Guysborough County's No. 2 Construction Battalion Enlistments, Part 6

This blog post is the sixth 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.

 

16. Private Michael Redmond Elms:

 According to his military attestation papers, Michael Redmond Elms was born at Tracadie, NS, on May 25, 1895. Unfortunately, the 1901 and 1911 Canadian censuses do not provide any information on his family circumstances. Based on information extracted from his military service file and later marriage record, he was the son of John Redmond and Henrietta “Etta” Elms.

Michael enlisted for service with the No. 2 Construction Battalion at Halifax, NS, on August 28, 1916. At the time, he identified his mother, Mrs. Redmond Elms, Upper Big Tracadie, Guysborough County, as his next of kin. While his attestation document lists his occupation as “labourer,” information in his service file states that he was working as baggage porter at North St. Station at the time of his enlistment.

On March 28, 1917, Michael departed for overseas aboard SS Southland and arrived in the United Kingdom 10 days later. On May 14, 1917, he proceeded to France with a large contingent of No. 2 Construction men, headed for the Canadian Forestry Corps’ (CFC) Jura District, near the Swiss border.

Michael spent the duration of his time on the continent at Jura. On May 13, 1918, he was admitted to CFC Hospital, La Joux, for treatment of “cont. r. foot” [contusion, right foot], likely an injury sustained while working alongside CFC personnel as they harvested and processed timber obtained from the Jura region. After a 12-day stay, Michael was discharged from hospital and returned to duty. Other than a two-week leave to the United Kingdom in late August 1918, he remained at Jura until No. 2 Construction personnel departed France on December 14, 1918.

Michael spent one month in the United Kingdom before leaving for Canada on January 12, 1919. One month later, he was formally discharged from military service at Halifax, NS. On July 2, 1919, Michael married Florence Williams in a United Baptist ceremony that took place at New Glasgow, NS. Florence was the daughter of William and Sarah Williams, Upper Big Tracadie. At the time of his marriage, Michael was living at Halifax, where he was employed as a “sleeping car porter.”

With the exception of a document attached to his marriage license indicating that he and Florence divorced at Halifax on January 24, 1956, no further information is available on Michael Redmond Elms’ postwar life.

17. Private John William Elms:  

John William Elms was born at Big Tracadie, Nova Scotia, on July 22, 1888. The 1891 Canadian census lists John, age two living with his parents, Johnson and Alice (Day) Elms, and siblings Ann Theresa, age seven, and Joseph, age one. Information on the census form lists Alice’s place of birth as Virginia.

John William Elms (front left) & three unidentified No. 2 Construction soldiers

John was still living at home in 1911, although his father had passed away by that time. On May 14, 1913, John married Sarah “Sadie” McPhee, daughter of Archibald and Mary McPhee, Upper Big Tracadie, in a ceremony held at Big Tracadie United Baptist Church. Three years later, his widowed mother Alice married William Henry Gero, son of Thomas and Eliza Gero, in a ceremony held at Truro, NS, on September 21, 1916.

Five days prior to his mother’s second marriage—September 16, 1916—John enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Truro, NS. According to information in his service file, he and Sadie had two children at the time of John’s enlistment. A two-year-old daughter Elsie, was born in 1914, and an eight-month-old son John Joseph, was born in 1916.

On March 25, 1917, John Elms departed for overseas with No. 2 Construction Battalion aboard SS Southland. The vessel arrived at Liverpool, United Kingdom, on April 7 and its passengers proceeded to military camp in southern England. Six weeks later, a contingent of 525 No. 2 Construction men crossed the English Channel to France. John was among the men who set foot on the continent on May 17, 1917, and proceeded to the Canadian Forestry Corps’ (CFC) Jura District.

Over the next seven months, John  worked alongside several CFC Companies, harvesting and processing timber from the Jura forests. On December 12, 1917, he was part of a detachment of 180 No. 2 Construction personnel transferred to No. 1 District, Alençon. The majority of the men were natives of the southern United States or Caribbean Islands, and the Jura District’s medical officer was concerned that the location’s colder winter weather might negatively impact their health.

