Remembering our own
after Remembrance Day
Cliff and I had accompanied Gram to the cenotaph for the Armistice Day remembrance service. On the drive home she told us of the horrors of war and the terrible mud and water that filled the trenches.Many of those who had served in the two world wars were friends of the family. Her feelings were very strong about folk taking time to remember the sacrifices made.
As soon as she got home, she removed her poppy from her lapel and printed the year's date on it. She asked Cliff to go upstairs to her trunk and bring down the chocolate box marked Nov. 11. It was filled with yellowed clippings which she held up one by one. There were pictures of Frank Cobb, Percy Robertson, three First World War nurses plus articles concerning the men missing in action.
With sadness in her eyes, she told of the parents, spouses, children, siblings, relatives and friends who waited day after day for word from overseas.
Her close friend, Dolph Bettle, came home from the First World War, but like many others was seriously wounded.
Before the Second World War, young Jimmy Haley spent many a summer visiting his Donnelly grandparents before he went off to join the Air Force. Due to an accident in Scotland he did not return home.
Gram would be very pleased to know that the 250 RCAF (Saint John) Air Force Association of Canada published We That Are Left Remember: New Brunswickers in the Air Force, edited by Valerie Evans, a collection of memories of those who flew through the clouds to serve their country.
The first story is of Wing Commander Lee Roy Brown D.F.C who was born in Westmorland Point (Aulac) in 1890. His letter written in 1916 to his mother tells of his experiences.
Flying Officer Robert Thomas Anderson D.F.C was born near Welsford in Armstrong's Corner and tells a most interesting story of his preparation for a posting overseas.
Bev Appleby was born in Saint John and remembers the food in the mess hall not being so great. On a visit to Swindon, a large town in the South West of England, he saw a 20-pound pail of Barbour's peanut butter in a window display and bought it. On his return to the barracks, the pail was quickly emptied.
Pilot Officer Alfred (Scotty) Bell was born in Scotland and emigrated to the Cossar Farm in Gagetown at the age of 15. In the summer of 1940, he hitchhiked to Moncton with Don Dickson to enlist in the Air Force. The officers there did not understand the grading system of education in Scotland and he had to do some convincing to get accepted to be a pilot.Corporal Allison Shaw Cassidy was born in Maces Bay. He tells of an incident when he refuelled the aircraft with the wrong type of fuel.
Sergeant Leo Hebert was born in Shediac. Due to the cold, he considered Goose Bay, Labrador one of the worst postings he had.
There are 50 pages of short biographies of the 454 New Brunswickers killed in action.
Long after the poppies have been put away and the wreaths removed from the cenotaphs, the stories, personal accounts and memories that have been put down on paper will be read - giving insight and faces into the ways of war.
The sacrifices made will be remembered throughout the year not just on a certain day in November.
* * *
Query 1631
Joyce - Ryan: Thomas Joyce, born 1799 in Ireland, came over around 1819 and settled in Botsford Parish, Westmorland Co., N.B. He married Elizabeth Ryan and had two sons, George and Thomas George. A brother, John Joyce, came over in 1845 and settled in Melrose, N.B. I'm looking for the parents of these brothers, who according to local history hailed from Waterford, although family lore claims they came from County Cork.
E-mail edwyer@nb.sympatico.ca
Query 1632
Curry - Lamerton: I seek information on Ernest Curry who married Eliza Lamerton, St. Germans, Cornwall. in 1905. Ernest was in River deChute with Eliza and children, Frank (9), Edith (4) and Ernest (2). In 1917 Ernest, blacksmith, joined Forestry Co'y C.E.F. Last address in 1929 was 45 Fredericton, Andover, N.B.
Email gina@theblackfamily.ca
Query 1633
Fournier - Jay: for personal reason, an aunt of Valmore Fournier wishes to contact him. He is the nephew of Albert and DiLema Jay (Lena) and was born circa 1920 and lived in the Petit Rocher area of New Brunswick.
Karen (Northrup) Green.
Email rgstltd@nb.sympatico.ca
Query 1634
O'keefe - Howard: Looking for parents and siblings of Stephen O'keefe, born July 1863 in Fredericton, N.B. He was married to Ada C. Howard and had five children: Edward O'keefe, Mary Ann (Minnie) O'keefe, William O'keefe, John Murray O'keefe, Frank Gerald O'keefe. They lived in Saint John. Any and all information would be greatly appreciated.
Email p_hager@hotmail.com
Query 1635
Dawson - Arbo - Hannan: I am looking for information on Thomas Dawson who married Ann Arbo and had a daughter Elizabeth who married Michael Hannan in 1855 in Blackville, N.B.
E-mail linjohnston@sympatico.caQuery 1636
Query 1637
Haley - Hall - Sprague: Moses E. Haley was born in Magaguadavic, N.B.,. in 1863, the son of James R. Haley, born 1842 and Harriet M. Hall, born 1838. James Haley's parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Haley. Thomas Haley's second wife was Nancy M. Sprague born in 1819 in Newcastle.
Email RangerTrica@aol.com
Willoughby - Lee: I am seeking place of origin in Ireland of Thomas Willoughby who came to New Brunswick from Ireland in 1816. His wife was Mary Lee and they appear on the 1851 census of Northumberland County.
Email dwwilloughby@bellsouth.net
Query 1638
Sharp - Long: Seeking information and regimental photos of William Sharp who was born in Taunton, Somerset, England, and was in the 1st/15th regiment. He married Ruth Long from Portland Saint John, N.B., Canada, November, 1867. They then set sail for Bermuda with the British army. After William retired from the army they lived in England.
Email Sndrsndrs@aol.com
Ruby M. Cusack is a genealogy buff living in New Brunswick, Canada. Send your New Brunswick genealogical queries to her at: rmcusack@nbnet.nb.ca. Please put "Query" followed by the surnames in your query as the subject. For more information on submitting queries, visit http://www.rubycusack.com/Query-Instructions.html
Ruby contributes a "Family History" column to the Telegraph-Journal on the third Saturday of the month.
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