Lest We Forget – Men who served in the (CEF) WW1

Remembrance Day is a day to remember those men and women who have served and those who are serving today. Here are some of the men in Robert’s and my families who served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during WWI. I’ve included links to the Library and Archives Canada website where the personnel records are being digitized These are the names of the ones that have been digitized with a PDF file where you can find more information.

Sydney Wedford Black (married my grandaunt, Frances Edlora Belknap)

Sydney was drafted under the military service act of 1917. He signed a declaration of recruit in Calgary, Alberta on May 21, 1918 at the age of 23. He served as a private in the 2nd Canadian War Graves Detachment. Regimental # 3211766. Sydney was discharged on August 19, 1919. Sydney married my grandaunt in 1936 and had a large family of nine children. He died on April 10, 1980 at the age of 84 and is buried at the Northwood Baptist Cemetery in Saint-Lina, Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada.

Canadian War Diaries - Miscellaneous Diaries
WW1 personnel records
Find A Grave

Henry Archibald Danskin (my 2nd cousin twice removed)

Henry enlisted on July 16, 1915 in Calgary, Alberta at the age of 25. He served as private in the Field Ambulance Depot. Regimental # 322659. Henry was discharge on June 2, 1919. He married later as his death registration in 1958 lists his wife as May Ellen Hutchinson. Henry died on January 16, 1958 at the age of 68 in the Provincial Mental Hospital in Coquitlam, B.C. Canada. He is buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby, B.C., Canada.

Canadian War Diaries - Medical Units
WW1 personnel records
Death Registration
Find A Grave

Arthur William Danskin (my 2nd cousin twice removed)

Arthur’s military service was very brief. He was a private in the 84th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment). Regimental # 163261. He died at the age of 34 on December 22, 1915 in the Brantford General Hospital at Brantford, Ontario of bronchitis, typhoid and pneumonia. He never even made it overseas.

WW1 personnel records
CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission)
Find A Grave

Seward Cephus Foster (Robert’s great granduncle)

Seward enlisted on April 4th, 1916 in Berwick, Nova Scotia, Canada at the age of 31. He served as a sapper in the 219 Battalion. His regimental # 283381. He was discharged on April 5th, 1919 with the war service badge. Seward returned home to his wife Annie Creemer. He died at the age of 51 on 26 April 1937. He is buried in the Aylesford Union Cemetery in Aylesford, Nova Scotia, Canada.

WW1 personnel records
Find A Grave

Andrew Graham (married my grandaunt, Edith Greenlees Paterson)

Andrew enlisted 16th December, 1914 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at the age of 19. He served as a private in the 32nd Battalion and 10th Battalion. Regimental # 81330. Andrew was honorable discharge on May 19, 1919 with the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He married my grandaunt on July 2, 1927 and had three children (one passing away young). He died on February 5, 1982 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and is buried at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

The Story of the Tenth Canadian Battalion 1914 -1917
WW1 personnel records
Find A Grave

Allan James Levy (married Robert’s grandaunt, Emelia Alberta Stoddart)

Allan enlisted on July 13, 1915 at the age of 27 in Valcartier,Quebec. He served as a Lance Corporal in the 60th Battalion. Regimental # 415512. Allan was killed in action on June 15, 1916 while in the trenches at Sanctuary Wood. He left behind his wife and four small children. He has a memorial at Ypres (Memin Gate).

60th Canadian Overseas Battalion
WW1 personnel records
CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

George Outhit Lutz (Robert’s 1st cousin 3 times removed)

George was drafted under the military service act of 1917. He signed the declaration of recruit on June 14, 1918 in Aldershot, Nova Scotia at the age of 29. He served as a private in the 17th Reserve Battalion. His regimental # 3189848. George was discharge on July 18, 1919. He returned to his wife, Annie Lamb, whom he married just months before his enlistment. He died on July 13, 1961 at the age of 72. He is buried in the Morristown cemetery in Morristown, Nova Scotia, Canada.

WW1 personnel records
Find A Grave

52 Ancestors - Andrew Danskine Aitken - Not Forgotten

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.  Each week focus on one ancestor and post something about him or her. I've not posted for a while and I'm quite far behind. I was going to post this last month. But I figure even if I can post a few more stories it's better than nothing.