John spent the remainder of his time in France in the Alençon District. On September 8, 1918, he received two weeks’ leave to the UK. Shortly before rejoining his unit, he was awarded a Good Conduct Badge, having completed two years’ service without any disciplinary infractions. John worked at Alençon until December 14, 1918, when all No. 2 Construction personnel returned to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot at Bramshott Camp, UK.

John departed for Canada aboard the Empress of Britain on January 12, 1919, and arrived at Halifax, NS, 10 days later. He was formally discharged from military service at Halifax on February 15, 1919, and returned home. At the time of the 1921 Canadian census, 32-year-old John, farmer by occupation, was residing at Big Tracadie with his wife Sarah, age 27, and their children Elsie, age seven, John J., age five, and James B., age one month. Also living in the home are John’s younger brother Joseph, age 30, his step-father William Gero, age 60, and his mother Alice, age 50.

John remained at Big Tracadie for the remainder of his life. He passed away at Camp Hill Hospital, Halifax, on June 25, 1959, one month shy of his 71st birthday, and was laid to rest in Upper Big Tracadie. John’s son, Norman Arthur Elms, Creighton St., Halifax, was the informant on his death certificate.

18. Private William Henry Gero:

 According to his service file, William Henry Gero was born at Big Tracadie, NS, on September 30, 1876. Canadian census records, however, indicate that he was born much earlier. The 1871 Canadian census lists Henry “Genow,” age 10, as the oldest child of Thomas (age 36) and Lisar [probably Eliza] (age 32) Gero. Also residing in the household were Benjamin, age eight, Thomas, age seven, Charles, age five, Lisar [Eliza], age two and Ann, age one.

The 1881 census lists William Henry “Garon,” age 18, living in the Havre Boucher district of Antigonish County with his widowed father Thomas and siblings Benjamin, age 16, Thomas, age 14, Charles, age 12, Eliza Mary, age nine, Bessie Ann, age eight, Norman, age six, and Insana [sic], age four.  Later that same year, Thomas “Gerrow,” son of Benjamin and Hannah, married Margaret A. Dismal [Desmond], age 27, daughter of Christopher and Rebecca Dismal, in a ceremony that took place at Havre Boucher on August 18, 1881. While the 1901 census lists Thomas and his wife Margaret residing at Linwood, Antigonish County, William Henry is no longer living at home. His whereabouts then and at the time of the 1911 census 10 years later are unknown.

September 1916 proved to be an eventful month for William. His father passed away at Big Tracadie on September 3, 1916. Thomas was 86 years old at the time of his death and was laid to rest in the United Baptist Cemetery, Big Tracadie. William, his eldest child, was listed as informant on the death certificate. On September 16, William married Alice Elms [the marriage license records Alice’s surname as Gero], a 40-year-old widow and daughter of Margaret and John Day, Big Tracadie, in a ceremony held at Truro, NS.

Two weeks after his marriage—September 30, 1916—William enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Truro. As at the time of his marriage, William claimed to be 40 years old, but census records suggest that he was likely in his mid-fifties at the time. His military service papers also indicate that William had two dependents—James, age 12, and Annie, age seven. Information on his death certificate suggests that they were children from Alice’s first marriage.

On March 25, 1917, William departed Halifax with No. 2 Construction Battalion aboard SS Southland and disembarked at Liverpool, UK, two weeks later. On May 17, he proceeded to France with a large group of No. 2 Construction personnel, destined for the Canadian Forestry Corps’ (CFC) Jura District. William served in the Jura forests alongside CFC personnel for the duration of his time overseas.

On September 22, 1918, William was awarded a Good Conduct Badge, in acknowledgment of two years’ military service without a disciplinary infraction. He departed France with No. 2 Construction on December 14, 1918, and returned to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot, Bramshott, UK. One month later, William sailed for Canada aboard Empress of Britain, arriving at Halifax on January 22, 1919. He was formally discharged from military service on February 14 and returned to the Big Tracadie area.

