Category: Robert & Deborah & the Great War

Robert Dixon, born in 1889, is 21 years old in 1911. His father William has steady employment at the Post Office as an Overseer. Robert’s mother Mary Hughs passed away at the young age of 27. This left William with 7 year old son Robert and 5 year old daughter Clara to raise by himself. It is not surprising then that William remarried a few years later. In 1911 then the family consists of Father William, step mother Mary Anne Fawcett , Robert and his sister Clara, as well as Roberts young half brother William Fawcett Dixon.

Robert has job as a shop assistant, but also has some experience as a stableman. He is also a volunteer in the British Testimonial army. All of these experiences would make him very attractive as a potential Canadian immigrant. Most of this information is found on the document below.

As noted in the bottom right hand corner, the family lives at number 2 Brackenbury Road in Fulwood , Preston, Lancashire. But Robert will not be there much longer. Preston Lancashire is not far from the West Coast of England. Ships sail to North America from nearby Liverpool on a regular basis.

Robert has seen these ships sail for Canada himself. He has met people who have taken that voyage. And in April of 1911 Robert has determined he will make that trip too.

In April 1911 Robert boards the Steam Ship Southwark of the Allan Line bound for Montreal Canada. The Allan Line will receive a small commission – called the British Bonus – for having encouraged Robert to head to Canada. Robert has bought a third class ticket and when he arrives in Montreal on May 4th he has all of $4 in his pocket. A Canadian Government Employment Agency has found him a job on a farm just outside of Woodstock Ontario. Robert boards the train to Toronto and then on to Woodstock Ontario – not far from London Ontario. When he arrives in Woodstock the farmer who had hired him is there to pick him up at the station. Robert works on the farm in Woodstock for a season or two before he heads to London Ontario.

Deborah Ross was born in Ballinamallard in the County of Fermanagh in what is now Northern Ireland. As the map below shows, Ballinamallard is just north of Enniskillen. Coincidentally, and though it has nothing at all to do with our story, this is the very same area of Ireland where the McGaghran’s are believed to have come from!

All records in Ireland indicate that Deborah was born in 1884 and is therefore 28 years old when she leaves Ireland and heads to Canada. Deborah comes from a large Irish family. She is one of 10 siblings. She has been working as a live-in maid for an 84 year old widower name Richmond Archdale in Drumcullion , just north of Ballinamallard.. Deborah’s youngest sister, 19 year old Isabella, is the only sibling still living at home with their 66 year old mother Susan Thompson Ross in Ballinamallard. Sadly, father Thomas Ross had passed away 16 years earlier. If the two sisters, Deborah and Isabella, aren’t close now they soon will be. They are about to board the Steam Ship Scandinavian and take the voyage to Canada together. They have no idea what is in store for them and how much they will need each others support in the years to come. None of their other 8 siblings are in Canada. They do have a big brother George in North America, but he has settled in New York City. Though one wonders if that might be their ultimate destination. The two sisters board the SS Scandinavian in the port of Moville just outside of Londonderry. The SS Scandinavian’s voyage originated ( like Robert Dixon’s did a year earlier ) in Liverpool, England, but made this stop in Londonderry to pick up its Irish passengers before heading on to Quebec City and then Montreal. The sisters board the Scandinavian on September 22, 1912. Like Robert Dixon they travel 3rd class, but they do carry more cash than him, as they arrive in Canada with $200. They give St Catharines, Ontario as their final destination in Canada. We know from Deborah’s son George ( named after his Uncle George) that the two sisters came to Canada to work as domestic servants. The Ross sisters are shown near the bottom of the passenger list below, age 28 and 19. They arrive in Montreal on September 29th. The two sisters then board a train first to Toronto and then on to St Catharines. For some reason they don’t stay in St Catharines long. Like Robert Dixon they move on to London, Ontario.

Just 8 months after Deborah and Isabella enter Canada they make another trip. They cross into the United States at Buffalo, New York. They give their home address as London, Ontario. Was this their plan all along? To first come to Canada and then move on and settle in the USA? And where are they going to in the USA? Unfortunately it is difficult to tell on the immigration form as it is covered by dark stains. They are going someplace in NY state, we can see that clearly. But the name of the place in NY is smudged out . It appears to start with M and then end in H or N . I don’t know for sure, but my guess is they are going to take the train to New York City. I mean if you were young and adventurous , and you were crossing the border, and there were trains there that could get you to Grand Central Terminal in New York City in just 9 hours and you knew your brother George lived just a couple of blocks away on Madison Avenue…….. Well isn’t that where you would go? And George has a good job in a shirt factory – Brookes Brothers maybe? And maybe he can even get you a job too? And maybe that was your plan all along – to go live in the same city your older brother George had settled in? Yes I think that was the plan. There was just one problem. Well , actually two problems . There were these dances at the Wolseley Barracks in London Ontario where the military trained. And the two very cute, very pretty Irish sisters had both met special men there. One from Preston Lancashire and the other from Kincardine Ontario. And as a result – the two sisters weren’t about to stay in the USA.

