Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | September 4, 1897 |
Place of Birth | Mountain Grove, Ontario |
Country | Canada |
Marital Status | Single |
Next of Kin | David Green |
Trade / Calling | Section Man |
Religion | Church of England |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 2128857 |
Service Record | Link to Service Record |
Battalion | 8th Battalion |
Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Branch | Canadian Infantry |
Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
Address at Enlistment | Hazelridge, Manitoba |
Date of Enlistment | September 11, 1917 |
Age at Enlistment | 20 |
Theatre of Service | Europe |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | Yes |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | March 10, 1990 |
Age at Death | 92 |
Buried At | Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario |
Plot | 30E-6-1 |
Percy Ernest Green was born on 4 September 1897 in Mountain Grove, Ontario. His parents were David Wesley Green and Seferina Paquet. Siblings included: James (b. 1894), Harold Earl (b. 1901), Gladys Josephine (1903-1954, married Henry Craig), Thomas Arthur (b. 1905), Milton Lester (1907-1979), Lloyd William (1910-1981), Jane Orvilla (b. 1912), Hazel Claudia (b. 1915), Areta May (b. 1918) and Lenna Fern (b. 1920). Father, David worked for the CPR so the family lived in many small towns across Ontario (Frontenac, Lanark, Ignace, Eagle River) and Manitoba.
Percy was living in Hazel Ridge, Manitoba and working as a section man on the railroad when he enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 11 September 1917 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was assigned to the 90th Regiment (Royal Winnipeg Rifles) Draft for the 8th Overseas Battalion. This unit was also known as the Little Black Devils. They embarked Halifax aboard the S.S. Grampian on 05 February 1918 and arrived in England eleven days later. Percy was placed in the 18th Reserve Battalion and was treated for boils on his legs from 29 April until 05 June. He transferred to the 8th Battalion and joined his unit in France on 18 September 1918. While serving as a Lewis Machine Gunner he received a gunshot wound to his right hand on 29 September 1918. Percy was treated in various hospitals in France until being discharged back to duty on 15 November 1918. He returned to England on 27 March 1919 and sailed for Canada aboard the Empress of Britain on 26 April 1919. Percy received his official discharge due to demobilization on 7 May 1919 in Winnipeg. He was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal after the war.
Percy married Gladys Maude Hetherington on 20 November 1920. In the 1921 Canadian Census they are found living on rural property in East St. Paul, Manitoba and Percy is working as a lineman on the CPR. Percy and Gladys had four children – Gordon (Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy who served extensively in WW2), Wes (Leading Seaman in the Royal Canadian Navy in peace time who also worked shore patrol and once had the opportunity to guard the Queen), Ross (Able Seaman in the Royal Canadian Navy who died accidentally in Bermuda while serving in peace time) and Shirley (born 1939).
Percy worked in many railroad towns such as Cloverleaf and Eagle River but eventually made his home in Keewatin in 1942. He served 50 Years with the Canadian Pacific Railway and was awarded a Gold All Lines pass on his retirement as section foreman in 1962. He was proud to look after the flower gardens at the Kenora CPR station.
Percy was an life time member and an honorary president of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 13, Keewatin.
Percy passed away at the age of 93 in Kenora, Ontario on 10 March 1990 and is buried in Lake of the Woods Cemetery.
Pictures courtesy of Wayne Robertson, Percy’s grandson