Eddy, Henry

Private Henry Eddy was living in the Keewatin area in northwestern Ontario when he was called up for service on 17 April 1918. He was classed as a defaulter, having failed to register under the Military Service Act the previous fall. According to his recruitment paper, he was born on 6 December 1891 in ‘Rovanary’ (probably Rovinari), Romania. He was single, Hebrew, his occupation was cook and farm hand and next of kin was his cousin John Miller in Fort Frances. A different document in his service file listed his brother Julius Eddy, possibly of Keewatin, as next of kin and gave Henry’s address as Camp 3, Keewatin Lumber Company.

Henry was apprehended on 30 August 1918 and he had his medical exam in Winnipeg the following day. He was found fit for non-combatant duty and described as 5’10” with brown eyes, black hair, defective vision and scars on his right cheek and above his right eye. He was assigned to the 1st Depot Battalion, Manitoba Regiment and given harvest leave from 14 September to 24 October. The leave was extended for three weeks and he was taken on strength with the 1st Depot Battalion on 14 November.

Henry may have trained with his unit for a few weeks in late November and early December. A notice dated 21 December, addressed to him at Camp 3, Keewatin Lumber Company, requested him to report to Minto Street Barracks in Winnipeg on or before 6 January 1919 for the purpose of being discharged. He signed the document on 16 January and he was discharged on demobilization on 24 January.

Nothing further is known about Henry Eddy.

By Becky Johnson

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