Ingvald Olsen was born in Hoyholm, Helgeland, Norway, in March 1889. Prior to the war he immigrated to Canada and became a naturalized citizen. Olsen was drafted in Vancouver, British Columbia in November, 1917, served overseas with the 29th Battalion and was wounded in June 1918. He returned to Canada at the end of the war. The collection currently consists of one letter (in Norwegian with a translation) written to his brother shortly after the Armistice.
John Phillips was born in Vernon, British Columbia, in October 1894, and later moved to Lasqueti Island, British Columbia. Phillips was drafted in November 1917, undertook his medical examination in Nanaimo, British Columbia, in March, 1918, and arrived in England in May 1918. He joined the 7th Battalion in France on October 2, 1918, and was killed 10 days later on October 12, 1918. The collection currrently consists of two photographs.
Thomas Arthur Searight was born in Norwood, Ontario, in February 1894. Searight was a student at the time of his enlistment in January 1916 in Peterborough, Ontario, with the 57th Battalion. He served overseas with the 21st Battalion until his death on August 15, 1917. The collection currently consists of six letters, a clipping, and a field service card.
Norman Stanley Vandusen was born in Turnerville, Ontario, in June 1888. He enlisted in April 1916 at Chatham, Ontario, with the 186th Battalion, and served overseas with the 18th Battalion. Vandusen was wounded in 1917 and returned to Canada in 1919 with demobilization. The collection currently consists of two letters, one photograph, and his hospital equipment list while wounded.
Edgar Cecil Warren was born in Liverpool, England, in January 1888. Prior to the war he immigrated to Canada and enlisted in September 1914, part of the First Contingent that sailed in October 1914. Warren served with the 1st Divisional Supply Column until January 1917 when he was discharged to take a commission with 1st Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). Edgar Warren was killed May 3, 1917. The collection currently consists of twelve letters and two photographs.
Harry Rodrick Low was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in April, 1891. Low enlisted in Winnipeg in January, 1916, and served overseas with the 9th Canadian Field Ambulance, Canadian Army Medical Corps. The collection currently consists of one letter by Low published in The Winnipeg Free Press on January 4, 1918, describing Passchendaele.
Louis Norris, MM, was born in Russia in March 1895 and immigrated to Canada prior to the war. Norris enlisted in Ottawa, Ontario, in November 1915 with the 77th Battalion. He served overseas with the 47th Battalion, was awarded the Military Medal in 1917, and returned to Canada at the end of the war. The collection currently consists of twenty letters and two clippings.
Private John Alfonso Fahey was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on December 21, 1896, to parents Joseph and Ella Fahey. Prior to his enlistment, Fahey served with the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers and the 34th Fort Garry Horse.
He enlisted in Winnipeg with the 78th Battalion on July 4, 1915, and in September proceeded overseas from Montreal, Québec, to England, aboard the SS Corsican. Fahey was sent to France in March 1916, where he joined the 28th Battalion. Fahey was killed in action at Passchendaele, Belgium, on November 6, 1917, age twenty. Fahey’s body was never found. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
Fahey’s older brother, Lieutenant Ernest Edward Fahey, also fought in World War I. He was killed September 27, 1918, while serving with the 78th Battalion.
Content notes:
The collection has only one item, a newspaper clipping reporting on Fahey’s death.
External links:
Pte. John Alfonso Fahey’s service record (Serv/Reg# 147451) can be viewed/downloaded through Library and Archives Canada.
Burial information is available at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
A memorial page honouring Pte. Fahey can be visited online at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Lieutenant Ernest Fahey’s service record (Serv/Reg# 20984) at Library and Archives Canada.
Burial information is available at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
A memorial page honouring Lt. Fahey can be visited online at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
[Editor’s note: Collection reviewed April 2023. Transcription updated and Collection Description expanded.]
William McMaster was born in Hastings, Ontario, in July 1886. He enlisted in Trenton, Ontario, in February 1917 with the 257th Battalion. McMaster served overseas with the battalion until he was wounded and subsequently discharged as medically unfit in late 1918. He is the brother of Howard McMaster. The collection currently consists of two letters.
Harry Vincent Fuller was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in January, 1894. His family later moved to Calgary where he enlisted in May, 1916 with the 137th Battalion. Fulller served overseas in France until his return at the end of the war in 1919. The collection currently consists of several photographs and a portion of a notebook he kept in 1917.
