Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthSeptember 1, 1898
Place of BirthWest Ham, Essex
CountryEngland
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinFrederick Thomas Carey, 1114 Ave K - South, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Trade / CallingMail Clerk with the Railway
ReligionChurch of England
Service Details
Regimental Number81292
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion32nd Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Address at EnlistmentParent's address: 1114 Ave K - South, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Date of EnlistmentDecember 2, 1915
Age at Enlistment17
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathJanuary 19, 1952
Age at Death53
Buried AtWoodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
PlotL-L104

Carey, Horace Frederick

Date and Location of birth: According to the 1901 England census, Horace Frederick Carey was born in West Ham, Essex, about 1896. His birth was registered in the 4th Quarter, 1895 and he was baptised October 27, 1895 at Barking Road, Essex, England. This birth information differs significantly from the date and location given in Horace’s Attestation Paper in which he declares his birth and birth location was September 1, 1898 in Poplar, London, England. In fact, Horace’s mother was born in Poplar and her family lived there. Despite these differences, careful research and cross referencing confirm that they all refer to the same person.

Parents: Horace’s parents were Frederick Thomas Carey (born 1864, Deal, Kent) and Clara Adelaide Hawkes (born 1873, Poplar, London). In the 1901 census, the family, consisting of the parents and three children, was living at 77 Garvey Road, sub-district of Canning Town, Ecclesiastic District of St. Luke, West Ham, Essex. Frank was working as a stevedore.

Early life before war:  By the time the family left for Canada, there were six children: Horace, Winifred Carry (b. 1898), Dorothy Ada (b. 1900), Stanley Ralph (b. 1902), Evelyn Jessie (b. 1903), and, Arthur (b. 1906). Departing from Liverpool on the vessel, the Southwark, the family arrived in Montreal on June 23, 1907, with Winnipeg as the final destination. Frederick is now employed as a Rigger. The family was not located in the Canadian 1911 census in Canada or the United States, but it appears the father is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In 1910, there is a Frederick T. Carey living in the city. The next record located for the Carey’s was 1916.

According to the 1916 Canadian census, the family is established in Saskatoon, living at 1114 Avenue K, Saskatoon South. They were of the Anglican faith. The family consists of Thomas (no longer using the name Frederick), now a machine keeper with the Railway; Clara; and six children: Horace (a soldier), Dorothy, Stanley (a shoe salesman), Evelyn, and Arthur (all born in England), a son (b. 1911) and an infant daughter (age 6 months), both born in Canada. The names on the original documents of the 1916 are indecipherable for the two youngest children. Horace is recorded as being overseas in military service. An interesting point is that, although all members identify themselves as English, the census has their tribal origins as Irish.

War experience: Prior to enlistment in WWI, Horace served 3 years with the 105 Fusiliers, Saskatchewan and 1 1/2 years with the ‘S.R.’ (Saskatchewan Regiment). Upon enlistment, he was placed with the 32nd Battalion and arrived in England February 15th, 1915. On April 25th, Horace embarked for France, at which time he was transferred to the 5th Battalion. While carrying bombs, he strained his lower right back. He did not report it immediately and it gradually became worse. On May 16th, he was returned to England and was hospitalized. Over the next 3 years, Horace remained in hospitals and convalescent homes in England; however, the condition worsened and lumbago set in. On October 30, 1918, Horace was invalided to Canada and discharged, December 21, 1918 as being medically unfit to continue in service. This had an impact on Horace’s life as he could not return to being a soldier in peace time. He was in the Great war ‘3 years 305 days’. Despite the short time in active duty, Horace received a Good Conduct medal.

Married Life during the war: During his convalescence, Horace met and married Alfreda G. Crowhurst (born about 1893, Elsham) on June 16, 1916 in Lewisham, Kent England. Approval for the marriage is recorded in his Service Record. Their first child, Eric Stanley, was born in the early part of 1917. It is likely that Alfreda continued to live in her father’s home until 1918 when she and  Eric sailed for Canada.

Life after the War: Horace returned to Saskatoon in early October 1918 and, according to his Service Record, had moved to 1153 Willow Avenue, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. In November 1918, Alfreda and Eric, sailed out of Liverpool on the vessel, the  Metagamaarriving on the 30th at the port of St. John, New Brunswick. She is recorded as a housewife, and her destination is 1114 Avenue K, University Heights, Saskatoon; however, her address, according to  Horace’s Service Record was Moose Jaw.

