Ralph Gooding Ball was born in Hilldale, Alberta, in September 1900. Ball lied about his age and enlisted in Victoria, British Columbia, in September 1916. He was discharged on compassionate grounds in January 1918 at the request of his parents after the deaths of his two brothers, Herbert and Samuel. The collection currently consists of two letters, one photograph, and one clipping.
Title
WWI
These collections contains any material relating to Canada from 1914 to 1918 from either the home front or the battlefront. External links in collection descriptions are either to online attestation papers at Library and Archives Canada or casualty and burial information at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Samuel Warren Ball was born in Deer Mound, Alberta, in February 1897. Ball enlisted in Edmonton, Alberta, in February 1915, one month after his brother Herbert. Ball served overseas with the 38th Battalion until his death on June 26, 1917. The collection currently consists of two photographs, two clippings, and eight letters.
Frederick William Barnes, MM, was born in Birtle, Manitoba, in 1895. Barnes enlisted in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in January 1916 with the 61st University Battalion and later served with "C" Coy. 8th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment), and was awarded the Miltary Medal. He was killed August 31, 1918, at the age of 22. The collection consists of one letter written to his sister in August 1918.
Joseph Barnes, MM, was born in Nottinghamshire, England, in February 1892. Barnes emmigrated to Canada prior to war and enlisted in Toronto, Ontario, on November 11, 1914. He served overseas with the 19th Battalion until his discharge in February 1919. Barnes was wounded in 1917, and was also awarded the Military Medal. The collection currently consists of his paybook, photographs and postcards, letters, and other miscellaneous items connected to his service.
Private John Barnett was born in Barnstorm, Yorkshire, England on November 24, 1894, to parents Waters Hardy and Matilda Elizabeth Barnett. His older brother Thomas had immigrated to Canada in 1910, and John joined him in early 1914 as a farmer in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Prior to his enlistment John had served in England with the 5th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment). On December 28, 1914, he enlisted at Saskatoon with the 9th Canadian Mounted Rifles. He arrived in England in early December 1915, and proceeded to France on January 29, 1916, to serve with the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles (C.M.R.).
On June 2, 1916, Barnett was wounded at Ypres, and captured by the Germans as a Prisoner of War. Suffering from shrapnel wounds to his hand and arm, he was reported as a P.O.W. from Wahn, Germany, and confirmed to be at the Aachen hospital camp in July 1916. From Aachen he was transferred to the P.O.W. camp at Stendal on September 6, 1916, then later that month moved to Quedlinburg on September 29, where he remained until being repatriated to England on January 2, 1919. Following his return to Canada he was demobilized on May 19, 2019.
The letter in the collection was written by John to his mother in Bridlington, England, in December 1918, in anticipation of his imminent release; the telegram was sent shortly after confirming he was on his way back to England. The newspaper clipping has a photo of John alongside his older brother Sergeant Thomas Hardy Barnett, also of the 1st C.M.R., and his younger brother Sergeant William Allison, MM, of the British Expeditionary Force. More information about John’s brothers can be found in the Collection of Sergeant Thomas Hardy Barnett.
External link:
Pte. John Barnett’s service record (Serv/Reg# 114538) can be viewed/downloaded in pdf format through Library and Archives Canada.
Corporal Thomas Hardy Barnett was born in Nafferton, Yorkshire, England, on August 20, 1892, to parents Waters Hardy and Matilda Elizabeth Barnett. He immigrated to Canada in 1910. At the time of his enlistment he was working as a sailor.
He enlisted with the 9th Canadian Mounted Rifles (C.M.R.) Regiment in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on December 30, 1914. Shortly after arriving in England in December 1915 Barnett spent several weeks with the Royal Canadian Dragoons before joining “A” Canadian Mobile Veterinary Section (C.M.V.S.), Canadian Calvary Brigade, and proceeding to France in early April 1916. He remained with the C.M.V.S. until February 1919 when he was transferred to the Fort Gary Horse. Following his return to Canada he was demobilized on June 2, 1919.
The Thomas Barnett Collection was donated together with the collection of his younger brother Private John Barnett who, like Thomas, had immigrated to Canada prior to the war. John enlisted at Saskatoon into the 9th C.M.R. in late December 1914.
Also donated were materials relating to the service of their brother Sergeant William Allison Barnett, MM. The oldest of the three brothers, William had remained in England and prior to the war was a member of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, East Yorkshire Volunteer Rifles. During the War he served with the Machine Gun Corps, 150th Company. He was killed during the Battle of the Somme on September 15, 1916, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He was posthumously awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. The “Other” section below under “Collection Contents” has been reserved for materials specific to Sgt. William Barnett.
External links:
Cpl. Thomas Barnett’s service record (Serv/Reg# 114506) can be viewed/downloaded in pdf format through Library and Archives Canada.
No service record is available of Sgt. William Barnett’s service with the British Expeditionary Force.
Burial information for Sgt. William Barnett is available at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The awarding of Sgt. William Barnett’s Military Medal was published in the London Gazette on November 15, 1916.
Clair Barrey was born in Cayuga, Ontario, in March 1894. He enlisted in Dunnville, Ontario, in February 1916 with the 114th Battalion, known as "Brock's Rangers." Barrey was serving overseas with the 7th Battalion when he was wounded in August 1917 at Hill 70, resulting in the amputation of much of his right leg. The collection currently consists of one photograph of Barrey, as well as two letters home which were subsequently reprinted in the local newspaper, the Dunnville Chronicle.
