Person Page - 1974

     She was born in May 1890 at Ontario, Canada.^3,2
     She was also known as Jessie M. Hurdman.^3,2
     Jessie M. Hurdman appeared in the 1911 Canadian Census of Saskatchewan in the household of her parents, Charles and Marie Hurdman.²
     Jessie M. Hurdman appeared in the 1921 Canadian Census of RM of Eagle Creek No. 376, Saskatchewan in the household of her parents, Charles and Maggie E. Hurdman, listed as a deaf mute.³
     Jessie Faichney was referenced in a newspaper article about the 50th anniversary celebration for her adoptive parents published on 4 June 1935 at the newspaper the Star-Phoenix.¹

     He was born on 15 June 1889 at Shamrock, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada.¹
     James Gannon died circa 8 October 1916 at France.¹
James Gannon is remembered on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.³
     Asquith and District Honour Roll:
     "Gannon, J.".
Other comments:
     The Honour Roll fails to indicate he was missing and presumed killed during an attack on Regina Trench during the Battle of the Ancre Heights. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. The Asquith history contains several references to the Gannons. Walter Rice bought the Gannon farm in 1919, and in the Smith biography, Mrs. Gannon is referred to as being terminally ill. Mathias Stack bought the Mike Gannon farm in the Balmae district in the early '20's. After the war, James' father was at Kindersley, probably after leaving the farm.⁴

Canadian Military Service - WWI

     Pte. James Gannon began military service on 23 September 1914 at the age of 25 at Valcartier, Québec, Canada, joining the 9th Battalion. He may have joined the 101st Regiment, Edmonton Fusilliers as early as August 13th according to one entry in his file. Presumably he was then sent to Valcartier Camp where he "offically" enlisted and was transferred to the 9th Battalion. He was an unmarried "bridgeman" with militia experience. He was described as being 5' 11" with a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. On his Attestation (enlistment) papers, he listed his next-of-kin/contact as his mother, Mrs. M. J. Gannon of Hurdman Lodge. He was assigned regimental number 18193.¹ On 8 November 1914 Pte. James Gannon wrote his will leaving all to his sister.¹ Pte. James Gannon ended military service on 8 October 1916 near Courcelette, France, during the Battle of the Ancre Heights when he was reported missing, revised on May 23, 1917 to "missing presumed to have died on or since Oct 8, 1916." The official report reads: "Information is available that he was last seen at the "jumping off" place during the attack on Regina Trench and since then no information has been received concerning him." He was serving with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment. He is commemorated on the Vimy War Memorial.
End of Military Service section.^1,5

     In the obituary of Mrs. Michael J. Gannon who died 26 December 1915, her son, James Gannon of B. Co 3rd batt, 1st Brigade of the 1st Canadian Contingent, was listed as a survivor.⁶

     Mary married Michael Joseph Gannon.¹ She was born circa 1856, near Shamrock, at Canada West, United Province of Canada.²
     Mary McAdam died on 26 December 1915, near Asquith, at Saskatchewan, Canada.²
     The following selected information is extracted from her obituary. Survivor(s): Michael J. Gannon, James Gannon and Joseph Gannon. Also survived by her daughters from Kindersley: Mrs. Wm. Bolger and Mrs. Michael McGrath.²
     Mrs. M. J. Gannon was listed as next-of-kin/contact on her son James's attestation (enlistment) papers.³
     Her name was also recorded as Mary McAdams.⁴
     Mary McAdams was recorded as mother of the bride at the marriage of William Hughes Bolger and Mary Ann Gannon on 20 June 1904.⁴
     The following obituary appeared in the newspaper The Eganville Leader published in Eganville, Ontario 21 January 1916 :

     He was born on 8 October 1896 at Coaticook, Stanstead, Québec, Canada.¹
     Gnr. Henry Scott Forest died on 25 April 1915 at Belgium at age 18.¹
     