OK – let’s face it, I don’t know how Deborah and Isabella met their men. But it is fun to guess. And my guess goes something like this. When the sisters arrived in London Ontario they sought social activities. They soon learned that the Royal Regimen of Canada trained soldiers at the Wolsesley Barracks right in the centre of town. And they learned that the military hosted social events – and especially popular were the Saturday night dances there. What better place to meet strong handsome men! So Saturday nights you would find the two sisters at the dances at the Wolseley Barracks. And it didn’t take long for the two sisters to attract male attention. Isabella soon met a Canadian Soldier from Kincardine Ontario who had been training with the regimen since 1910. His name was Gordon Murrray Boyles. Older sister Deborah met young Robert Dixon recently arrived from Preston, Lancashire. Robert, although he wasn’t a soldier, had been training with the local militia. Neither Robert or Gordon were large men, they were both slight of build. Who knows maybe they had become friends and were sitting at a table at one of those Saturday night Dances when these two attractive Irish Canadian sisters catch their eyes. They decide to make a move – invite them over for a drink – maybe there was a live band – maybe playing some Irving Berlin – and they get up the courage to ask for a dance? And the two sisters were quite taken by the two men. And so they started seeing them, socializing with them, dating them – and three of these young people were a long way from home – and needed companionship – and one thing led to another . And they Canadian Army never really went anywhere. So the sisters thought military men were good safe choices. And they were right. They had chosen well. Then everything changed.

The Great War is declared. Above are the headlines in the London Evening Press on August 4th 1914. Britain declares war that night. And with Britain at war so was the British Commonwealth – and therefore – so was Canada. Knowing what we know now it is probably impossible for us to imagine the excitement this Great War would initially create in the young country of Canada. It is hard for us to understand how enthusiastic Robert Dixon and Gordon Murray Beaton would be to get involved as soon as possible. Maybe even their girlfriends Deborah and Isabella would be encouraging them to go. Afterall, it would be an adventure and their men would be back home in just a few months. This excitement about the Great War would continue for some time . To question it would probably be seen as unpatriotic. But the horrors of it all would soon be evident. The mood would change. And the lives of Deborah and Robert , Isabella and Gordon, would change forever. The Great War would cast a shadow they could never totally escape.

August 10, 1914. Britain, and as a result Canada, have been at war for less than a week. Robert Dixon and Deborah Ross are married in London Ontario at St Paul’s Cathedral Anglican Church.

Robert is 25 years old and is now working as a teamster. Now a teamster in London Ontario in 1914 meant someone who drove a team of horses – not a truck – and not a member of the Teamsters Union. Who exactly Robert is working for as a teamster we don’t know. And we see on the Marriage license that Deborah Ross is one year younger than Robert at age 24. Except of course we know that Deborah Ross was born thirty years ago in Ballinamallard, Ireland in 1884. Oh well – so – Deborah wasn’t totally forthright about her age – a woman has to do what a woman has to do – Deborah sensed that Robert would want to be the senior in the relationship – and she was quite ok with letting him think he was. And besides, the pretty young Deborah could easily pass for 24. Deborah’s sister Isabella is there to witness the wedding – but she isn’t going to contradict her big sister when it comes to her age.

Did Robert and Deborah move up the wedding because of the war ? This is a possibility – maybe Robert who had some military experience in England and had already joined the local militia in London Ontario was keen to join the army and defend England and the King. And if that was the case then it might have made sense to get married before he left – before they would be separated by the Great War. Also , if the couple were good financial planners, they might have known that by getting married that Deborah would receive a separation allowance. Though it seems unlikely the couple would have known this given the war had just begun. The wedding was probably planned well in advance of the war.

A few months after Deborah Ross is married so is her little sister Isabella. And what a place to get married in! Her husband to be, Gordon Murray Beaton is a soldier in the Royal Canadian Regiment. The Royal Canadian Regiment is in extensive training in London Ontario before the war – from 1910 onwards. But when the Great War begins the Royal Canadian Regiment is absurdly , or luckily for them, not sent to Europe, but to Bermuda ! Nice posting or what? Here they are in Garrison Duty – meaning NOT in battle. There might have been a few German Prisoners of War there to guard, and some physical training for the action to come in Europe , but that was about it. Sending Canada’s already formed Regiment to Bermuda was apparently questioned in Canada’s parliament at the time. But it was the British who had made this request as it would enable them to get their troops, currently stationed there, back home to fight n the Great War. So, after August 1914, we find Gordon Murray Beaton posted in Hamilton Bermuda. And we also find Isabella making her way to Bermuda. Isabella and Gordon are married in Bermuda on November 17th, 1914. We don’t know precisely which church they were married in , but let’s assume it was the one below as it is the oldest Anglican Church in Hamilton, Bermuda. A beautiful church it is – constructed of Bermuda Limestone. So now you know that your great great Aunt Isabella was married in a beautiful church in Bermuda you might just have to go see it at 45 Church Street.

