Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthSeptember 20, 1880
Place of BirthMörsil, Jämtland
CountrySweden
Marital StatusMarried
Next of KinEmmey Fredrika Nord, wife, Dubuc, Saskatchewan
Trade / CallingSanitary Inspector
ReligionChurch of England
Service Details
Regimental Number294065
Service Record
Battalion223rd Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Address at EnlistmentDubuc, Saskatchewan
Date of EnlistmentMarch 22, 1916
Age at Enlistment35
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathJune 16, 1963
Age at Death83

Nord, Charles Avery

Karl Arvid Nilsson was born on 20 September 1880 in Mörsil, Jämtland in Sweden. His parents Nils Andersson and Hulda Marie Nilsdotter were from Boda in Värmland, marrying there on 19 January 1879. Later that year they gave birth to son Nils Johan. Moving to Jämtland, Karl was born in Mörsil, followed by Axel Theodor in 1883 in Mattmar. The family then settled in nearby Trangsviken where children born were Hilda Elizabet (1886), Eline Cecilia (1890), Emma Anneli (1892-1908), and Oskar Adolf (1895). At times surnames used were Nilsson, Andersson, and eventually Nord.

Along with his father Nils and brother Axel, Karl immigrated to Canada in 1895, leaving Jämtland on the 1st of May and arriving in Quebec aboard the Numidian on the 26th. Their destination on the passenger list was given as Winnipeg. Karl’s siblings Hilda later immigrated in 1897 and Nils around 1923-24, both to Canada, while Oskar immigrated to the United States in 1923. His mother moved to Bollnäs in Gävelborg in 1901 where she passed away in 1925. At some point after coming to Canada Karl became known as Charles Avery Nord.

The South African Constabulary (SAC) was a paramilitary force set up in 1900 under British Army control to police areas captured from the two independent Boer republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State during the Second Boer War. Its first Inspector-General was Major-General Robert Baden-Powell, later the founder of the worldwide Scout Movement. In March 1901, 1 248 Canadians left for South Africa to serve in this unit, including Charles, regimental number 2100. After hostilities ended in 1902, the two countries became British colonies and the force was disbanded in 1908. According to his later WW1 attestation, while in South Africa Charles also served for seven months with the Kimberley Regiment, three weeks with the Yande Wenters Horse, and three months with the First Field Ambulance, German South Africa Expeditionary Force. While there Charles married Emmey Fredrika (née Welthagen) Jackson. Born on 9 June 1883 in South Africa, Emmey was Dutch in origin. With Emmey being previously married, the paternity of children John Abraham, George Smith, Ilene Wilhelmina, and Sarah Ann is unknown. When the children moved to Canada in 1915 with Charles and Emmey, all used the surname of Nord. George’s later BC death record gave his father’s surname as Jackson while Sarah’s was given as Nord. The family arrived in Montreal on the Hesperian on 15 June. Charles’ father Nils had settled in Dubuc in Saskatchewan, the destination given for the family on the passenger list.

Although living in Dubuc, Charles signed his attestation papers as a Private with the 223rd Battalion (Canadian Scandinavians)  in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 22 March 1916. His place of birth was given as Trangsviken in Sweden, his occupation as sanitary inspector, and his wife Emmey in Dubuc as next of kin. With fair hair and blue eyes he was tall for the day at almost six feet. Having first been promoted to Sergeant Major, he next signed an Officers’ Declaration Paper with rank of Lieutenant on 24 February 1917 in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. By then the family had also moved to Portage la Prairie.

As a Lieutenant with the 223rd Battalion, Charles embarked from Halifax on the Justica on 5 May 1917. Once in England he was taken on strength with the 11th Reserve Battalion. In early September he embarked for the 107th Battalion overseas. However once with the unit Charles had continual trouble with bunions, flat feet, and pterygium, a growth of the mucous membrane that covers the white part of the eye over the cornea. He returned to England in January of 1918 and then was struck off strength to Canada as permanently unfit. He left Liverpool on the Orpington on 27 February and was discharged from service on 9 April 1918 in Ottawa.

At the time of 1921 census Charles and his family were farming in rural Dauphin, Manitoba. Under the Volunteer Bounty Act of 1908, veterans of the South African War were entitled to 320 acres of Dominion Land, with records indicating that an application was made by Charles. However by 1924 the family had moved to Kenora, Ontario where Charles joined the Kenora Police Force. Retiring in 1946, by the early 1950’s Charles and Emmey moved to Haney/Maple Ridge in British Columbia. Charles was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Frontiersmen, and the Canadian Legion.

Charles died suddenly at their home on 10th Avenue in Haney on 16 June 1963. His Veteran Death card listed his wife Emmey Fredrika Nord of Haney as his next of kin. Funeral services were held in the Pinewood Memorial Chapel in North Surrey followed by cremation. Charles was survived by his wife, sons George of Haney and John of Winnipeg, and daughter Sarah Creedon of Vancouver, two grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was also survived by his brother Nils in Powell River (d 1965), Eline (Arvid Larsson) in Sweden (d 1984) and Oskar in the state of New York (d 1971).  Emmey died on 31 October 1972 in Maple Ridge, disposition also by cremation.

By Judy Stockham

Nord-Charles-Avery-2 Nord-Charles-Avery-3

Photograph of Charles and Emmey provided by great granddaughter Debbie Wilson.


« Back To Soldier Biographies