Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthSeptember 14, 1900
Place of BirthStockton-on-Tees, Durham
CountryEngland
Marital StatusSingle
Trade / CallingClerk
ReligionChurch of England
Service Details
Regimental NumberZ13234
Service RecordSee images
BattalionVictory VI
ForceRoyal Navy
BranchRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Date of EnlistmentApril 11, 1918
Age at Enlistment17
Theatre of ServiceGreat Britain
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathMarch 1 1963
Age at Death62
Buried AtLake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario
Plot9E-12-1

Fawcett, Edwin

Edwin Fawcett was born on 14 September 1900 in Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England. His father Edwin Fawcett was from Birstwith, Yorkshire while his mother Mary Whitteron was from nearby Follifoot in Yorkshire, the communities about 80 kilometres from Stockton-on-Tees. The couple married during the second quarter of 1899 in the registration district of Knaresborough, Yorkshire. Edwin was their first born child, followed by Winnifred (1902-1971), Evelyn (1904-1951), and Harry (1910-1980). By the time of the birth of Evelyn the family had moved to Norton, Stockton-on-Tees where Edwin Sr worked as an electric car/tramcar motorman.

At age 17, Edwin joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at Tyneside on 11 April 1918. Standing 5 feet, 5 3/4 inches tall, with auburn hair and a fair complexion, his occupation was given as clerk on his service record. From 26 August 1918 until discharge on 15 January 1919, Edwin’s service was listed as on the base ship Victory VI, rank of Ordinary Seaman. During WW1 Crystal Palace was used as a training establishment for the Royal Navy. It was officially known as HMS Victory VI, and informally as HMS Crystal Palace. With character described as very good and ability as satisfactory, Edwin was awarded the British War Medal for his service.

Edwin immigrated to Canada in November of 1920, arriving in Halifax aboard the Canada on the 29th. He was travelling with a group of at least 9 young men, all listed as clerks on their way to work for the Royal Bank. Edwin’s destination was given as Montreal on the passenger list. He eventually ended up in Winnipeg where he worked for the G Hare Company as an accountant.

On 10 July 1935, in Winnipeg, Edwin married Gladys Chicken. Born on 29 January 1912 near Culross in the RM of Grey in Manitoba, Gladys was the daughter of English immigrants Thomas Chicken and Mary Alice Harrison. Her parents had married in 1902, and along with Gladys’ older siblings had arrived in Canada in June of 1910 aboard the Lake Manitoba. Their destination was given as Starbuck, Manitoba, a small community near Culross, and intended occupation as farmers.

According to his obituary, Edwin and Gladys moved to Kenora, Ontario in 1937 where Edwin operated his own accountancy business. Living in nearby Norman (now a part of Kenora), the couple gave birth to two sons, William and Thomas.

Edwin died suddenly at home on 1 March 1963. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife Gladys and sons William and Thomas, as well as his sister Winnifred (John) Boggon and brother Harry (Cicely Longthorne) back in England. He was predeceased by his parents and sister Evelyn (Thomas) Kidd. Edwin is interred in the Lake of the Woods Cemetery in Kenora.

By Judy Stockham

Fawcett-Edwin-2 Fawcett-Edwin-3

Edwin’s grave marker was installed in the Lake of the Woods Cemetery in 2018 by the Last Post Fund.

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