Remembering Private John Kenneth MacDonald - KIA July 30, 1916

John Kenneth MacDonald was born at Lower Caledonia, Guysborough County, on July 23, 1892, the fourth child and second of three sons born to James Cumming and Margaret Annabelle “Maggie” (McQuarrie) MacDonald. Two of Kenneth’s older siblings—including his brother, Wallace—died of meningitis in adolescence. A younger brother, Finlay, lived a full life.

In 1905, the family moved to Sunny Brae, where Kenneth attended school and learning the trade of saddler at a local harness shop operated by his second cousin, Thomas M. Chisholm. After the outbreak of the First World War, Kenneth enlisted with the 78th Highland Regiment (Pictou Highlanders), a local militia regiment, and was part of a detachment assigned to guard the trans-Atlantic cable facilities at Canso, Guysborough County.

Private John Kenneth MacDonald.

Kenneth subsequently journeyed to Sussex, NB in late September 1915, spending one month training with the 64th Battalion (Maritime Provinces). He did not attest for overseas service with the unit at the time, instead returning to Sunny Brae, where he married Christina “Christy” Bousfield on January 20, 1916. Less than two weeks later, he travelled to Halifax and attested for overseas service with the 64th Battalion on February 1, 1916.

The 64th was dissolved shortly after arriving in England. Kenneth was subsequently transferred to the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia) and arrived at his new unit’s camp in Belgium’s Ypres Salient on July 13, 1916. He entered the trenches near Vierstraat, Belgium for his first “tour” on the night of July 23/24.

Tragically, Kenneth’s time in the line was brief. On July 30, 1916 he was killed in action, his “circumstances of casualty” card describing the incident: “While on duty at a listening post[,] he was shot through the head by a sniper’s bullet and instantly killed.” Kenneth was laid to rest in Ridgewood Military Cemetery, near Dickebusch, Belgium. His young widow, Christy, never re-married, passing away in the home of her younger sister at New Westminster, BC in 1969.

Pte. John Kenneth MacDonald's final resting place.

Bantry Publishing’s “First World War Honour Roll of Guysborough County, Nova Scotia: 1915 - 1917” contains a detailed description of Kenneth’s family background and military service. The book is available for purchase at Bantry Publishing’s website.

Photograph of John Kenneth MacDonald courtesy of his nephew, Clyde F. Macdonald, New Glasgow, NS.

Guysborough County CEF Enlistments - July 29, 1916

Two Guysborough County natives enlisted with Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) units on July 29, 1916:


1. Frederick Benoit (Benight) was born on February 10, 1896 to Lemuel and Annie (Boggs) Benoit of Wine Harbour, Guysborough County. Fred served with the Royal Canadian Engineers unit at Halifax, NS from July 3, 1915 to July 25, 1916, at which time he was discharged for medical reasons. Determined to serve overseas, four days later, Fred enlisted with the 237th Battalion (American Legion) at Halifax, NS.

One of several controversial units recruited mainly in the United States, the battalion had been recruited in the Toronto area and was encamped at Aldershot, NS at the time of Fred’s enlistment. The 237th never left Canada, its ranks absorbed into the 97th Battalion—another “American Legion” unit—in mid-September 1916. Fred arrived in England with his new unit, only to be transferred to the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) on October 21, following the 97th’s dissolution.

Fred crossed the English Channel to France the day following his transfer, serving in the line with the RCR until late December 1916, when he was hospitalized with pneumonia. He was subsequently invalided to England and spent the next ten months recovering, returning to the RCR’s ranks on October 26, 1917.

Fred served the remainder of the war in France and Belgium with the RCR, returning to England on February 11, 1919 and departing for Canada on March 1. Two weeks later, he was discharged from military service and returned to his parents’ Wine Harbour home.

Fred married Esther May Shields, a native of Shelburne, at Halifax on April 17, 1924. The couple subsequently raised a family of ten children—one son and nine daughters. Two other sons died in infancy.


