Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthSeptember 10, 1872
Place of BirthOrillia, Ontario
CountryCanada
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinMrs A.F. Dulmage, mother, Kenora, Ontario
Trade / CallingLumberman
ReligionChurch of England
Service Details
Regimental Number820836
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion141st Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Address at EnlistmentKenora, Ontario
Date of EnlistmentJune 17, 1916
Age at Enlistment43
Theatre of ServiceCanada
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathApril 22, 1957
Age at Death84
Buried AtLake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario
Plot8W-12-1

Dulmage, James Silliam

James Silliman Dulmage was born on 09 December 1872 in Orillia, Ontario.  His parents were Augustus Frederick Dulmage and Elizabeth Ann Oliver.  Siblings included: Rhoda Jane (1869-1959; married John Philbin), Louisa Emma (1871-1909; married David Kay), Flora Maud (1874-1889), George Augustus (1876-1911; married Minnie McCraynor), Glen Oliver (b. 1878), Alexander (1880-1943; married Kate Gardiner), Frederick Goode (1882-1974; married Verna Kenny), and Claude Archibald (1884-1904).

The Dulmage family left southern Ontario after James’ birth and moved to Manitoba. They were found living in Selkirk, Manitoba for the 1881 Canadian Census. They then came to Rat Portage (Kenora) when Augustus was appointed the first crown timber agent for the area in 1883. Unfortunately Augustus passed away some time between 1884 and 1891 and his daughter Flora died in 1889.  The 1891 Canadian Census showed Elizabeth and seven of her children still living in Rat Portage and she was running a private boarding house. Daughter Rhoda had married merchant John Philbin in 1888. In the 1901 Canadian Census, Elizabeth and four of her children were living in the Rhoda & John Philbin residence.  By this time James was twenty-eight years old and working as a lumberman. His obituary says he worked for the Rat Portage Lumber Company.

On 17 June 1916 James enlisted with the 141st ‘Bull Moose’ Battalion in Kenora. He was 44 years old.  In August of 1916 the local unit of the 141st left for Port Arthur for further training. However, James did not go overseas with his unit.  On 13 February 1917 he was discharged in Port Arthur as medically unfit due to age. His discharge papers made note of his good character and conduct while in service.

Little is known of James’ life after the war. It is believed he did not marry and worked in Minaki, Ontario for a time.

After a lengthy illness, James Dulmage passed away in Kenora, Ontario.  He is buried in Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora.

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