While searching for information on Danskine family members, I came across some information on Andrew Danskine Aitken. He happens to be my 1st cousin twice removed. He would have been my great grandmother's (Elizabeth Danskine) nephew.  Andrew was born in Airdire, Lanarkshire, Scotland on July 15, 1882 to Elizabeth's sister, Janet and Janet's husband,(John Aitken). He may have been named after his uncle Andrew Danskine who was a grocer and spirit merchant. Andrew never got to meet the uncle he was named after, as Andrew the grocer died at the age of 27 years old in 1875. Andrew grew up in a family of boys. He had two older step brothers William and James Danskine, an older brother John, and two younger brothers (Robert and Thomas Russell). Andrew was a young man of 25 when his aunt, Elizabeth and her family immigrated to Canada in 1907. 

The sad part of discovering Andrew was that he was one of the fallen soldiers of World War I.  He was killed in action on August 4th, 1916 in Egypt and is listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website as buried in the Kantara War Memoial Cemetery. He was a Second Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers, Lowland Field Company. Andrew, also, has a memorial at the New Monkland Cemetery in Airdrie, Scotland. 

Andrew was not only a solider, but he was an architect and teacher.

ANDREW DANSKINE AITKEN

     A.R.I.B.A.

Second Lient. L.D.R.E

Killed in Action in Egypt

4th August 1916 Aged 34 Years

 There is a biography and a photo of  Andrew on the Dictionary of Scottish Architects website.

More on the Danskine family:

52 Ancestors - Elizabeth Danskine (Paterson)  his aunt

Sunday's Obituary - James Danskin his great grandfather 

Surname Saturday - Danskine

Source:

 Airdrie, Lanark, Statutory Births 1855-2013, birth of Andrew Danskine Aitken; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 12 November 2014); 651/01 0317.

52 Ancestors - Elizabeth Danskine (Paterson)

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.  Each week focus on one ancestor and post something about him or her. Since March is Women's History Month, I'm posting about my female ancestors. 

Elizabeth in Scotland 1903

Elizabeth Danskine is my Scottish great grandmother. She was the 2nd youngest child of William Danskine and Agnes Findlay born in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland on March 12 1858. Elizabeth was one of three sisters in the family who lived beyond the age of 31. Seven of her siblings died from diseases that may have been curable in this time period. Four dying from phthisis (tuberculosis), one from gastric fever (typhoid), one from morbus coxarius (hip disease) and one from peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal area). How terrible it would have been to watch your siblings pass away.

On July 11, 1883,  at the Free High Church in Airdrie, Elizabeth becomes the 2nd wife of Francis Paterson and step mother to his young daughter, Mary. My great grandmother gives birth to seven daughters and one son (my grandfather, Johnston). After her father, William, dies in 1885, Elizabeth's mother, Agnes, moves in with the growing family. Agnes is listed in the 1891 Scottish census as the mother-in-law, a retired grocer living with the family.  Agnes dies in 1892. 

Elizabeth loses one daughter, Ellen Danskine, at the age of two and her step daughter, Mary, at the age of 14 in Airdrie, Scotland. 

In 1907, after hard times hit and the family is left broke, Elizabeth, her husband, and children immigrate to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Elizabeth was a reliant woman and had some business sense from having parents who were grocers. According to family stories, Elizabeth opened a Confectionery & Fruit Store, so her daughters had a place to work. She, also, took in boarders. 

Shortly after arriving in Edmonton, Elizabeth's oldest daughter, Agnes, dies from typhoid fever. Then her 2nd oldest, Janet, dies of a appendicitis in 1912 in Provost, Alberta.

Elizabeth's husband, Francis, was not happy in Edmonton, Alberta and wants to move on. The rest of the family resisted and stayed, while he moved to Washington, USA about 1918, alone.

Elizabeth and her youngest daughter, Edith, move to South Cooking Lake to operate the South Cooking Lake Store and Post Office. Elizabeth dies unexpectedly  on April 22, 1919 of the Spanish Flu at the age of 61. She was interred in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Edmonton, Alberta beside her daughter, Agnes.