2. Charles Edwin “Charlie” Smith was born on December 9, 1895 to Robert and Janet (McKenzie) Smith of Upper Springfield, Guysborough County. He enlisted with the Headquarters Company, 4th Divisional Train at Halifax. His occupation at the time—Charlie had worked as a teamster—would be to good use, hauling supplies to the front lines.

Pte. Charles Edwin "Charlie" Smith.

Charlie departed Canada on June 28, 1916, but health issues interrupted his journey to France shortly after his arrival in England. Charlie was first hospitalized with a case of mumps and later contracted the measles. As a result, he did not cross the English Channel to the front lines until January 14, 1917.

Pte. Charlie Smith.

Charlie was assigned to 3rd Canadian Divisional Train, where his teamster skills were put to good use. On June 22, 1917, he was attached to No. 10 Canadian Field Ambulance (CFA), remaining with this unit for the remainder of the war. Charlie received 14 days’ leave to the United Kingdom on November 16, 1917, rejoining No. 10 CFA upon his return.

At some point during his time in England—perhaps his first months overseas, while recuperating in hospital—Charlie met Agnes Jane Sharp. Less than three weeks after the Armistice ended the fighting at the front, Charlie received another 14 days leave to the United Kingdom, with permission to marry. He and Agnes were wed at Kirkdale, West Derby, England on December 9, 1918. Officials granted Charlie four additional days’ leave in light of his recent wedding, allowing him to rejoin No. 10 CFA in France on December 20.

Agnes Jane Sharp

Charlie subsequently returned to England on February 23, 1919, departing for Canada with his new bride on September 6, 1919. The couple travelled west, destined for Edmonton, AB. The couple also resided in Saskatchewan for a number of years, raising a family of seven children. Charlie also enlisted with the Veterans’ Home Guard during the Second World War. He passed away at Edmonton, AB on May 19, 1989 and was laid to rest at Lloydminster, SK.

Charlie Smith in Second World War uniform.

Charlie’s older brother, John Robert “Jack” Smith, also enlisted for service during the First World War, serving in France and Belgium with two pioneer battalions and 3rd Canadian Divisional Train. Jack’s detailed story is available elsewhere on this blog.

Guysborough County Enlistments - July 26, 1916

On July 26, 1916, two Guysborough County natives enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at New Glasgow, NS:

1. Hartley Jackson was born at Manchester, Guysborough County on May 15, 1897, son of William and Sarah Elizabeth (Williams) Jackson. Hartley arrived in England with No. 2 Construction Battalion on April 7, 1917 and proceeded to France with the unit the following month.

Hartley initially worked with No. 2 Construction in the Canadian Forestry Corps' Jura district, close to the French border with Switzerland. On November 13, he was part of a No. 2 Construction detachment sent to the Bordeaux region of France and attached to No. 37 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps.

During his time at Bordeaux, Hartley suffered an injury to his neck and was hospitalized for five days in early May 1918. He subsequently returned to duty, departing for England with No. 2 Construction personnel in early December. The unit's soldiers returned to Canada aboard the Empress of Britain, arriving at Halifax, NS on January 27, 1919. Two weeks later, Hartley was discharged from milirary service and returned to Boylston, Guysborough County.

Hartley married Cora May Morris at Boylston in 1920. The couple later relocated to Priestville, Pictou County. No information on Hartley’s passing available at this time.

2. Angus Talbot was born at Mulgrave, Guysborough County on May 15, 1897, son of Edward and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Bennett) Talbot. Angus’s three brothers—James Alexander, Wallace and William John—had enlisted with No. 2 Construction on the day prior to Angus’s attestation.

Following the war, Angus relocated to Sydney, where his mother was living. He married Rhoda Hanrahan in 1926 and worked as a miner and steelworker. Angus passed away at Sydney on December 6, 1955 and was laid to rest in Hardwood Hill Cemetery, Sydney.