Herve Humphreys/Dryden/unfit for duty?

[lorrainec]

Hello.  I have 2 questions for anyone who can help:
1. Was Dryden, Ontario ever part of the province of Manitoba?  I am looking around 1911 or so.
2. Would someone who emigrated in 1911 from England (aged 23) be called up for the war in 1914?  He's not listed anywhere (Herve Gerald Davis Humphreys)
3. Is there an archive in Dryden to see employees of the Pulp and Paper mill?
4. Was there a push in 1911 or so for emigrants to become farmers?  I have Herve on a passenger list in 1912 and he lists his destination as Dryden Manitoba and employment as farmer.  He was a bank clerk in England before he emigrated!!

Any help is appreciated!
Cheers
Lorraine

[Jacquie in Canada]

1) I don't believe Dryden has ever been part of Manitoba. As far as I know, the furthest east the Manitoba/Ontario border went was close to Kenora, Ontario.
2) A person who emigrated to Canada could have served in WWI. It's more likely that he would have enlisted. I don't see him listed in the WWI database at Library and Archives Canada so it would appear he neither enlisted or was drafted.
3) No archives for the pulp and paper mill that I know of. I'm not sure who owned the Dryden mill at that time but their head office wouldn't have been in Dryden.
4) Yes. There was a push for immigrants generally, not just for farming.

I found an entry in the BC Archives deaths database for Herve Gerald D Humphreys who died 18 Apr 1944 in Vancouver at the age of 54. There are some kind souls here who do BC look-up and can obtain a copy of the registration for you. If they are unable to there are also people at the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness website who can do look-ups too. If you want a copy of the death registration you might want to modify your initial post to say "BC Look-up" so those who do look-ups find it easier.

Jacquie

[lorrainec]

Hi Jacquie!  Can I just say that you are an absolute gem here at rootschat!  You have helped me before and I truly appreciate it.
I have Herve's death cert already.  I am more interested in why he emigrated and why he did not enlist.  I remember there was conscription during WWII but was there such a thing during WWI?  If he stated he was a farmer, would that preclude him from joining up?  Maybe he had a medical condition ....

On the passenger list, it says Dryden Manitoba - maybe he didn't know which province he was going to!!

Thanks!
Lorraine

[J.A.M.]

Hi Lorraine,

Even farmers were subject to military service during WWI. Farmers were given a serial number just like everyone else of eligible age & if they left the farm they were called up.
The only thing left if he's not in the military lists @ LAC is that he was physically unfit for service. Could that be why he died so young?

Good hunting.

Roger

[lorrainec]

Hi Roger.  He died of a heart attack, I believe.
If he was unfit, would there be a record of this anywhere?

Thanks!
Lorraine

[JDC]

Hello Lorraine,

I live in the Dryden area and if you contact the genealogy group in Dryden they may be able to help. There is likely some folks in that group that have either worked for the mill or have family members and/or friends that have worked or are currently working for the mill. Domtar currently owns the pulp mill there. Here is a recent article about the mill - http://foresttalk.com/index.php/2009/04/02/domtar-idles-dryden-pulp-mill-and-ear-fa. If you contact the Domtar administration they may be able to give you some leads. The Domtar mill  is located on Duke Street, Dryden. The other source of info would be the local CEP union people, local 324 - on Queen Street, Dryden, ON. They may have some historical info on their members working at the mill. The Dryden library might be another resource. Hopefully this will help you,

JDC

[lorrainec]

Thank you JDC!
I will follow up on some of your suggestions.  I have already contacted the museum in Dryden - they don't have any information.  I will also contact Domtar and the local library.

Wish me luck!

Back to the question of not being fit for service - was there a listing of men who were considered unfit - I would presume that they would have to show some sort of paper to anyone who asked why they weren't overseas.

cheers
Lorraine

[JDC]

Hi Lorraine,

I am not sure if that info would be included in a service file (fron National Archives), but may be worth while to check out.

JDC