Military authorities forwarded William’s British War and Victory service medals to Big Tracadie, NS, on September 2, 1922. William Henry Gero passed away at Colchester County Hospital, Truro, NS, on October 8, 1945. At the time of his death, he was living at Prince St., Truro, and was laid to rest in the same community. Informant on William’s death certificate was his step-son, John Elms, Upper Big Tracadie, NS.

Guysborough County's No. 2 Construction Battalion Enlistments, Part 5

 This blog post is the fifth 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.

 

13. Private James William Desmond:

According to his military service file, James William Desmond was born at Guysborough, NS, on August 1, 1897. At the time of his enlistment, James identified his grandmother Mrs. Samuel Desmond—Sarah Byard—as his next of kin. Sarah, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Byard, married Samuel Edward Desmond, son of Richard and Amelia Desmond, in a ceremony held at Guysborough on January 7, 1874. Samuel earned his livelihood at sea, his marriage license listing his occupation at the time as “mariner.”

Official documents recorded the family surname in several ways—Desmall (the couple’s marriage certificate), Dissmond (1881 Canadian census), Dismal (1891 Canadian census) and Disney (1901 Canadian census). By 1911, official documents used the modern spelling “Desmond,” which appears throughout James’s service file.

Available census records indicate that Samuel and Sarah Desmond had two children—a son Frank, born on July 3, 1881, and a daughter Gertie, born on June 15, 1885. While James referred to their mother Sarah as his grandmother, available documents fail to prove that either one was James’s parent.

Frank eventually married, although no official record can be located. He settled at North Sydney around 1908 and found work in the local coal mines. Frank died at Harbour View Hospital, North Sydney, on June 6, 1922, at age 42. The cause of death was listed as “broken back,” perhaps the result of a mishap at work, although his death certificate makes no mention of an accident.

Frank’s sister Gertie married James Godfrey Skinner, son of Godfrey and Nancy Ann (Armsworthy) Skinner, at Guysborough on June 8, 1905. According to the couple’s marriage license, Gertie was born at Boston, MA, suggesting that Sarah may have accompanied Samuel on his sailing voyages. At the time of the 1911 census, James and Gertie had two children, James (July 1903) and Sarah Ellen (November 1905). Sadly, Gertie passed away at Guysborough on March 17, 1913, the result of tuberculosis.

On August 18, 1916, James Desmond enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at its Pictou, NS headquarters. He stood five feet four inches and weighed 135 pounds at the time. While James claimed to have been born on August 1, 1897, making him 19 years old at the time, later documents in his service file suggest that he was likely born in 1900.

James departed for overseas with No. 2 Construction Battalion on March 25, 1917, and arrived in the United Kingdom two weeks later. On May 17, he departed for France with a contingent of 525 No. 2 Construction personnel and reported to the Canadian Forestry Corps’ Jura District, near the Swiss border, shortly afterward. For the remainder of the year, James worked alongside CFC personnel, harvesting, processing and shipping timber in the heavily forested area.

In December 1917, James was one of 180 No. 2 Construction men transferred to No. 1 District, Alençon. The majority were men from the Caribbean Islands or southern United States. CFC officials were concerned that the colder winters in the Jura District might negatively impact their health. The group was attached to CFC’s No. 54 Company and worked in the forests of Normandy, where winters were much milder, for the remainder of their time in France.

James was hospitalized on several occasions during his time at Alençon. In late March 1918, he was briefly admitted to No. 10 General Hospital, Rouen, suffering from “debility.” Discharged after three days, he returned to duty, only to be re-admitted for treatment of bronchitis in late April. Discharged to No. 5 Convalescent Depot, Rouen, on May 5, he spent six weeks recuperating before reporting to Canadian Base Depot, Étaples, on June 13.

Two days later, James was admitted to No. 7 Canadian General Hospital, Étaples, for treatment of “ICT [inter-connective tissue wound] left hand.” Released to No. 14 Convalescent Depot one week later, he once again returned to Base Depot, Étaples, on July 6, only to be re-admitted to hospital for treatment of “periostitis”—inflammation of the connective tissue that surrounds bone—on July 15.

