"In Flanders Fields"
Poem written by Canadian John McCrae, December 1915
Illustrated book published 1921, after his death in 1919.
SOURCE: Wikipedia - several pages of information
The following are relatives and ancestors that I have found so far that have served in the Amrican Civil War, World War I and World War II.
I have also been told that the ancestors of my third great grandparents, Oliver Uriah Gates and his wife Catherine Hull, served in the American War of Independence 1775-1783. Also, that my sisters and I would be eligible for the Daughters of the American Revolution.
I have not done any research on that.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ~ 1861-1865
Edmund Uriah GATES
Born 8 June 1832 Holmes County, Ohio
Died 7 January 1917 Flagler, Kit Carson County, Colorado
Buried Beattie, Marshall County, Kansas
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SERVICE RECORD: THIRTEENTH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER REGIMENT, COMPANY E:
Page 62.
Gates, Edmund W. Age 32.
Residence Fourth Congressional District, nativity Ohio.
Enlisted Nov. 2, 1864. Mustered Nov. 2, 1864. Mustered out July 21, 1865, Louisville, Ky.
SOURCE: internet search
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Edmund is my paternal 3rd great grandfather.
SOURCE: His Civil War service is noted in the handwritten family tree prepared by Leila Belle (Gates) Greenall, dated 1984 and given to my mother. Leila was a cousin of my father, Floyd. Edmund's photo sent to me by email by a Gates cousin.
WORLD WAR I ~ July 1914 - 11th November 1918 (1919)
NORMAN ROSS BEEGHLY
KANSAS
FARRIER 301 ANL EMB DEP VC
WORLD WAR I
SEPT 9 1891 AUG 2 1961
Sabetha Cemetery, Sabetha, Nemahs County, Kansas
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My connection to the BEEGHLY family is through my father's mother, Ada May MILLER. Ada was the daughter of William MILLER and Sarah BEEGHLY.
Norman Ross' father was Ezra J. BEEGHLY. Ada's mother Sarah was the younger sister of Ezra J.
Ezra J. BEEGHLY and Deliala COLEMAN were the parents of Norman Ross.
So, Ada May and Norman Ross were first cousins. (I think.)
SOURCE: Internet search
WORLD WAR II ~September 1939 - Summer 1945
Clifford Fallis JOHNSON
Born 14 March 1908 Homestead, sod house, Milden, Saskatchewan
Died 1966 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Burial Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon, Sasktachewan
Isabel Victoria (ARMSTRONG) JOHNSON
Born 26 Nov 1916 Quill Lake, Saskatchewan
Died 9 April 2010 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Burial Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Street photo taken during World War II, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Cliff served with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 14 July 1941 until his discharge on 18 September 1945.
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Cliff is my uncle, one of my mother's older brothers.
SOURCE: Personal collection, sent to me by email from my cousin, Cliff's son.
Agnes (LAUDER) JOHNSON
Born 4 Aug 1921
Died 11 February 2002 North Battleford, Saskatchwan
Gordon Clark JOHNSON
Born 23 February 1901 Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma, Ontario
Died 6 Nov 1991 North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Both Aunt Agnes and Uncle Gord are buried beside each other in the
Veterans' Section, Town of Battleford Cemetery, North Battleford, Saskatchewan
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They both served in World War II. I've been told by their family that they were both held the rank of Sargent.
My Uncle Gord was unable serve in Europe because he had a severe leg injury from getting caught in some farm equipment. However, he did serve in the Royal Canadian Army Reserves in Edmonton. Also, Aunt Agnes served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Women's Division, also in Edmonton. They met and married after the War ended.
SOURCE: Photo my Mother's personal collection.Information about their service from Mom, Uncle Gord's family and Gord's youngest brother Uncle Howie.
Ross ROBINSON In July 1934, Ross married my Mother's older sister, Florence Irene JOHNSON. I don't have any information for Ross, except this photograph taken at the train station in 1945.
SOURCE: Sent to be by mail from my Uncle Howie.
Gordon Wesley "Wes" McCool
Born 17 June 1925 Saskatchewan
Died 28 October 2009, British Columbia
Wes would have been 18 years old in June 1943. so I think it was possible for him to enlist at that age.
I don't have any details of his service.
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Wes is one of two children of Mary Jane "Mae" (JOHNSON) McCOOL and Knox McCOOL.
He was the nephew of Eva (JOHNSON) GATES and Howard JOHNSON.
SOURCE: "The Acheson Family 1850 - 1950" published by the Acheson family; page 43 (see below) lists the names of 34 relatives that served in World War I and World War II.
Note: Included in the list are Clifford Johnston, Howard Johnston, and Wesley McCool. Also In-Law Ross Robinson.
Photo is from Wes's uncle Nellis Howard JOHNSON. (Johnston).
Howard Nellis JOHNSON
Born July 1917 Outlook, Saskatchewan
Living - now aged 93 years 4 months
Update: now aged 95 years 4 months -11th November 2012
Howie served in World War II with the Royal Canadian Engineers - 5th Division from March 1941 to December 1945. He was involved in the action on the front lines in six countries: England, North Africa, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
This photograph was taken 11 November 2002.