Canadian Military Service - WWI

     Henry Scott Forest began military service on 1 August 1914 or 15 August 1914 at Coaticook, Stanstead, Québec, Canada, joining the 35th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. He arrived at the Canadian Army camp at Salisbury Plains, England on Oct. 18, 1914 and had a medical examination on Nov. 17, 1914. His Attestation paper on file was completed Jan 7, 1915, at Urchford, England. He was an unmarried farmer, and an active militia member. He was described as being 5' 7" with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. On his Attestation (enlistment) papers, he listed his next-of-kin/contact as his mother, Mary Forest of Coaticoke, Québec.¹
     On 26 October 1914, he transferred to the 6th Battery, 2nd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery.¹
     On 11 February 1915, he embarked for France from Avonmounth, England.¹ Gnr. Henry Scott Forest was killed in action on 25 April 1915 at Belgium. "He was struck by a shell during a retirement through Wieltje" near Ypres. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate and one source indicates he was buried on the St. Julien Road.

End of Military Service section.^1,2

     The following analysis is from my personal research and reflects my attempts to consolidate information from different sources.

     He was born on 30 March 1881 at Upton Sheeny, Gloucestershire, England,¹; or, circa 1882 at England according to the 1921 census.² William married Mabel Stewart between July 1917 and September 1917 at Chapel en le Frith, Derbyshire, England.^1,4,2
     William Arthur died on 19 October 1970 at Veteran's Hospital, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, at age 89 according to BC Death Registration 1970-09-013724.³ The informant on his death registration was his wife, Mabel Stewart.³
     The following selected information is extracted from the obituary of William Arthur.
     William Arthur was buried on 21 October 1970 at Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.³
     Asquith and District Honour Roll:
     "Arthurs (sic), Wm. (wounded)" of Asquith.⁶

Canadian Military Service - WWI

     William Arthur of Asquith began military service on 28 March 1916 at the age of 34 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, joining the Training Depot, 1sr Canadian Army Service Corp. He was an unmarried farmer that had previously served 7 months with the 5th Canadian Royal Highlanders. He was described as being 5' 7 1/2" with grey eyes, dark hair and a fair complexion. On his Attestation (enlistment) papers, he listed his next-of-kin/contact as his father, John Arthur of Bath, England. He was assigned regimental number 4726.¹
     On 30 September 1917, at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, he disembarked from the "Llandovery Castle" on which he had been invalided to Canada. While in France with the Canadian Army Service Corp near Vimy serving as a driver, he was kicked by a horse over the patella (kneecap) of his left leg. This left him with practically no movement of the knee.
     At the time of enlistment he was single, but when he returned he had a wife, Mabel.¹ Dvr. William Arthur ended his military service on 30 January 1918 at Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, when he was discharged with an "injury due to his service." He had served about 3 months in England and 6 months in France.

End of WWI Military Service section.¹

     William and Mabel Arthur appeared on the 1921 Canadian Census of RM of Eagle Creek No. 376, Saskatchewan, enumerated 1 June 1921. William was described as described as a farmer. Their children Eric P. S. were listed as living with them.²
     In the obituary of Eric Percival Stewart Arthur who died 25 August 1953, his father, William Arthur, of Victoria, was listed as a survivor.⁷
     See the footnotes below for a link to his obituary that appeared in the newspaper the Times Colonist published in Victoria, British Columbia, 20 October 1970.⁵

     John married Jane (?).²
     John Arthur of Bath, England was listed as next-of-kin/contact on his son William's attestation (enlistment) papers.¹

     She was born on 12 January 1892 at England.³ Mabel married William Arthur between July 1917 and September 1917 at Chapel en le Frith, Derbyshire, England.^1,4,5
     Mabel Arthur died on 26 November 1973 at Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, at age 81 according to BC Death Registration 1973-09-016880.^6,3 The informant on her death registration was her son.³
     Mabel Arthur was buried on 29 November 1973 at Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.³
     Her name was also recorded as Maud in at least one form in William's service file.¹
     William and Mabel Arthur appeared on the 1921 Canadian Census of RM of Eagle Creek No. 376, Saskatchewan, enumerated 1 June 1921. William was described as described as a farmer. Their children Eric P. S. were listed as living with them.⁵
     In the obituary of Eric Percival Stewart Arthur who died 25 August 1953, his mother Mabel, Mrs. William Arthur, of Victoria, was listed as a survivor.⁷ She was the informant on the death registration of her husband, William Arthur, who died on 19 October 1970.²
     In the obituary of William Arthur who died 19 October 1970, his wife, Mabel Arthur, was listed as a survivor.⁸