Posts about the Patersons:

52 Ancestors - Johnston Cumberland Paterson (Elizabeth's son)

Fearless Females - Marriage Records

Fearless Females - Immigration

Fearless Females - Six Word Memoir

Sentimental Sunday - Janet Danskine Paterson Abbott (Elizabeth's daughter)

Tombstone Tuesday - Elizabeth Paterson & Agnes Findlay Paterson (Elizabeth & her daughter)

My Scottish Roots

Posts about the Danskines:

Sunday's Obituary -James Danskin  (Elizabeth's grandfather)

Fearless Females - Family Document

Surname Saturday - DANSKINE

Sunday's Obituary - James Danskin

                      CUMBERNAULD

  DEATH OF MR JAMES DANSKIN. - The community

of this neighborhood would receive with regret the

announcement of the death of this esteemed native,

which occurred in Glasgow on the 17th inst., at the

advanced age of 84.  Mr Danskin had been some-

what frail for the past few years, but when not kept 

indoors by illness, he was frequently coming in con-

tact with many people belonging to the district re-

siding in Glasgow, by shom he was greatly respected

for his estimable character, and hearty interest

he took in matters relating to his native place. He

exerted himself in forwarding the annual re-unions

of the natives, which were originated in Glasgow

some years  ago, and earned the gratitude 

of the supporters of that movement for 

valuable help which he gave to it. Mr Danskin spent

nearly the whole of his life in his native village, and

was always held in much esteem by all who knew

him. For a long period he was an elder in the Free

Church there, and fulfilled the duties of of that position

with honour to himself and acceptance to the congre-

gation. for the last few years he has resided with

his family in Glasgow, and the many friends by whom

he was deeply respected will be sorry that he has been

taken from amongst us. 

Falkirk Herald June 29, 1872  Page 3 of 4

James Danskin would by my 3rd great grandfather.  

52 Ancestors - Johnston Cumberland Paterson

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. This is a great way to get back into blogging. Each week focus on one ancestor and write something about him or her.  I may be a little late in getting started, but better late than never.

Johnston Cumberland Paterson was my paternal grandfather. Johnston was born July 11th in 1889 at 8:30 in the morning at 18 Commonside Street in Airdrie, Scotland. His parents were Francis Paterson and Elizabeth Danskine. His first name, Johnston was a recycled name, his grandfather being Johnston and an uncle Johnston. His middle name of Cumberland probably has some meaning as it was my father's middle name, as well.  Not sure of the significance.

Johnston was born surrounded by females.  He had one older stepsister,  three older sisters and when he was born his widow grandmother, Agnes Findlay Danskine was living with them.  Later, four more girls would follow, one dying at age 2. By the time Johnston was 8, all of his grandparents and his stepsister would have past away.

In the 1891 census Johnston and his family are living at Southfield house in Airdrie which is listed has having 5 rooms with one or more windows.  By the 1901 census, the family has moved to the much larger Monkland House which has 21 rooms with one or more windows. Somewhere between 1905 and 1907 the family losses all the money and make the decision to start anew in Canada.

On March 2nd, 1907 the family leaves Scotland headed for Canada aboard the S.S. Mongolian. Their destination was Edmonton, Alberta. Not long after their arrival in Edmonton, his oldest sister, Agnes dies of typhoid fever.

Johnston was  mechanically inclined and a "Jack of all Trades".  His occupation listed on the passenger list of the Mongolian is  engineer and in the Henderson's Edmonton directory of 1908 he is listed as a machinist. These jobs would be useful when he took up homesteading in 1909.   

At the age of 19, Johnston moves to his new homestead the SE1/4 of section 5, township 51, range 22 of the 4th meridian. Life on a new homestead would have been quite different from the large home they had in Scotland. There were shelters to build, crops to plant, and day to day living. Perseverance would pay off and in 1912, Johnston meets the Western Land Grant requirements. During 1912 Johnston would lose another sister, Janet to appendicitis. 

In 1919 Johnston loses his mother to the Spanish Flu and marries Vera Ellen Marsh Seaman. On November 3rd, 1920 Vera gives birth to a little girl. Tragically Vera dies shortly after and Johnston makes the hard decision to  give up his little girl to be adopted by Vera's brother, Kenneth.

On January 24, 1922, Johnston marries my grandmother, Dorothy Eleanor May Warry. Together they have four boys and a baby girl (who died shortly after being born). It would have been a change for Johnston to have all boys around after growing up in a very female environment. 

