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Writer's pictureArt Duval

Those who must not be forgotten!

Roye New British Cemetary Picardie France

One ancestor, a very early arrival to Canada, Jean Adam was with Charles Lemoyne who travelled down south to Big Bone lick on an expedition. Not much is known of his service, but sign on he did and had a military rank.

Later Jacques Adam dit larammee would sign on to the militia and be present at the taking of Mackinac. No shots were fired as a surprised American presents was forced to capitulate without firing a shot. Still we must remember that when he was called he answered the call and the haste of the British may have instilled some confidence that they would take Mackinac, it was still an occasion that could have resulted in his death and the widowing of his wife. Militiamen were not exactly guaranteed that their families would be taken care of if the worst happened and JAcques had a family...



Hypolite would seem to have caught on to Franklin and travelled extensively across North America before accepting a Grant and settling in Tiny.



Still in his early twenties, he would return to a small town where one would know just who didn't return. It would leave a hole in the community without a doubt.

My Great Uncle was saved from going to world war 1 as a local bigwig told him they should return to their jobs on the islands and they would be found if needed. This bigwig was a Thompson and he would lose many from the Thompson family to the war.

Some would die but some would return, one without an arm and an eye. How many were disabled is hard to tell, but many would keep the signs of the Great War for the rest of their lives having been shot, bombed or gassed and keeping those souvenirs more obviously then the medals they received.

My Uncle Jimmy followed in my Grandfathers footsteps, alas with no war to fight. He did become a really good billiard player. Again though, if asked he would have laid down his life. His son Steve served in the forces through some tumultuous times, many times under the white helmet of the UN.




There are some who call to me though. George Morin was a young man who upon hearing of war breaking out he travelled to Niagara falls to enlist. He trained dutifully and left for Europe and the theater of war. IT wasn't too long after arrival he was sent to the front lines. Unluckily he was picked for recovery duty and sent out into no mans land to recover the wounded. This again he did dutifully and returned to friendly lines. He did nothing wrong except he was now with another company and was convinced to stay there till he could rest and find his company. This he did but in the meantime he was listed as missing, and his letter from home was returned.

Upon finding his place George was informed that his letter he so desperately craved was not there and it would be difficult to find. This was a final straw for George who had been so dutiful to this point. George put his head down and wandered. Leaving the line he was lost amid the allied forces. Heading back to where the train had dropped them off he was low in his thoughts and sought the comfort of the forests like he probably had back home in Penetang. Here his fluidity with french made him feel at home with the locals. Hunting and travelling he would find an old man who needed help to cut some wood. They hit it off and George would help the man in a trade he probably understood. IT never occurred to George that what he was doing was deserting. He had probably seen some do similar things in Canada before leaving and those men had not been handled severly. But this was a war zone, and eventually rumours of the Canadian, still in uniform, was investigated and George was found.

George pleaded for leniency, as he did not see himself as a deserter, he would have eventually returned, he was just taking his time...and who could blame him, awful things had happened in a very short time.

George was sentenced to death, firing squad at dawn. Mercifully, his sentence was commuted to hard labour. What we would diagnose as mental illness brought on by very stressful situation was then dealt with as the highest form of treason. George would serve his hard labour sentence with typical aplomb and be let out to serve in the war. Sadly mere months before the end of the war George would be shot in the head and die instantly, leaving a brother, and his children.

We know most of this due to his testimony in his own defence. It wasn't just his testimony, it was he himself who would defend himself in the court martial!



J L Peacock would leave a young wife and daughter, who he had not seeen, when killed in action.



Art Duval Pipesmoke of the Past


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