Following two weeks’ treatment, James was discharged to a convalescent depot on August 1 and returned to Base Depot one week later. He rejoined his No. 2 Construction mates at Alençon on August 17 and was attached to No. 43 Company, CFC. For reasons that are not explained in his service file, James was assigned to “detention hospital” at Alençon on November 2, and was transferred to a second “detention” facility at Conches four days later.

When the November 11, 1918 Armistice brought fighting to an end, timber harvesting ceased in all CFC districts and harvested logs were processed before personnel dismantled the sawmills. While his service file does not provide a date for James’s hospital discharge, he returned to the United Kingdom with his No. 2 Construction mates on December 14, 1918, and departed for Canada aboard SS Empress of Britain on January 12, 1919. The vessel docked at Halifax, NS, after a nine-day crossing. On February 15, 1919, James was discharged from military service and returned home to Guysborough.

James’s post-war days was short-lived. On August 12, 1919, he passed away suddenly at Guysborough. According to his death record, he was 19 years old at the time of his death and had been ill with tuberculosis for one month. The register identified James’s occupation as “soldier” and mysteriously listed his marital status as “widower.” More perplexing was an entry that identified James’s father as James Ryan, who was also the informant. Available documents do not provide any information on James Ryan, keeping the identity of James Desmond’s parents an unsolved mystery.

14. Private Alexander Elms:

According to his military attestation, Alexander Elms was born at Big Tracadie, Guysborough County, on February 28, 1889. Alex identified his mother, Mary Elms, Tracadie, as his next of kin. Mary Jane Elms was born at Tracadie on October 30, 1870, the daughter of Joseph and Jane Elms, who were married at Tracadie in February 1864.

The 1891 Canadian census identifies Alexander, age two, as the “son” of Joseph Elms, age 64, farmer, and his wife Janie, age 50. Also in the home at the time were three of Joseph and Jane’s children—Henry, age 23; Alex’s mother Mary, age 20; Henrietta, age 19, and Freeman, age 17. One decade later, the 1901 census identifies Henry as the head of a household that included his mother Jane and his siblings Annie and Freeman. Mary and Alex no longer reside there and do not appear elsewhere in 1901 or 1911 Nova Scotia census data.

Alex Elms attested for service with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Halifax, NS, on August 29, 1916. At that time, he gave his address as 131 Albemarle St., Halifax. Alex stood almost five feet 11 inches and weighed 162 pounds at the time, considerably larger in both categories than many of his comrades. Other than a brief hospitalization at Truro in early December 1916 for treatment of “Bell’s paralysis,” Alex spent the winter of 1916 - 17 training and working alongside his fellow No. 2 Construction recruits.

The unit departed for overseas aboard SS Southland on March 25, 1917, and disembarked at Liverpool, UK, two weeks later. Alex was admitted to Canadian Military Hospital, Eastbourne, for treatment of measles on April 21, but was discharged on May 5. Twelve days later, he was part of a large detachment of No. 2 Construction men that departed for France for service with the Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC).

Upon landing on the continent, the group made its way to the Jura District of France, where several CFC companies harvested and processed timber in in a mountainous, forested area adjacent to the Swiss border. In late December 1917, Alex was part of a detachment transferred to No. 1 District, Alençon, approximately 200 kilometres west of Paris, where No. 2 Construction personnel worked in the Normandy forests alongside several CFC companies.

With the exception of 14 days’ leave to the United Kingdom in mid-September 1918, Alex remained at Alençon for the duration of his time in France. Harvesting operations ceased following the signing of the November 11, 1918, Armistice and CFC units processed the remaining logs at their sawmills before ceasing production. On December 14, all No. 2 Construction personnel on the continent were transferred to the United Kingdom and posted to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot, Bramshott. One month later, Alex and his mates departed for Halifax, NS, aboard SS Empress of Britain.

Alex was discharged from military service at Halifax on February 13, 1919. A “Form of Affidavit” signed the following day registered the marriage of Alexander Elms, Big Tracadie, bachelor and “soldier,” age 31, to Bessie Blackburn, Halifax, NS, a 28-year-old spinster. Unfortunately, the document provides no further details on either party’s family background.