     Jane married John Arthur.¹

     He was born on 14 February 1920 at Asquith, RM of Loganton, Saskatchewan, Canada.^2,3
     Eric Percival Stewart Arthur died on 25 August 1953, in an automobile accident on the Tijuana-Mexicali Highway, at Mexico at age 33.³
     The following selected information is extracted from the obituary of Eric Percival Stewart Arthur.
     Eric P. S. Arthur appeared in the 1921 Canadian Census of RM of Eagle Creek No. 376, Saskatchewan in the household of his parents, William and Mabel Arthur.²
     See the footnotes below for a link to his obituary that appeared in the newspaper the Times Colonist published in Victoria, British Columbia, 31 August 1953.¹

     He was born at England.¹

     He was born on 24 August 1889 at Grand Valley, East Luther Twp., Dufferin County, Ontario, Canada, according to Ontario Birth Registration 006752.^1,2 Alternatively, he may have been born circa 1891 at Ontario, Canada, according to the 1921 census.³ John married Elsie Isabel McQuitty.⁴
     John Milton Cowan died on 12 September 1961 at Ontario, Canada, at age 72.^5,1,4
     Asquith and District Honour Roll:
     "Cowan, J." of Alton, Ontario.
Other comments:
     He came to Asquith after his service in WWI. The Honour Roll entry fails to indicate he was wounded. His sister was Mrs. Pete (Phoebe) McTavish of the Asquith district. John and his wife Elsie née McQuitty later returned to Ontario where he died.⁶

Canadian Military Service - WWI

     John Cowan of Alton, Ontario began military service on 3 December 1915 at the age of 26 at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, joining the 126th Battalion. He was later assigned to the 10th Battalion Canadian Engineers as a Sapper. He was an unmarried labourer with no military experience. He was described as being 5' 8 3/4" with fair hair, brown eyes and dark brown hair. On his Attestation (enlistment) papers, he listed his next-of-kin/contact as his mother, Mrs. K. Cowan of Erin, Ontario. He was assigned regimental number 775264.¹
     On 24 August 1916, John arrived in England on the S. S. Empress of Britain. He enbarked for France on March 9, 1917. He received a gun shot wound with a bullet lodging in his left cheek on February 2nd. The bullet was removed a week later, but the wound became septic and he was hospitalized until May 19th. He returned to France on November 24, 1917.¹ Dvr. John Cowan ended military service as part of general demobilization on 19 March 1919 at Toronto, Ontario, Canada,

End of WWI Military Service section.¹

     John appeared in the 1921 Canadian Census of RM of Eagle Creek No. 376, Saskatchewan, in the household of Peter McTavish and Phoebe McTavish, listed as a farmer. Phoebe was his sister.³
     In the obituary of Elsie Isabel Cowan who died 4 August 1971, her husband, John Milton Cowan, was listed as predeceased.⁴

     She was born circa 1882 at Ontario, Canada.¹ Phoebe married Peter McTavish.^2,1
     Peter and Phoebe McTavish appeared on the 1921 Canadian Census of RM of Eagle Creek No. 376, Saskatchewan, enumerated 1 June 1921. Peter was described as described as a farmer and Presbyterian. Their household also included her brother, John Cowan.¹

     He was born circa 1879 at Ontario, Canada.¹ Peter married Phoebe Cowan.^2,1
     Peter and Phoebe McTavish appeared on the 1921 Canadian Census of RM of Eagle Creek No. 376, Saskatchewan, enumerated 1 June 1921. Peter was described as described as a farmer and Presbyterian. Their household also included her brother, John Cowan.¹