Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthMay 24, 1891
Place of BirthSt. Blazey, Cornwall
CountryEngland
Marital StatusSingle
Next of Kinfather, Phillip Sampson of Cornwall, England
Trade / CallingLocomotive engineer
ReligionChurch of England
Service Details
Regimental NumberVR-3858
Service Recordsee images below
BattalionNiobe, Victory, Vivid III, Colleen
ForceNavy
BranchRoyal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Date of EnlistmentMarch 3, 1917
Age at Enlistment25
Theatre of ServiceAt sea
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathJanuary 9, 1979
Age at Death87
Buried AtLake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario
Plot37E-29-4

Sampson, Joseph John

John Joseph Sampson was born on 24 May 1891 in St. Blazey, Cornwall, England.  His parents were Phillip Sampson and Mary Grace Cundy. He had four brothers – James, Albert, Harry and Phillip; and six sisters – Beatrice, Bella, Ruth, Annetta, Lilian, and Mary Jane.  John was educated in England and came to Canada in 1911.  He spent  a short  time in Toronto and then St. Catherines where he worked for the Maple Leaf Mill.

In April of 1911 John made his way to Kenora, Ontario.  He started employment with the CPR as a ‘hostler’ in February of 1912.  A hostler is a type of railroad engineer who drives locomotives to designated stations in railroad roundhouses to be cleaned, serviced or repaired.

On 03 March 1917 John enlisted with the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve.  He went to Halifax and began his service as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Niobe.  Over the next two years he worked his way up to an Able Seaman and then a Petty Officer while serving on the ships Victory, Vivid III, Colleen and Niobe.  He was discharged in March of 1919 and came back to Kenora.  John was awarded the War Badge class AA and the Victory and British War Medals.

Upon his return to Kenora, John resumed his employment with the CPR.  He continued to work as a hostler until his retirement in May of 1956.

John married Lottie Gertrude Hudson on 06 September 1922 in Kenora.  They had three sons – Gerald, Harold and Albert; and one daughter – Gwendoline.

When John retired from the CPR he began working at Mount Carmel School as a class 4 engineer.  His second retirement came in 1967.

John died on 09 January 1979 and is buried in Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario. His wife Lottie had predeceased him in June 1978 and she is buried beside him.

Sampson-Joseph-John-11 Sampson-Joseph-John-12 Sampson-Joseph-John-13 Sampson-Joseph-John-14 Sampson-Joseph-John-15 Sampson-Joseph-John-16


« Back To Soldier Biographies