Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthMay 6, 1885
Place of BirthAberdeen, Aberdeenshire
CountryScotland
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinFather: George Cassels, Scotland
Trade / CallingCoachman
ReligionPresbyterian
Service Details
Regimental Number657
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion8th Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Place of EnlistmentKenora, Ontario
Address at EnlistmentKeewatin, Ontario
Date of EnlistmentAugust 14, 1914
Age at Enlistment29
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathFebruary 3, 1964
Age at Death79
Buried AtManitou Community Cemetery, Manitou, Manitoba

Cassels, George

George Alexander Cassels was among the early volunteers from Keewatin, joining the 98th Regiment in Kenora after the first call to raise group of 40 men for overseas duty was made August 9, 1914.

Cassels had been in Keewatin for about five years and was working as a coachman at the Keewatin flour mill when he enlisted. He noted service with the Scottish House Volunteers on his attestation papers.

Born in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire in Scotland, George Cassels was the son of George and Jemina Cassels. In the 1891 Scotland census the family was living in Minklets West, Banchory Ternan, Kincardineshire, occupation of his father given as farm servant. Children listed were William, George, John, Helen, and Jemina.

George came to Canada in 1909 and settled in Keewatin. His brother John and his family were already living there having arrived in Canada in 1907.

After enlisting in the 98th Regiment, George Cassels went to Valcartier, Quebec with the Kenora contingent. On October 30, 1914 he sailed for England with the 8th Battalion CEF to which most of the Kenora men were assigned. George arrived in France, still with the 8th Battalion, on February 12, 1915. His brother, John Stewart Cassels, was killed in action October 1, 1916 while serving with the 25th Battalion CEF. In December 1916, while on leave, George married Agnes Porter. He was classified B1 by a medical board in February 1917 and was posted to the Assistant Provost Marshall in April. By October 1917 George was transferred to the Canadian Labour Pool. The following year, on September 13, he was once again classified A and transferred back to the 8th Battalion. After a 14 day leave to the United Kingdom in February 1919 George remained in England until his return to Canada aboard R.M.S. Minnedosa in May 1919. He received his official discharge due to demobilization on May 24, 1919.

The 1921 Canadian Census shows George, Agnes and son George (age 9 months), living in Lisgar, Manitoba where George was working as a farm hand. Two more children – Agnes and Jack – were born. The 1942 Voters List indicates that George was farming in Manitou, Manitoba. He served with the Veteran Guards from 1942 – 1947. George and Agnes retired to Winnipeg, Manitoba and it was there that George passed away on February 3, 1964. He is buried in Manitou Community Cemetery along with Agnes who died in 1969.

by Bob Stewart

Grave marker photographs by  Michele McMahon, findagrave.com.

 

 


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