World War One and the Douglas Brothers

In 1914, TW Douglas and Winnifred Henrietta Victoria "Etta" Wright had three surviving sons: John Cameron Douglas born 29 August 1887 [D00379], Thomas Wilfred Douglas born 23 April 1895 [D00307, D00334, D02604, D03212, D04728, D04954, D05659] and Stewart Arnold Douglas born 8 August 1898 [D06213].

Shortly after World War One began, John Cameron enlisted to join the Canadian Expeditionary Forces on 5 November 1914 [D02603]. He was among the first twenty men to enlist in Owen Sound [D05672]. He was assigned to the 20th Battalion [D02603].

John was awarded a good conduct badge on 5 January 1918 and was promoted to Lance-Corporal on 30 March 1918 [D02603].

John’s two brothers, Wilfred and Stewart both eventually enlisted as well on 28th May 1918 and were given the ranks of Sapper [D02604, D04654]. Stewart didn’t see much action in France before developing Rheumatic Fever and was eventually discharged back to Canada in January of 1919 [D04654]. Wilfred’s previous training as an electrician got him assigned to the Canadian Engineers and the 7th Battalion [D02604].

All three of the Douglas brothers survived the war.

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Sources
[D00307] 1901 census of Canada, Ontario, district 65, sub-district D-8, Owen Sound, p. 11, dwelling 89, family 100; RG 31; digital images(accessed 11 Mar 2017).

[D00334] 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, district 73, sub-district 48, Owen Sound, p. 8, dwelling 68, family 83; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.com (accessed 25 Mar 2017).

[D00379] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929; Reel: 81: 534, 10982, 95; digital image, Ancestry.com, (22 Apr 2017).

[D02603] Canada, "Military Service Record - John Cameron Douglas"; digital images, ancestry.ca,ancestry.ca (accessed 1 Sep 2019).

[D02604] Canada, "Military Service Record - Thomas W. Douglas"; digital images, ancestry.ca,ancestry.ca (accessed 1 Sep 2019).

[D03212] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, Reel: 12-333, 12259, Douglas-Barber; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages".

[D04654] Canada, "Military Service Record - Stewart Arnold Douglas"; digital images, ancestry.ca,ancestry.ca (accessed 1 Sep 2019).

[D04728] 1921 census of Canada, district 83, sub-district 45, Owen Sound, p. 1, dwelling 13, family 14; RG 31; digital images, ancestry.com (accessed 17 Oct 2018).

[D05659] “Thomas Douglas,"Grey County Surname Collection, 31 Oct 1975; digital images(accessed 3 Apr 2019).

[D05672] "Life Long Resident John C. Douglas Dies in Hospital,"Grey County Surname Collection, October 1960; digital images(accessed 14 Apr 2019), Grey County Surname Collection.

[D06213] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, Reel 929; Series 142: 175, 119, 14903; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births," (3 Apr 2019).