Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthAugust 15, 1893
Place of BirthKenora, Ontario
CountryCanada
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinKeenia Samson (mother), Russia
Trade / CallingLabourer
ReligionPresbyterian
Service Details
Regimental Number830259
Service RecordLink to Service Record
Battalion144th Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Place of EnlistmentWinnipeg, Manitoba
Address at EnlistmentMurray Park, Manitoba
Date of EnlistmentDecember 8, 1915
Age at Enlistment22
Theatre of ServiceCanada
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details

Simpson, John

John Simpson enlisted in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 8 December 1915. According to his attestation paper he was born on 15 August 1893 in Kenora, Ontario and John Simpson was an “adopted” name, possibly an anglicized version of his birth name. As next of kin he listed his mother Keenia Samson in Russia. John said he was a labourer living in Murray Park, Manitoba when he enlisted. He signed up with the 144th Battalion and trained with his unit in Winnipeg and at Camp Hughes, near Brandon, Manitoba.

In April 1916, while still in Winnipeg, John was sick with bronchitis for about ten days. He was ill again in June, this time with possible tuberculosis of the lung. Although he returned to his battalion after a few days of treatment he became absent without leave a week later. On 28 July 1916 he was struck off strength as a deserter.

At this time nothing further is known about John.

By Becky Johnson


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