The men of the Royal Canadian Regiment don’t avoid the Great War forever. In August 1915 they sail from Bermuda to Halifax where they board the ship that will take them to the action in Europe. Soon after they are involved in some of the most horrific battles of the Great War. Gordon Murray Boyles will have a very hard time of it. Isabella Ross Beaton returns to Canada in July 1915. She returns on the SS Bermudian via New York City. Most likely she visits her brother George in New York City before taking the train back to London Ontario, where she will live with her sister on Central Avenue. As shown on the document below, Isabella is a pretty Irish Canadian girl from Ballinamallard, 5 foot 3 inches, 23 years old with brown hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion. What isn’t noted in the document below is that your great great aunt Isabella is 6 months pregnant.

The 33rd Canadian Infantry Battalion begins recruiting men from across southwestern Ontario in February 1915. Robert Dixon does indeed enlist and agrees to join the Canadian Expeditionary Forces on Saturday February 27, 1915. His Regimental number is 400724. The war is now 6 months old. The Allies and the Germans are in a stalemate, dug into the trenches along the Western Front. Already the casualties, the loss of life is staggering. Robert was needed. And, being attracted by adventure – he is ready to go. He wasn’t required to sign up. Conscription wouldn’t be introduced in Canada for another two and a half years.

Roberts attestation papers are shown below. We learn a few things about Robert that we didn’t know before. We learn he is 5’8 inches tall and has a 35 inch chest size. His eyes are grey , his hair is brown – and he has a tatoo of a cross on his left arm. We learn he is still working as a teamster in London, Ontario. He is willing to be vaccinated and he has some military experience in Britain’s Testimonial army. We learn that he is all of 136 pounds soaking wet.

And we learn that he and his wife Deborah live on Central Avenue in London at the same address that Gordon Beaton gives as his address on his attestation papers. But there is one thing rather important that we don’t learn . It isn’t mentioned anywhere in Robert’s attestation papers. It isn’t mention in any of his personnel records either. And it may be the one thing that has held Robert back. Prevented him from enlisting earlier. No, it is never mentioned at all. Robert and Deborah are going to have a family. And whether Robert returns from the war or not, Robert and Deborah will have created something special. Deborah is four months pregnant.

William James Dixon arrives right on time on July 31, 1915. About a year after the marriage of his parents and the start of the Great War. Despite having enlisted Robert is still in London, Ontario to welcome his son into the world. His birth certificate is shown below. You will note that William’s father no longer identifies himself as a teamster. No, now for the first time Robert gives his profession as SOLDIER.

The emotions must have been extremely mixed on that day. The wonder of new life. The wonder of a new family. A family that would grow and have a descendant like you reading this post today over one hundred years later. This wonder contrasted with the beginning of the horror of the Great Gruesome War. A war that Robert somehow still fell duty bound to head to. A war that would separate him not only from his son but from his beautiful wife. Deborah would be raising William by herself with some help from sister Isabella. Isabella had just returned from Bermuda in time to see her sister give birth to her new Canadian nephew. And thank goodness Robert hadn’t left yet. He wouldn’t be leaving for a a few months. And then surely, once he left, he wouldn’t be gone for long? Probably just a few months and he would be back. The enemy would surely taste defeat soon. Then Robert would surely be back for his son’s first birthday. Surely to see his first steps, his first words. Surely.

The men of the Royal Canadian Regiment don’t avoid the Great War forever. Their stint in Bermuda comes to an end. In August 1915 they sail from Bermuda to Halifax . In Halifax they sign their enlistment papers for the war. They then board the ship that will take them to England. Having been trained to be Canada’s regular army well ahead of the Great War they are sent into action on the Western Front relatively quickly. As we will see , Gordon Murray Boyles has a hard time of it.

A month earlier Isabella Ross Beaton returns to Canada in July 1915. She returns on the SS Bermudian via New York City. Most likely she stops to visits her brother George in New York City before taking the train back to London Ontario, where she will live with her sister at 192 Central Avenue. As shown on the document below, Isabella is a pretty Irish Canadian girl from Ballinamallard, 5 foot 3 inches, 23 years old with brown hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion. What isn’t noted in the document below is that your great great aunt Isabella is 5 months pregnant.