James Scott Pattullo was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in August 1890. Prior to the war he emmigrated to Canada and enlisted with the 72nd Battalion in Vancouver in September 1915. Pattullo served overseas with the 72nd Battalion until his death on Mach 1, 1917. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. The collection currently consists of one letter and one photograph.
Private Major Hudgins [note: “Major” was his given/first name and is not a military rank] was born in Aylesford, Nova Scotia on September 3, 1891.
He enlisted in Halifax, N.S., with the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) on April 4, 1915. Shipping for England on board the S.S. Olympic in October of 1916 he spent the winter with a training battalion in England before going to France the following March where he rejoined the 85th Battalion. Pte. Hudgins was killed in action in the trenches at Avion, France, on June 27, 1917, age 22. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial in France.
Major’s brother Jack features prominently in his letters. Jack was a Lieutenant with the 85th Battalion. His collected letters can be viewed here: John Hudgins Collection.
External links:
Pte. Hudgins’ service record (Serv/Reg# 223325) can be viewed/downloaded in pdf format through Library and Archives Canada.
Burial information is available at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
A memorial page honouring Hudgins can be visited online at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Wesley Johnson was born in Papineauville, Quebec September, 1893 and enlisted in April, 1915 in Port Arthur, Ontario. Johnson served overseas with the 52nd Battalion until his death on September 7, 1917, age 23. Please note that at times his name is also spelled Johnston, both in letters and in his service file.
James Alfred Livingston was born in Norwood, Ontario in September, 1894 and enlisted in Norwood, Ontario in December, 1915. Livingston was overseas with the 93rd Battalion but was invalided back the war as medically unfit. The collection currently consists of five letters and several clippings.
Roy Killingbeck was born in Hastings, Ontario in October, 1897 and enlisted in Peterborough, Ontario in December, 1915. He served overseas with the 52nd Battalion, was severely wounded, and medically discharged back to Canada. The collection currently consists of two letters and several clippings.
Percy Killingbeck was born in Norwood, Ontario in January, 1895 and enlisted in Peterborough, Ontario in November, 1915. Killingbeck served overseas with the 52nd and 93rd Battalions until his return to Canada at the end of the war. The collection currently consists of one letter and one newspaper clipping.
Frederik Batts Garlick was born in Oxford, England, in July 1883. Prior to the war he immigrated to Canada and enlisted in June 1916 in Peterborough, Ontario. He went overseas and was with the 93rd Battalion until he was injured during training and sent back to Canada in 1917. The collection currently consists of three letters and three clippings.
John ("Jack") Hudgins, DMC, was born in Aylesford, Nova Scotia, in November 1889 and enlisted in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in November 1915. Hudgins served overseas with the 85th Battalion until he was demobilized and returned to Canada in 1919. He was the brother of Major Hudgins. The collection currently consists of more than sixty letters from his time in the service.
William James Stares was born in London, England, in November 1884. Prior to the war he immigrated to Norwood, Ontario, and enlisted in Kingston, Ontario, in November 1914. Stares served overseas with the 21st Battalion until his return to Canada following a medical discharge in June 1917. The collection currently consists of more than forty letters.
Howard John McMaster was born in Norwood, Ontario in February 1891. McMaster enlisted in Peterborough, Ontario, in December 1915 and served overseas with the 52nd Battalion until his return to Canada at the end of the war. He is the brother of William McMaster. The collection currently consists of twelve letters and several postcards.
Air Gunner William Daniel Boon was born on April 29, 1920, in Edmonton, Alberta, to parents Charles and Mary Louise (née Hanna) Boon.
Boon enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Edmonton, Alberta, in September 1940. He was flying with the 150 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. as an Air Gunner when he was shot down and killed near Rivet, Algeria on February 26, 1943.
External links:
Air Gnr. Boon’s service record (Serv/Reg#s R61125) can be viewed/downloaded in pdf format through Library and Archives Canada.
Burial information is available at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
A memorial page honouring Boon can be visited online at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Wilfred Lasca Buck was born in Norwood, Ontario, in August 1897 and enlisted in Cobourg, Ontario, in August 1915. Buck served with the 38th Battalion and the 171st Battalion. The collection currently consists of one letter and two postcards.
Lloyd Quintus Duffield was born in Norwood, Ontario, in April 1897 and enlisted in Peterborough, Ontario, in February 1916. Duffield was overseas with the 93rd Battalion but was discharged in June 1917 on medical grounds and returned to Canada. The collection currently consists of eight letters and one Christmas card.