According to his discharge papers, Alex returned to Upper Big Tracadie. Nova Scotia marriage records for the year 1920 include a marriage license for Alexander Elms, bachelor, labourer, age 31, born and living at Big Tracadie, son of Joseph Elms and Mary Ann [sic] Elms, and Rosie Jane Ash, age 26 domestic, widow, born at Guysborough, living at Upper Big Tracadie, daughter of Ruben Pelley and Sarah “Sadie” Dorrington. The wedding ceremony took place at Tracadie on February 12, 1920, with Joseph A. Desmond, Upper Big Tracadie, and Mrs. Michael R. Elms, Upper Big Tracadie—the wife of another No. 2 Construction soldier—as witnesses.

At the time of the 1921 Canadian census, 33-year-old Alex was living at Upper Big Tracadie with his wife, 27-year-old Rose Jane, and their young daughter Sophie. Also residing in the household were lodger Freeman Ash, age 27, labourer, and “servant” Gussie Ash, age 19. Tragically, Rosey Jane passed away at West St., Antigonish, on March 16, 1926, after a two-month battle with cancer and was laid to rest at Tracadie. Her husband Alex was informant on her death certificate.

A 1930 Province of Nova Scotia death certificate records the passing of Alexander Elms, Monastery, NS, at Camp Hill Hospital, Halifax, on January 19, 1930. Details on the document indicate that Alex had been at Camp Hill for three months and identified the cause of his passing as “chronic nephritis with heart failure.” Unfortunately, the document does not include his parents’ names, and gives his marital status as “single.”

Curiously, the birth date listed on the form—March 14, 1897—corresponds with that of another No. 2 Construction enlistment, Alexander Benjamin Elms [see below]. As Camp Hill was a military hospital, admission was restricted to veterans. It is quite possible that authorities obtained the birth information from the incorrect service file. Library & Archives Canada’s Canadian Expeditionary Force database identified only two “Alexander Elms” as having served during the First World War, both No. 2 Construction Battalion enlistments. Alex’s death certificate does not provide a place of interment.

 15. Private Alexander Benjamin Elms:

 

 

According to his military service file, Alexander Benjamin Elms was born at Big Tracadie, Guysborough County, on March 14, 1897, the son of Benjamin and Sarah Margaret (Jordan) Elms. The 1901 Canadian census for the Tracadie area lists Alexander, age four, living with his father Benjamin, age 67, his mother Sarah, age 42, and siblings Georgina, age 11, and John, age nine. An older sister Ida, identified in the 1891 census as nine years old at that time, was no longer a member of the household.a

Sometime prior to 1913, Benjamin Sr. passed away. On July 16, 1913, Sarah married William Simons, a 60-year-old widower and native of Bermuda, in a ceremony held at Antigonish, NS. While William was residing at Hopewell, Pictou County,at the time of the wedding, the couple eventually relocated to Willow St., Truro, NS, where Sarah’s son Alexander Benjamin enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion on August 8, 1916.

Ben stood five feet nine inches and weight 148 pounds at the time of his enlistment. Apparently an exuberant 19-year-old, he was sentenced to one week’s detention for “insubordination” on October 17, 1916. Ben spent the winter of 1916 - 17 at Truro, where he was admitted to hospital on March 17, 1917 for treatment of frostbite. He was discharged to duty on March 25 and immediately joined his comrades aboard SS Southland at Halifax for the journey across the North Atlantic.

The vessel arrived at Liverpool, UK, on April 7 and No. 2’s Construction’s personnel made their way by train to camp in southern England. On May 17, Ben was among the 525 No 2 Construction men who crossed the English Channel to France and made their way to the Jura District of France for service with the Canadian Forestry Corps.

Ben remained at Jura throughout his time in France. Briefly hospitalized for treatment of “PUO”—a “fever of unknown origin”—on June 27, 1918, he was discharged to duty after a three-day stay. Granted leave to the United Kingdom on July 4, he rejoined his comrades in France on July 21 and returned to work alongside CFC personnel.