My grandmother, Dorothy, dies in January 1956 at the age of 57. Johnston spends the rest of his life on the homestead, passing away at the age of 79 in 1969. His grandson is still on the farm.

In 2010, the province of Alberta presents a plaque to the Paterson family commemorating the farm's 100th year milestone. 

Johnston with his sisters Lizzie & Edith and their children

 

Paterson Threshing Crew

Posts with more of the Paterson family

 Sentimental Sunday - Janet Danskine Paterson Abbott

 Fearless Females - Tragic Circumstances

 My Best Discovery in 2011 

 My Scottish Roots

Henderson's Directory page with Johnston (listed as Patterson, Johnson)

Land Grants of Western Canada, 1870 - 1930 Info

Monkland House Info

Fearless Females - Family Document

March 9 — Take a family document (baptismal certificate, passenger list, naturalization petition, etc.) and write a brief narrative using the information.

At 12 Commonside Street, Airdrie, Scotland in the home of William Danskine, the grocer, and Agnes Findlay a baby girl was born. On March 12th, 1858 at 7:00 pm, my great grandmother, Elizabeth Danskine was born. Her father, William Danskine was present and registered the birth in Airdrie on March 26, 1858 with the registrar.

Fearless Females - Marriage Records

March 4 — Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.

I have a marriage record for my great grandparents, Francis Paterson and Elizabeth Danskine.  They married June 11, 1883 at Commonside Street in Airdre, Scotland.  Francis was a widower, who work as a collector and treasurer clerk at the Gas Works, and Elizabeth was a spinster. Francis's parents were Johnston Paterson and Catherine Muirhead.  Elizabeth's parents were William Danskine and Agnes Findlay.  The marriage was witnessed by Francis's aunt, Kate Paterson, and Elizabeth's brother in law, John Aiken.

Fearless Females - Unique or Unusaual Female First Name

March 3 — Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors? Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern. If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree.

I have a unique first name in my family tree, I've not come across another Jacqueline or Jackie.   But I've come across a few unique names for females on my Scottish side. Although most of the first names are quite common, it's the middle names that make them unique.  Names such as Agnes Gilchrist Danskine and Jemmia Findlay Danskine. What a wonderful way to leave clues for the family researcher, by adding maiden names as middle names.

Sympathy Saturday - The Patersons in Scotland

My second great grandparents, Johnston Paterson and Catherine Muirhead were married in Glasgow, Scotland on July 2, 1837.  I found the following children born before the the introduction of General Registration in 1855 in the 1841 and 1851 census.

Johnston Paterson, circa 1838

James Paterson, circa 1840

Catherine Paterson, circa 1844

William Paterson, circa 1846

Ann Paterson, circa 1849

Francis Paterson, circa 1851

Edward Paterson, circa 1853

Johnston and Catherine had a daughter, Elizabeth, born August 20, 1855.  Now, this is a bonus year for the family researcher.  The Scottish 1855 registration has extra information, such as how many children living and deceased.  Here's were it was really sad to read.  Elizabeth was Catherine's 10th child.  So not counting little Elizabeth, in 1855, Johnston and Catherine had 4 boys and 2 girls living.  3 boys are listed as deceased.  One is probably James, as he is on the 1841 census but not the 1851 census.  So I'm missing two boys. I think that they may have died in Glasgow before the family moved to Airdrie about 1845, as they are not mentioned in the Monumental Inscriptions from Wellwynd Churchyard in Airdrie, Lanark, Scotland. 

Erected by Catherine Muirhead in memory of her husband Johnston Paterson who died 20th April 1891 aged 75 years.  Their children, George H died 29th February 1860 aged 2 years.  Elizabeth died 1st March 1868 aged 2 years.  Edward died 22nd April 1868 aged 14 years.  William died June 1870 aged 24 years.  The above Catherine 23rd August 1897 aged 73 years. 

After 1855 Johnston and Catherine have two more children:

George Hunter Paterson born December 27, 1857

Jessie Paterson born September 1861

They lost four more children after 1855, most of them before the age of 14.  How terrible for parents to see seven of their twelve children die. Of the five children that survive:

Johnston vanishes, his whereabouts are unknown at the time of Johnston's and Catherine's death. (This requires more research.)

