB May 2, 1864), and their children: Martha, age 13 (DOB February 27, 1888); Joseph, age 10 (DOB September 10, 1890); Walter Havelock, age 10 (DOB March 9, 1891); George, age seven (DOB April 28, 1893); Rist, age six (DOB October 10, 1895); Margaret, age five (DOB March 18, 1896); and Druscella, age one (DOB April 29, 1900). Adjacent to the Reddick residence was the household of Charles and Annie Parris, which included their sons William Winslow “Bill” and Joseph Alexander “Joe.”

George Reddick attested with No. 2 Construction Battalion at New Glasgow, NS, on July 25, 1916, the same day as Joe Parris. In fact, their consecutive service numbers indicate that they stood together in line. The pair were together during their time in uniform and were later joined by Joe’s brother Bill.

George departed for overseas with No. 2 Construction on March 28, 1917, and proceeded to France with a large detachment of its personnel on May 17, 1917. He served in the Canadian Forestry Corps’ (CFC) Jura District with his comrades for the remainder of the year and was transferred to No. 1 DIstrict, Alençon, on December 30, 1917. Joe and Bill accompanied George to Alençon, where No, 2 Construction men worked alongside No. 38 and No. 42 CFC Companies, harvesting and processing timber from the Normandy forests.

With the exception of a 14-day leave to the United Kingdom in early September 1918, George spent the remainder of his overseas service at Alençon. On December 14, 1918, he crossed the English Channel and reported to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot, Bramshott, with his No. 2 comrades. One month later, the unit departed for Canada aboard the Empress of Britain.

George was discharged from military service at Halifax, NS, on February 12, 1919. At the time, he gave his proposed address at Marsh St., New Glasgow, as his parents had moved to the Pictou County community while he was overseas.

By 1921, George had relocated to River Hebert, Cumberland County, where he worked as a miner. On July 18, 1921, he married Mary Evelyn Bowles, a native of Brooklyn, Hants County, at the Presbyterian Manse, River Hebert. Mary was the daughter of William Bowles, Amherst, and Eliza Jane Banes. Military authorities dispatched George’s British War and Victory service medals to Joggins Mines in November 1921.

George’s parents spent their remaining days at New Glasgow. His father Walter passed away there on December 16, 1922, while mother Margaret died at the same location on January 16, 1940. Both were laid to rest in a New Glasgow cemetery.

By the early 1940s, George had returned to Guysborough County, where he established residence in Lincolnville. A later obituary makes no mention of children. Mary Reddick passed away at Lincolnville on October 5, 1942, and was buried in Sunnyview Cemetery. George later married Victoria Jordan, a widow. He passed away at Lincolnville on April 11, 1978, and was laid to rest in St, Monica’s Church parish cemetery.