In mid-October 1918, Ben was hospitalized for treatment of a bacterial infection. Discharged to duty in early November, he returned to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot, Bramshott, UK, with his comrades on December 14, 1918, but was re-admitted to hospital in early January 1919. As a result, he was not among the No. 2 Construction men who returned to Canada aboard SS Empress of Britain in mid-January.

Ben was discharged from hospital in mid-February and returned to Canada aboard SS Lapland several days later. The vessel arrived at Halifax on March 1, 1919. While awaiting his discharge, Ben fell ill and was admitted to hospital on March 20. Medical records indicate that he was suffering from an “attack of [a] severe type” of smallpox at the time. Ben spent three weeks in hospital before being transferred to the Casualty Company on April 8, 1919. Six days later, he was discharged from military service and returned home.

On September 1, 1920, Alexander Benjamin Elms married Margaret Johanna Clark, a 21-year-old spinster and daughter of William Clark and Sarah Williams, in a ceremony held at Upper Big Tracadie. The following year’s Canadian census lists Benjamin Elms, age 31, labourer, living at Big Tracadie with his wife Margaret, age 22. Also in the home are Ben’s niece, Mary B. Elms, age 20, what appears to be her daughter Mary, age one, and Ben’s half-sister Georgia [possibly the “Georgina” from the 1901 census records] Morris, age 30.

No further information is available on Ben’s post-war life. He passed away in 1984 and was laid to rest in Tracadie United Baptist Church Cemetery, where a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone marks his final resting place.

Guysborough County's No. 2 Construction Battalion Enlistments, Part 4

 This blog post is the fourth 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.

10. Private James Lavin Day:

 According to his military service file, James Lavin Day was born at Big Tracadie, Guysborough County, on June 30,1898. His death certificate lists John F. Garo [sic - Gero], son of Francis and Jane Gero, Upper Big Tracadie, as his father. James’ mother, Harriet, was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Day. The 1901 Canadian census lists Harriet E. Day living at Tracadie with her older brother, John W., farmer and head of the household. No other residents are listed in census data.

On July 16, 1907, Harriet married widower Charles Cranswick Reddick at Guysborough, NS. A farmer and native of Tracadie Road, Guysborough County, Charles was the son of William C. and Ada Ann Reddick. The 1911 census lists James “Laffin” [sic] Reddick as “son, living in the Upper Big Tracadie home of Charles C. and Harriet Reddick. Also residing in the home is Gertie, Charles’ daughter by his first marriage to Louisa Jordan.

James enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Truro, NS, on September 22, 1916. He had been on its payroll for two weeks at that time. James spent the winter of 1916-17 in Truro and was briefly hospitalized with minor ailments twice during that time. On March 25, 1917, he boarded SS Southland along with his No. 2 Construction mates for the journey across the North Atlantic, arriving at Liverpool, UK, two weeks later.

On May 17, 1917, James landed in France with a large group of No. 2 Construction personnel. The group made its way to the Jura District, near the Swiss border, where its members commenced work harvesting and processing timber alongside several Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC) Companies. James remained in the Jura District until December 30, 1917, when he was transferred to No. 1 CFC District, Alençon with 180 No. 2 Construction personnel and two officers. The group consisted largely—but not entirely—of individuals from the Caribbean Islands or southern United States. Military authorities had assumed±without any supporting evidence—that the cold winters in the mountainous Jura region might negatively impact their health.

The Alençon operation consisted of nine CFC Companies logging the Normandy forests. No. 2 Construction personnel were attached to No. 54 Company, CFC, during their time there. In late March 1918, the entire district commenced production of “pickets”—posts used to support trench walls and dugouts—as the German spring offensive commenced.

While CFC units received orders in early April 1918 to commence infantry training when personnel were not working in the forests or lumber mills, there is no evidence to suggest that any of the No. 2 Construction men participated in this activity. In early October 1918, a small detachment of six non-commissioned officers and 150 “other ranks” left Alençon for the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp. There were no No. 2 Construction personnel among their number.

When the November 11, 1918 Armistice brought fighting to an end, CFC timber activity ceased and harvested logs were quickly processed. No. 2 Construction personnel were the first to leave the continent, congregating at Étaples, France, in early December and crossing the English Channel to the United Kingdom as one group on December 14, 1918. The men remained there barely one month, departing for Canada aboard the Empress of Britain on January 12, 1919.