Within a year, Horace, Alfreda and son, Stanley (Eric) left Montreal on the vessel, Melita (Canadian Pacific Ocean Service Ltd.) arriving at Liverpool October 9, 1919, travelling 3rd class with the intention of living in England. He states his occupation as a barber. The address they are going to is that of Alfreda’s father, John, at 15 Silvermeade Road, Catford, London. In early 1922, a son, John D. Carey was born in Catford.

Five years after  moving to England, March 23, 1924, Horace returned to Canada on March 23, 1924, sailing alone on the ship, Andania. There is a lot of information on each passenger in this ship`s manifest. Horace says the purpose and destination of his trip was to see his mother in Saskatoon -‘going Home’. He also states that the last time he left Canada was in 1919. He gives his birth location as London, his denomination  as Church of England, and, that he is employed as a barber. He lists his nearest relative in England as Florence Hawkes (mother’s maiden name), 16 Woodstock Road, Golden Green. No mention is made of his wife or son.

Just  over a year later, however, on June 3rd, 1925, Alfreda and her two children, Eric S. and Joan D., (age 2, born Catford) leave Southampton, England on the vessel  SS Antonia  and arrive June 12, Quebec, City. Note that son, John D., may have been recorded as a daughter. The ship’s manifest records all 3 as being born in England and that Alfreda is returning to join her husband, at 1114 Avenue K., Saskatoon South. They will be travelling inland by CNR. Alfreda’s father, Mr. Crowhurst, 15 Silvermeade Road, Catford, London, S.E. 6 is her nearest relative in England. It is unknown if  Horace and Alfreda returned to  Moose Jaw.

The next record located for Horace was a re-application for legion membership at the Royal Canadian Legion, in Kenora, Ontario in 1935. The information provided is the same as that given in his Service Record. Signators were Charles Austen and E. Odam, seconder. Since this was a re-application, it is possible that Horace was a member in Saskatchewan, or wherever else he may have lived before coming to Kenora. It is not known how long he was in Kenora. Perhaps he came looking for work during the depression years. Efforts to locate descendants or extended family members have been unsuccessful at this time; however, there are Carey families in Saskatoon and other parts of Saskatchewan who may be related.

The Canadian Voters Lists show that Horace was back in Saskatoon by 1945 and working as a barber.

Date of death and burial: Horace died in Saskatoon on January 19, 1952. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Plot L-L104, Saskatoon. He had a daughter, Carol G. Carey, living at 522 24th St., Saskatoon, at time of his death. She is given as next of kin on the Horace’s Veteran’s Death Card.

Horace was predeceased by his father on December 17, 1939, in Saskatoon. His mother, Clara, died October 15, 1969 at the age of 96, also in Saskatoon.

Presented by Susan [Hillman] Brazeau in support of the Kenora Great War Project – honouring all who served, remembering those who died.

 Sources

Selected Essex Parish Registers, England, 1538-1900 (checked for all births)

1901 Census of England

Canada Ocean Arrivals and  Canada Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 (ancestry.ca): 1916, 1917, 1922, 1925.

Henderson’s City of Saskatoon Alphabetical Directory for 1910. Volume/Page: 136 (Canadian Genealogical Index)

1911 Census of Canada (no results)

1916 Census of Canada

England and Wales Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (Apr-May-Jun 1916, Registration district: Lewisham, County: Kent. Volume Number: 1d Page Number: 2133)

Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1917. Registration district: Paddington. County: London. Volume Number: 1a Page Number: 108. (birth of Horace’s son)

1921 Census of Canada

Library and Archives Canada: Service Record

U.K. Incoming Passengers List 1878-1963 (October 9, 1918Saskatchewan Residents Index (ancestry.ca)

Royal Canadian Legion: Kenora Ontario Branch Re-application form

Veterans Death Card

Saskatchewan Canada Residents Index (SRI), 1800-2012.

www.findagrave.com (gravemarker photograph courtesy of Tracy Anne)

ancestry.ca Public Pedigree Chart (re: death of Horace’s mother)

Carey-Horace-Frederick-2 Carey-Horace-Frederick-3


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