New Brunswick's Fighting 26th BattalionCliff and I were both up and dressed early on this November 11 holiday. We had received our yearly invitation to go with Gramp and Gram to Hampton to the Armistice Day ceremony. Although there was no snow on the ground, I knew Mum would insist we wear our winter boots. She was always concerned that chilled feet would lead to cold in the kidneys. As soon as we spotted the Olds coming in the driveway, we hurried out of the house to jump into the backseat of the car..
On the drive to the Cenotaph, Gram told us that Gramp's sister Nellie had been one of the first three nurses from New Brunswick to go overseas in the First World War. She also told us of the men who were severely wounded during battle, one of these being their very dear friend Dolph Bettle. He had lost his left arm. Dolph and his brother Jud had both been members of the 26th Battalion.
New Brunswick's Fighting 26th Battalion, with almost 6,000 officers and men in the regiment, was one of Canada's foremost First World War infantries. A history of this Battalion was compiled by S. Douglas MacGowan, Harry (Mac) Heckbert and Byron O'Leary.
The 76-page appendices will be of special interest to genealogists. There are lists of those who were Killed, Missing and Died of Wounds; Wounded; Nominal Roll and Honours and Awards.
At the Saint John Free Public Library, Market Square, there is a copy of the New Brunswick's Fighting 26th. A video of film footage shot during the spring of 1915 is also available.
The Library and Archives of the New Brunswick Museum on Douglas Avenue also have the publication New Brunswick's Fighting 26th and also copies of War diaries of the 26th Infantry Battalion.
The Internet has given us easy access to many records. At the National Archives, http://www.archives.ca/exec/naweb.dll?fs&020106&e&top&0, you will find Soldiers of the First World War - Canadian Expeditionary Force.
More than 600,000 Canadians enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the First World War (1914-1918). The CEF database is an index to those personnel files, which are held by the National Archives. In addition, over 173,849 pages of attestation papers have been scanned and made accessible through the database.
The Register at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Web site at http://yard.ccta.gov.uk/ provides personal and service details and places of commemoration for the 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First or Second World Wars.
The cemeteries and memorials where these names are commemorated, in perpetuity, are located in around 150 countries. This database makes it possible to identify the exact location, by cemetery plot or memorial panel, where any given name is commemorated.
The Provincial Archives of New Brunswickhas a database of the Death Registration of Soldiers, 1941-1947 at http://archives.gnb.ca/Archives/EN/default.aspx
And their name liveth for evermore.
- Query 98-529
McAfee Brown: Samuel McAfee was born in 1807 in Ireland . His wife was Rosanne (last name unknown.) He died Aug. 14, 1881, in Saint John, N.B. They probably had two sons born in Saint John: Samuel Jr., born 1862, and Joseph, born 1863. Our James and Robert Brown came from Ireland to live with their aunt, Rosanne McAfee. In the 1881 census, Samuel and Rosanne lived next door to a Patrick Brown, widower, born about 1831, and his family. Any information on the McAfees would be greatly appreciated.
Joan Thomson Brown, 1218 Beaver Run, Anderson, SC, 29625. Telephone (864)261-9202. E-mail rcbjmb@mindspring.com.
- Query 98-530
Glenn: I am trying to locate information on John Glenn, who drowned at Indian Town, which is a part of Saint John, in the 1840s or 1850s. He came from Salmon River near Chipman. I could not find his grave anywhere in Chipman or Harcourt or surrounding cemeteries; he may be buried in Saint John. Any help would be much appreciated.
Carmen Joe Glenn, 310 Ravel St., Chateauguay, Quebec, J6K 2V4. E-mail to jglenn@istar.ca.
- Query 98-531
Stickney Burden Currie Riordon: I am looking for information on Benjamin Stickney, born about 1843 in New Brunswick. He was married on Dec. 23, 1868, in Fredericton to Ruth Permelia Burden. They had at least three children: James Chipman (1871-1939), who married Ada May Currie on Sep. 19, 1900; Elizabeth Almina (1871- ?), who married Jerry Riordon; and Wiiliam C. (1883-?). I believe that it is possible that Benjamin's parents were Benjamin Stickney (born about 1791) and Jane (born about 1811). In the 1851 census, Benjamin, Jane and son Benjamin were in the parish of Sheffield, Sunbury County. I would like to hear from anyone doing research on the Stickney name in New Brunswick.
Lisa Almon, 108 Acamac Beach Rd., Saint John, N.B., E2M-6A1. E-mail to acamac@nb.sympatico.ca.
- Query 98-532 Manks - Irvine: In one of your columns there was reference made to William Herbert Irvine, M.D., physician and surgeon, Fredericton, N. B. who was born at Millidgeville, Saint John, on Feb. 2, 1871, son of William and Elizabeth (Manks) Irvine. In the mid 1980s there was a family with the surname Manks living on the Loch Lomond Road, Saint John. I am interested in locating anyone in Canada who is related to or has done research on the Manks Family. I have a Web site on the Manks Family at http://users.highway1.com.au/~gavynne/.
Gavan Manks, 40 Babington Cres., Bayswater, Western Australia, 6053. E-mail to gavynne@highway1.com.au.
- Query 98-533
Fowler - Ritchie: Caroline Elizabeth Fowler was born in 1870 in Upham, Kings Co., N.B. She married John William Ritchie on Oct.12, 1897 in Kings Co., N.B. John was born March 26, 1866 in Moncton and died about Oct. 23, 1923 in Montreal, Quebec. Caroline died in Oct. of 1954. Can anyone give me any information on Caroline and her parents?
Kathy Dubin, 9886 156th St., Surrey, B.C., V3R 4L3. E-mail to owlshoot@axion.net.
Ruby Cusack is a genealogy buff living in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Readers are invited to send their New Brunswick genealogical queries to Ruby at rmcusack@nbnet.nb.ca. When E-Mailing please put Yesteryear Families in the Subject line. Please include in the query, your name and postal address as someone reading the newspaper, may have information to share with you but not have access to E-mail. Queries should be no more than 45 words in length.
New and Used Genealogical and Historical books of New Brunswick for sale.
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