James was officially discharged from military service at Halifax, NS, on February 15, 1919, and returned home to Upper Big Tracadie. In early November 1922, military officials sent his service medals to the same address. James Lavin Day passed away at “his brother’s home in Upper Big Tracadie” on November 20, 1923. He was 25 years old at the time of his passing. “Brights disease”—known today as nephritis, a kidney ailment—was identified as the cause of death. James’ brother, Howard W., husband of Ida May Gero, was the informant. James Lavin Day was laid to rest in Hillcrest Cemetery, Tracadie.

11. Private Matthew Day:

 According to his attestation papers, Matthew Day was born at Upper Big Tracadie, Guysborough County, in January 1875, the son of Matthew Sr. and Margaret (Gero) Day. Several other documents, however, suggest that he was at least 10 years older at the time of his military enlistment. The 1871 Canadian census lists Matthew, age seven, as one of eight children living in the Day household at the time. The 1881 census gives his age as 18, while the 1901 census stated that he was born on September 5, 1868. The documents suggest that his birth likely occurred between 1863 and 1868.

Sometime between 1881, Matthew married Eliza Jane Byard, daughter of John and Rebecca (Parris) Byard, Guysborough. Over the following years,11 children joined the Day family—daughters Lily, Margaret, Rosline [also listed as Rossie in census records], Melinda, May and Gertrude, and sons Cyrus [also listed as Cylas in census records], George, Gordon, William Spurgeon and Aubrey.

Despite his age and family circumstances, Matthew enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Truro, NS, on January 20, 1917. At the time, the unit was feverishly attempting to fill its ranks prior to departing for overseas, which may explain its willingness to accept a recruit who claimed to be 42 years old at the time, and was likely at least 10 years older. Matthew was briefly hospitalized at Truro in early February for treatment of “pyrexia” [fever of unknown origin], but departed for overseas with the unit aboard SS Southland on March 25, 1917.

Matthew disembarked at Liverpool, UK, on April 8, 1917. While a large contingent of his No. 2 Construction mates departed for France in mid-May 1917, Matthew remained in England, where he was posted to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot (NSRD), Camp Bramshott, on May 22. He remained with the Depot Company for five weeks before being posted to the 17th Reserve Battalion—the unit that provided reinforcements for the 25th (Nova Scotia Rifles) and 85th (Nova Scotia Highlanders) Battalions.

While Matthew’s record contains no reference to hospitalization during his time overseas, military officials were apparently concerned with his physical suitability for overseas duty. On September 6, 1917, a Medical Board declared that he suffered from “debility” and was therefore not fit for military service. One week later, he was transferred from the 17th Reserve Battalion to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot. A note on his service file, dated, September 20, indicated that Matthew was “awaiting embarkation to Canada.”

On October 28, 1917, Matthew departed from Liverpool, UK, aboard SS Missanabie and arrived at Halifax, NS, on November 9. He was immediately admitted to Camp Hill Hospital, where he underwent treatment for pulmonary fibrosis and myalgia. A note in his service file provided more details on the military’s decision to return Matthew to Canada:

“Carried on in Canada fairly well[;] when he got to England[, he] complained of pain in muscles; easily fatigued and much distress about shoulders when carrying anything. Was returned to Canada Nov 1917 for overage. He is small [in] stature [Matthew was five feet five inches tall]…. Heart negative, frequency of urination at night[,] getting up several times during night. Brothers have history of T.B. [tuberculosis]…”

Matthew was discharged from military service at Halifax on February 28, 1918, and returned home. The 1921 Canadian census lists Matthew Day, age 65, occupation “plasterer,” living at Upper Big Tracadie with his wife Eliza and their five youngest children—George, age 18; Gordon, age 14; William, age 12; Gertrude, age 11; and Aubrey, age nine.

