Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthOctober 9, 1880
Place of BirthLimehouse, London
CountryEngland
Marital StatusMarried
Next of KinSelena Caroline Vettergreen, wife, Keewatin Ontario
Trade / CallingLumberman
ReligionChurch of England
Service Details
Regimental Number2260362
Service Record Link to Service Record
BattalionNo. 50 Company
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Forestry Corps
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Address at EnlistmentKeewatin, Ontario
Date of EnlistmentMarch 16, 1917
Age at Enlistment36
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathJune 14, 1974
Age at Death93
Buried AtChapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Vettergreen, Charles William

Charles William Vettergreen was born on 09 October 1880 in Limehouse, London, England. His parents were mariner Charles Alfred Vettergreen and Mary Ann Nicholas. Siblings included his brothers Albert (b. 1884) and Arthur (b. 1887).

Charles William was working as a stationary packer in London when he married Selena Caroline Pritchard on Christmas Day 1901. They had two children: Charles Albert (b. 1903) and Cecelia May (b. 1907).

Charles William immigrated to Canada in 1907. He was heading for Winnipeg, Manitoba and listed his occupation as railroad labourer. Selena and the children followed in 1911 declaring they were joining Charles in Kenora, Ontario where he was working on the railway. The family took up residence in Keewatin, a neighbouring town west of Kenora.

On 14 March 1917, Charles William enlisted with the Canadian Forestry Corps in Winnipeg, Manitoba. On his attestation papers he gave his occupation as ‘Lumberman’. His unit embarked from Halifax on 01 May 1917 and arrived in England two weeks later. Charles was at the base depot of the CFC until 09 July 1917 when he was sent to France with the 50th Company of the Canadian Forestry Corps. Upon his arrival in the field Charles was appointed the rank of Corporal. CFC companies cut down trees in England, Scotland and France. Timbers were squared, sawed and transported for many uses during the war. The CFC usually served well back of the fighting. Except for a two week leave to the United Kingdom in August 1918, Charles served in France until February of 1919. He was struck off strength to Canada in March 1919. His official discharge due to demobilization came in Winnipeg on 31 March 1919.

Charles’ service was recognized by the town of Keewatin at a ceremony in August of 1919. He is also commemorated on the Lake of the Woods Milling Company Honour Roll plaque and the Municipality of Keewatin For King and Country plaque.

Charles and his family settled in Winnipeg after the war. The 1921 Canadian census shows them living on Alexander Ave. in Winnipeg and Charles working as a caretaker. Charles was president of the Imperial London association and in 1926 he was presented with a ‘case of silver’ by fellow employees of the Lake of the Woods Milling Company on the occasion of his 25th wedding anniversary. Daughter, Cecelia, died in March of 1929. Charles continued to work as a caretaker until his retirement about 1945.

Charles William Vettergreen passed away at Deer Lodge Hospital in Winnipeg on 14 June 1974. He was buried in Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens beside his wife, Selena, who predeceased him in 1968. His son, Charles (who had married Elizabeth Mason) died in 1975 in Winnipeg.

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