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This is my Uncle Howie, my Mother's youngest brother and the only surviving sibling of eight children.
SOURCE: Photo - my Mother's personal collection, sent to her in November 2002.
Roy Clell GATES
Born 19 December 1919 Beattie, Marshall County, Kansas
* Died 4 February 2011 Rosetown, Saskatchewan
Buried Milden Cemetery, Milden, Saskatchewan
Roy enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941. Trained as a pilot at Brandon, Manitoba; Summerside, Prince Edward Island; and Patricia Bay, Victoria, British Columbia.
He was assigned to the #415 Swordfish Squadron, Coastal Command, RCAF.
Roy was stationed at bases in southern England. He flew torpedo, bombing and smokescreen missions over the English Channel. He recalled laying smokescreen along the water on the morning of the D-Day invasion.
SOURCES: 1. Date and place of birth - Handwritten Family Tree.
2. War service details: Eulogy for Service of Remembrance - Friday 11th February 2011 at the Milden United Church, Milden, Saskatchewan.
*NOTE: 19 March 2011 -- After Uncle Roy passed away, this post was updated with his photograph and the details of his service. Roy was my father's youngest brother.
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To be watchful.
Acheson Family Crest
To Honour the Acheson Family and Relatives:
"THE ACHESON FAMILY 1850-1950"
Published June 1951, page 43.
HONOUR ROLL
LORNE MARTIN HOWELL
World War I, France, killed in action, September 1918,
Age 17 years, 11 months, 10 days.
PILOT OFFICER JIMMY LAING
Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF),
426 (Thunderbird) Squadron - Motto: "On Wings of Fire"
World War II, France, killed in action, February 9, 1945, age 20 years.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." ~ John 15:13
WORLD WAR I
John James "Jim" Duncan, Sargent
Enlisted in 1914 at age 25, Royal Canadian Armed Forces
Awarded Military Medal for "Bravery Beyond the Call of Duty."
Wounded and discharged in 1919.
WORLD WAR II
Robert Acheson, Renfred Acheson,
Delbert Bannon, George Bannon, Ivan Copeland, Jack Duncan,
Margaret Duncan, Stuart Duncan,
Vernon Gooding, Robert Orville Howell,
Clifford Johnston, Howard Johnston,
Robert Laing, Elwood Logan, Wesley McCool,
John A. McTaggart, Mansell McTaggart, Kenneth Smith.
IN-LAWS
Art Blair, Conrad Brunelle, Thomas Caristilaw,
Allan Doner, Lesley Drury,Wilfred Dunkley,
Wesley McCraken, George McKee, William Neck, Gordon Prosser,
Ross Robinson, John Thompson, Sidney Martin.
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Additional information about their service from Acheson and Gates family trees:
Robert "Bob" Acheson
Enlisted about age 18 with a Winnipeg Regiment, served overseas in Italy, Belgium and Holland.
Renfred Acheson
He was age 38 at the beginning of World War II, no details of his service.
Margaret Elizabeth Duncan
At age 18 in 1943 she took a special secretarial course in Toronto.
She was a member of the Royal Canadian Armed
Forces, Womens' Division, R.C.A.F.
Margaret and Stuart were sister and brother.
Stuart Duncan
Enlisted about age 18, Royal Canadian Air Force, Fighter pilot Royal Armed Forces,
1945 shot down over Italy, rescued by Italian farmer.
Vernon Gooding, Robert Orville Howell.
Clifford Johnston
(my uncle) Enlisted at age 33, served 1941-1945,
Corporal Royal Canadian Air Force.
Howard Johnston
(my uncle) Enlisted at age 23 in March 1941,
Royal Canadian Engineers, Fifth Division,
shipped to England and then directly to the front lines in Italy.
Served in Italy, North Africa, Belgium, Holland and Germany until December 1945.
Cliff (deceased) and Howie (now age 95 in 2012) are brothers.
Wesley McCool
(my first cousin) enlisted at about age 18 in 1943.
Ross Robinson
( my uncle-in-law) was about age 32 at the beginning of the war.
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SOURCES: "The Acheson Family 1850 - 1950, the list above of those who severed in the military, page 43.
Additional information from "The Acheson Family Tree" compiled by B. M. Acheson Anderson;
and "The Gates, Johnson / Johnston Family Tree" compiled by C. Gates.
All the others listed are related to our Acheson ancestors and relatives in some way.
Remembered. Lest we forget.
The Poppy - Papaver Rhoeas
Antique botanical illustration - 1897 (cropped)
SOURCE: Wikipedia
The language of flowers:
The symbolism for the Poppy is "sympathy" and "peace."
Not to be confused with Rosemary which is for "remembrance."
SOURCE: various internet searches
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SOURCES: Family history and knowledge, emails from family, photos and records, as well as various internet searches.