Eliza Jane Day passed away at home from “Bright’s disease”—known today as nephritis—on August 23, 1923. 58 years old at the time of her death, she was laid to rest in Upper Big Tracadie Cemetery. Matthew lived the remainder of his years in his home community, passing away on January 19, 1948. While his death certificate gives the cause as “old age” and states his age as 95, it is more likely that Matthew was in his early 80s at the time of his passing.

 12. Private Howard Cranswick Desmond:

According to the 1901 Canadian census, Howard Cranswick Desmond was born at Prospect [Sunnyville], Guysborough Co., NS, on March 7, 1897, the youngest of Cranswick Jost and Lucretia A. (Jewel) Desmond’s three children. Cranswick was the son of Richard and Violet Desmond, while Lucretia was the daughter of John and Catherine Jewel. The couple were married at Guysborough on January 1, 1890.

The family surname was spelled a variety of ways in official documents. Cranswick Jost’s 1890 marriage registration spells the surname “Dismore,” while the 1891and 1911 Canadian census records use the surname “Dismal.” Perhaps the most unusual version was the 1901 census entry, which used the spelling “Disney.” Howard Cranswick’s First World War service file followed today’s convention, recording his surname as “Desmond.”

At the time of the 1891 census, Cranswick and Lucretia were residing at Guysborough with Cranswick’s parents, Richard and Violet. During the ensuing decade, Lucretia gave birth to three children—a son Lindsay (February 15, 1893), a daughter “Gussie” (February 17, 1895), and their youngest child, Howard Cranswick.

Lucretia passed away sometime between Howard’s birth and the 1901 census, which lists Cranswick J. as a “widow.” No record of Lucretia’s passing can be located. On May 5, 1905, Cranswick Jost Desmond married Sarah Caroline Shepherd, daughter of John and Josephine Shepherd, Guysborough. By 1911, a fourth child—a daughter, Martha (August 1909)—had joined the Desmond household.

Howard Cranswick Desmond attested for service with No. 2 Construction Battalion at New Glasgow, NS, on July 25, 1916. Howard was among the unit’s earliest recruits, enlisting only three weeks after its official formation. At the time of his enlistment, documents recorded his birth year as 1896. Howard served with the unit throughout its time in Nova Scotia and departed for overseas aboard SS Southland on March 25, 1917.

Howard and his mates landed at Liverpool, UK, on April 7 and spent less than six weeks in England. On May 17, a large contingent of No. 2 Construction soldiers crossed the English Channel to France. Howard was one of the 525 men who made their way to the Jura District of France for service with the Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC). With the exception of a two-week leave to the United Kingdom in mid-September 1918, he spent the duration of his time on the continent working alongside several CFC Companies, harvesting and processing timber from the Jura forests.

For reasons that are not explained on the documents in his service file, Howard did not return to the United Kingdom with No. 2 Construction. While the vast majority of his comrades departed the continent mid-December 1918 and left for Canada on January 12, 1919, Howard remained in France until January 18, 1919, at which time he was posted to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot, Bramshott, “for the purpose of demobilization” and remained there for more than two months. On March 30, 1919, Howard departed Glasgow, Scotland, for Canada aboard SS Saturnia. A week and a half later, he arrived at Halifax, NS, and was formally discharged from military service on April 14, 1919.

Shortly after returning to civilian life, Howard relocated to New Glasgow, NS. On March 23, 1920, he married Lillian May Clark, daughter of Charles and Martha Jane (Pelley) Clark, Guysborough, in a ceremony held in the home of Mr. Leslie Izzard, New Glasgow. The couple established residence in New Glasgow, where Howard initially worked as a “common labourer,” but later found employment in the local coal mines.

On October 5, 1931, Lillian May passed away at home after a brief illness and was laid to rest in Lorne St. Cemetery, New Glasgow. She was 32 years old at the time of her death. Following his wife’s death, Howard remained in the community, working in the mines. On December 25, 1951, he perished in an automobile accident when a truck in which he was a passenger “crashed through the railing of the Toney River Bridge, and dropped into the Toney River.” His son Walter, Reservoir, New Glasgow, was the informant on his death certificate. Howard Cranswick Desmond was laid to rest in New Glasgow, NS. (Photograph courtesy of Kathy Grant, The Legacy Voices Project.)