This collection consists of three letters from the Cape Breton region from WWI which are part of the collections of the Beaton Institute, University College of Cape Breton.To Lieutenant James Murphy from his mother, April 2, 1917. James Murphy was born in Margaree, Cape Breton in 1893 and worked in coal mine at an early age until he enrolled at St. Francis Xavier to complete his high school education. During his first year at college war broke out and he was selected to go to the Royal Military College where he obtained his commission as Lieutenant. His army career began in 1916, serving at Somme and Vimy Ridge, where he was wounded and received the Military Cross. After the war Murphy moved to the United States and settled in Detroit. He died in 1972. To Gerald Liscombe from his mother, Mrs. Edward Liscombe, January 17, 1919. From Alex Morrison to his mother, Bessie Morrison, August 26, 1917. Alex C. Morrison was born in Sydney in 1897 and enlisted with the Cape Breton Highlanders 185th Battalion in 1916 and later transferred to the 25th Battalion in 1918. He fought in the battle of Amiens for which he was decorated with the Military Medal. He died in Sydney in 1998 at the age of 100. From Lieutenant Percy Willmot to his sister Dorothy, November 1, 1917.
Reverend William Beattie, CMG, was born in Fergus, Ontario, in April 1873. After his graduation from college in 1900 he moved to Cobourg, Ontario, where he was the minister in the Presbyterian Church. Beattie enlisted in September 1914, and sailed with the first contingent to France as the Chaplain to the First Canadian Brigade, and then later served as the Senior Chaplain of the Second Division. Beattie was appointed a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in recognition of "...his most conspicuous gallantry and distinguished conduct at the gas attack at St. Julien and through all the subsequent severe fighting of the period. Working unremittingly, with complete disregard to danger, he assisted in collecting wounded on many fields of action." He later returned to Ottawa in 1918 to organize the Chaplain Service of Canada and was at that time promoted to the rank of Colonel. The collection currently consists of thirty-four letters and two photographs. There are however other Beattie letters in the Cobourg World collection in the Special Items section, as he also sent letters back to the local newspaper for publication.
Private Robert Gilmore Beatty, known as “Gilmore,” was born in Orangeville, Ontario, on March 15, 1897. He enlisted in Toronto with the 204th Battalion on April 4, 1916.
He shipped overseas on the SS Saxonia in April 1917. His time in France was spent with a variety of units, primarily with the 164th Battalion. He survived the war with no major injuries and was demobilized on May 5, 1919.
External links:
Pte. Gilmore Beatty’s service record (Reg/Ser# 237458) is available online through Library and Archives Canada.
The Pte. Gilmore Beatty letters are part of the Gladys Hornibrook Collection. Living in the small village of Sundridge, near North Bay, Ontario, Gladys was only thirteen years old when World War One began. While the majority of her correspondence was with her uncles in overseas service, the letters, photos, and other memorabilia that she saved from the war years included two “pen-pal” letters received from Pte. Beatty. While they were stationed in France one of Gilmore's fellow soldiers put an advertisement in the Canadian "Family Herald" seeking a pen-pal. Overwhelmed by the response, he shared the letters with other interested soldiers and Gilmore was given one from Gladys.
John Jackson Beck was born in Sheffield, England, in June 1882. Prior to the war Beck worked as an architect in England, Toronto, and New York before serving with the 32nd Siege Battery. Beck was a prolific writer, writing several hundered letters betweeen 1915 and his demobilization in April 1919.
Herbert Stanier Beckton was born in Cannington Manor, Saskatchewan, in June 1892. He later moved to British Columbia and served with the 88th Victoria Fusiliers. Beckton enlisted in February 1915, while overseas. The collection consists of an undated memoir, one letter, and five photographs.
Lt.-Col Lewis Herbert Beer was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in December 1873. Beer enlisted initially in October 1914 and then received his commission as Lt.-Col. in 1916. The collection consists of a portion of his diary from May to August 1917.
William Henry Bell was born in Chatham, Ontario, in 1897 and moved to Innisfree, Alberta, to farm with his family. Bell enlisted at Vegreville, Alberta, in February 1916 with the 151st Battalion. He was killed at Vimy Ridge on April 10, 1917. The collection consists of twenty letters and one poem.
Andrew Byron Bennett was born in Spencerville, Ontario, in July 1890. Bennett enlisted with the 202nd Battalion in Edmonton, Alberta, in July 1916 and served overseas in France with the 31st Battalion. The collection currently consists of one letter written by Bennett.
George Byron Bennett was born in July 1897 in Spencerville, Ontario. Bennett joined the C.E.F. in early 1918 and was sent overseas to England in 1918. The collection currently consists of two letters written by Bennett.
James Howard Bennett was born in Spencerville, Ontario, in 1894, enlisted in February 1916 and served overseas in France. The collection consists of more than three dozen letters covering the period 1916 to 1918.
James Simeon Bicknell was born in Birmingham, England, in August 1888. Bicknell immigrated to Canada sometime before the war, residing in Calgary. He enlisted in December 1914 in Calgary, Alberta, and served overseas with the 50th Battalion. The collection currently consist of his paybook, a notebook, and his discharge certificate.
George Morton Bird was from Port Alberni, British Columbia. He enlisted in 1915 and went overseas in the spring of 1916 with the 62nd Battalion. Bird was killed in France on May 6, 1917 at the age of 26. The collection consists of more than fifty letters written by Bird.
Herbert Percy Blake was born in Victoria, British Columbia, in January 1886. He enlisted at Vernon, British Columbia, on October 5, 1915, and served overseas in France. He was killed in action February 27, 1917. The collection consists of two letters written in 1917.
