Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | January 1, 1892 |
Place of Birth | Greenwich |
Country | England |
Marital Status | Single |
Next of Kin | Mrs Mary Reynolds (Mother) 24 Taunten Road, Lee Kent, England |
Trade / Calling | Locomotive Fireman |
Religion | Church of England |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 2125025 |
Service Record | Link to Service Record |
Battalion | No 1 Skilled Railway Employees |
Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Branch | Canadian Railway Troops |
Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
Address at Enlistment | Y.M.C.A. Kenora, Ontario |
Date of Enlistment | January 30, 1917 |
Age at Enlistment | 25 |
Theatre of Service | Europe |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | Yes |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | March 29, 1982 |
Age at Death | 90 |
Buried At | Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario |
Plot | 21E-41-3 |
Arthur Reynolds was born on January 1, 1892 in Blackheath, Kent in England. Upon enlistment, he gave his place of birth as Greenwich, England and named his next of kin as his mother Mary, still living in Lee, Kent England as of 1917. He appears to have immigrated to Canada to take advantage of work with the Railway companies, which were hiring many young men in his part of England. A large number of young men, known as the Peterborough boys, came to Canada and Kenora Ontario around 1910, and stayed together in the YMCA. It is said they shared English accents, culture and background, as well as lots of fun in their new environment. A detailed description of their adventures can be found in ‘The Peterborough Boys in Kenora 1910-1918’ by Stan Clarke, Common Ground: Stories of Lake of the Woods ISBN 978-0-9686408-1-4.
When Reynolds enlisted in Winnipeg in 1917, he was assigned to the No. 1 Section Skilled Railway Employees. He sailed from Halifax on the S.S. Ausonia and arrived in England on March 15, 1917. In April he became part of the 58th Broad Gauge O.C. and by April 19th, he landed in France.
The Canadian Railway troops played a major role in the construction and maintenance of railways of all gauges for the 5 British army areas in France and Belgium. The 58th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company (BGOC), operated on the lines in the immediate rear of active operations. They hauled troops, supplies, materials, ambulance trains, refugees and so on for the battles of Messine Ridge, June 1917 and the Lys, April 1918.
Reynolds was granted one leave of 14 days to the U.K. in August 1918, and again to Paris in March 1919.
Arthur Reynolds appears to have served without illness or injury, and following the armistice, his troop was returned to England in April of 1919. He was SOS to Canada arriving in Montreal on May 18th. His demobilization was on May 27th, 1919.
Arthur married Olive Edith Philpotts of Eagle River on October 27th, 1920. He listed his occupation as Fireman, which means he continued to work for the CPR railroad. He retired in 1955 from the CPR, after working 50 years, ending as an engineer. His wife Olive stated that she was born in Chalford, England in 1896. They had sons – Art of Port Alberni, B.C., and Doug of Schreiber, Ontario. There were four grandchildren and six grandchildren mentioned in the obituary notice. Arthur died on March 29, 1982, while Olive lived until 1986. Their gravestone can be found in the Kenora, Lake of the Woods cemetery.
by Penny Beal