Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | June 29, 1884 |
Place of Birth | Tiel, Gelderland |
Country | Netherlands |
Marital Status | Single |
Next of Kin | Mrs C. Laarman, sister, Amsterdam, Holland |
Trade / Calling | Labourer |
Religion | Lutheran |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 198259 |
Service Record | Link to Service Record |
Battalion | 16th Battalion |
Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Branch | Canadian Infantry |
Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
Address at Enlistment | Kenora, Ontario |
Date of Enlistment | November 20, 1915 |
Age at Enlistment | 31 |
Theatre of Service | Europe |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | Yes |
Decorations and Medals | Military Medal |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | 19551130 |
Age at Death | 71 |
Buried At | Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario |
Plot | 38E-35-4 |
Rudolph Elmer was born on 29 June 1884 in Tiel, Gelderland, Netherlands. He arrived in the Kenora District around 1908 and worked as a labourer in the employ of Mr. A. Fricker.
On 20 November 1915 he enlisted with the 94th Battalion in Kenora. He had one year of service with the #8 Engineers in Holland as previous military experience. His next of kin was his sister, Mrs. C. Laarman of Amsterdam, Holland. His unit trained in Kenora until the spring of 1916. On 27 May 1916 the Kenora Detachment of the 94th left for Port Arthur by train. The men received a grand send off. Their training continued until 28 June 1916 when they embarked for England from Halifax aboard the S.S. Olympic. When they arrived in England Rudolph was transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion. He was taken on strength by the 16th Battalion on 24 September 1916 and reached his unit in the field in France on October 9th. Rudolph served with this battalion for the next two years taking only one leave to Paris for ten days, and one two week rest camp break. He was awarded the Military Medal on 10 October 1918.
Shortly after this he had another two week leave to the UK. In March of 1919 Rudolph returned to England and then to Canada in April. His official discharge due to demobilization came on 11 May 1919 in Port Arthur.
Rudolph returned to Kenora after the war and was employed by the Rat Portage Lumber Company, as a fireman for various commercial buildings and as a gardener. He retired in the spring of 1955. He remained single his whole life and had no relatives in Canada.
Rudolph died on 30 November 1955 in Kenora General Hospital. He is buried in a Legion Plot at Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario.