Two Guysborough County natives enlisted with No. 8 Siege Battery at Halifax, NS on August 2, 1916.
1. Ellis Howard Barss was born at Hazel Hill, Guysborough County on February 28, 1893, son of Robert and Frances Barss. Ellis served with No. 2 Company, Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery, Halifax, from April 11 to August 2, 1916, at which time he enlisted for overseas service with No. 8 Siege Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA).
Ellis departed Canada on September 21, 1916 and arrived at Liverpool, England two weeks later. After spending the winter in England, he crossed the English Channel to France on March 21, 1917, at which time his unit was re-designated No. 9 Siege Battery. Ellis was promoted of the rank of Bombardier on August 6, 1917, advancing to the rank of Corporal on March 1, 1918.
Ellis served in the forward area with No. 9 Siege Battery until September 24, 1918, at which time he returned to England for duty with the RCA’ Composite Brigade. He was appointed Acting Sergeant on November 1, 1918, remaining in England until February 1, 1919, at which time he departed for Canada. Ellis was discharged from military service at Halifax on March 1919.
Following the war, Ellis relocated to Dilke, Saskatchewan, where he took out a homestead and married Mary Alexandria Waddell in 1922. The couple subsequently raised a family of seven children: Robert Ellis, Margaret Mary, David Harold, Frances Elizabeth (Betty), twins Donald Allan and Douglas Bruce, and Dorothy Jean. The couple lived at Dilke until October 1948, when they sold their farm and moved to Regina, SK. Ellis Howard Barss passed away there on July 18, 1960.
2. Malcolm McKenzie was born at White Head, Guysborough County on June 24, 1898, the son of George Rufus and Etta McKenzie. Malcolm enlisted with No. 8 Siege Battery at Halifax alongside Ellis Barss, as the two men were assigned consecutive service numbers. No additional information is available on Malcolm’s military service or post-war life at the time of this posting.
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