Catherine marries John Greenlees in 1894. They have no children.

Ann marries John White in 1872 and they have seven children.

Francis marries Ewenina Kennedy in 1881 and Elizabeth Danskine in 1883. He has eight girls and one boy, (my grandfather).

Jessie never marries.

Out of twelve children, Johnston Paterson has one grandson to carry on the family name of Paterson-my grandfather, Johnston Cumberland Paterson. 

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Heritage Pie

I know it’s not Saturday night, but I was working.  So mine will be Sunday Morning Genealogy Fun.  Thanks to Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings for the mission.

My 16 great great grandparents are:

16. Johnston PATERSON, son of James PATERSON and Ann HUNTER was born on 29 Dec 1814 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He died on 20 Apr 1891 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He married Catherine MUIRHEAD on 02 Jul 1837 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

17. Catherine MUIRHEAD, daughter of George MUIRHEAD and Catherine KENNEDY was born about 1819 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She died on 23 Aug 1897 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

18. William DANSKINE, son of James DANSKINE and Helen HARDIE was born in 1816 in Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. He died on 10 Oct 1885 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He married Agnes FINDLAY on 20 Jan 1837 in Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire, Scotland.

19. Agnes FINDLAY, daughter of James FINDLAY and Agnes GILCHRIST was born in 1816 in Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. She died on 08 Aug 1892 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

20. George Augustus WARRY, son of William K WARRY and Mary Ann TAYLOR was born about 1848 in Islington, Middlesex, England. He died in Mar 1916 in Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, United Kingdom. He married Emily WORTHINGTON on 20 Jun 1875 in Old St. Pancras, Middlesex, England, UK.

21. Emily WORTHINGTON, daughter of William WORTHINGTON and Sarah (Worthington) was born about 1852 in London, England (St. Pancras).

22. John William SMITH, son of William SMITH and Sarah HORE was born on 17 Jun 1841 in Dorset, England (Parkstone). He died in 1913. He married Sarah Everton WAKEMAN on 01 Oct 1865 in Parkstone, Dorest, Poole, England.

23. Sarah Everton WAKEMAN, daughter of James WAKEMAN was born about 1841 in Worcestershire, England (Stourport).

24. Melvin MAKELA was born in Finland. He died in 1906. He married Unknown (Maki).

25. Unknown (Maki). (pobably born and died in Finland)

26. Sakaris HONKAWAARA was born in Feb 1836 in Pudasjärvi, Oulun Laani, Finland. He died in  1918 in Dunblane, Saskatchewan, Canada. He married Briita Maria RIEKKI in 1870 in Pudasjärvi, Oulun Laani, Finland.

27. Briita Maria RIEKKI was born in Dec 1846 in Pudasjärvi, Oulun Laani, Finland. She died in 1923 in Dunblane, Saskatchewan, Canada (Dunblane Finnish Cemetary).

28. Thomas Jefferson BELKNAP, son of Martin Seymour BELKNAP and Betsey Ann BRISTOL was born on 03 Nov 1850 in Lewis, New York, USA. He died on 17 Jun 1942 (Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada). He married Mary Elizabeth FEIDLER on 01 Oct 1876.

29. Mary Elizabeth FEIDLER, daughter of Henry FIDDLER and Frances GEORGE was born on 02 Dec 1852 in Williams, Calhoun, Iowa, USA. She died on 26 Jul 1898 in Minneapolis, Anoka,
Minnesota, USA.

30. James Robert LANDERS, son of John William LANDERS and Mary Angeline HUMBERT was born on 21 Feb 1854 in Danville, Hendricks, Indiana, USA. He died on 21 Feb 1929 in Riverton, Fremont, Wyoming, USA (Mountain View Cemetary). He married Angeline Henrietta LITTRELL on 29 Aug 1883 in Mercer, Illinois, USA.

31. Angeline Henrietta LITTRELL, daughter of John H LITTRELL and Letis Ellen KNOX was born on 28 Feb 1855 in Dubuque, Iowa, USA. She died on 10 Aug 1888 in Keithsburg, Mercer, Illinois, USA.

Birth places of my great great grandparents:

Scotland - 4
England - 4
Finland - 4
USA - 4

                                                     

Wow, just as I thought - pretty even.  If I were to do this for my husband, Robert - would be 100% Canadian.