X00008 Is the person in this photo Lawrence Ashton - Solved!

I have previously posted about a photo of a 75th Battalion soldier that I found on ebay that I was wondering whether or not was Lwarence Ashton or not.

Here's the photo from ebay:

Recently someone posted a different photo of Lawrence Ashton that I hadn't seen previously:

This photo is nice a clear and I can definitely see that it is the same person as in the other known photos of him. But the person in the ebay photo is definitely someone else.

Profile: Francis Ernest Burnet

Francis Ernest Burnet (1889-1918)

Frank Burnet and Louisa Emily Hewett’s eldest child, Francis Ernest Burnett was born on 5 November 1889 [D03783, D04043, D04044, D06723].

With a long history of military involvement, many members of the the Burnet family joined up with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces when the first World War began. Francis Ernest Burnet, the eldest son at twenty-five, was the first of the family to enlist on 12 May 1915 in Saskatoon [D06723]. He was assigned to the 53rd Battalion initially [D06723].

Ernest Burnet arrived in France in June of 1916 and upon arrival was transferred from the 53rd Battalion to the 14th [D06723]. On the 27th September of 1916, at the Battle of the Somme, the 14th Battalion was hit with some heavy losses and Ernest himself received a shrapnel wound in his left arm and was taken to a field hospital. He managed to recover and was able to return to his Battalion by the end of October [D06723].

Meanwhile, Ernest Burnet was still in France, fighting with the 14th at the Battle of Amiens. On the 10th of August, the 14th Battalion was supporting a charge led by the British and suffered heavy machine guns fire. Ernest received gun shot wounds on both hips, which eventually led to his death of septic thrombosis on 20th August 1918 at the age of twenty-eight [D06732]. He was buried in Abbeville, France [D06732] and is commemorated at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Orillia.

Profile: Reginald K Burnet

Reginald K Burnet [1893-1963]

Louisa and Frank Burnet had six children together. Francis Ernest Burnett was the first, born on 5 November 1889 [D03783, D04043, D04044, D06723]. Harold Edwin was next, born 21 March 1891 [D04043, D04044, D04061, D06760, D06843]. The family moved out to Victoria, British Columbia in the early 1890s, where Reginald Kenneth Burnet was born on 21 December 1893 [D03783, D04139, D04044, D06741]. The Burnet family returned to Orillia about three years later. Their fourth son, Hebert Hewett was born in Orillia 31 May 1896 [D06731]. On 12 September 1898, a set of twins was born, including their first daughter, Helen Louise Burnet and Horace Arthur Burnet [D06709].

With a long history of military involvement, many members of the the Burnet family joined up with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces when the first World War began. Francis Ernest Burnet, the eldest son at twenty-five, was the first of the family to enlist on 12 May 1915 in Saskatoon [D06723]. He was assigned to the 53rd Battalion initially [D06723].

Reginald K. Burnet and his father, Frank Burnet both enlisted on the same day, 26, January 1916: Reginald in Orillia and Frank in Calgary [D04060, D06746]. Frank was so keen to join the fight, he claimed to be ten years younger than he actually was in order to enlist [D04060]. Reginald joined his family’s old regiment, the Simcoe Foresters, which had now become the 157th Battalion [D06746]. Frank was assigned to the 137th [D04060].

Reginald Burnet Sailed to England in October of 1916 [D06746]. In November, he was transferred from the Simcoe Foresters to the 10th Canadian Machine Gun Company and was in France the following March [D06746].

In August of 1917, the 10th Canadian Machine Gun Company was one of sixteen machine gun companies fighting in the battle of Hill 70 . On 24 August, Reginald received a gun shot wound to the left side of his head and lost consciousness [D06746]. He woke up a few days later in a hospital in St. Omer, France with a fractured skull [D06746]. Suffering with memory loss and impairment in his speech, he was sent for rehabilitation and later sent back home to Canada in April of 1918 [D06746].

Reg Burnet began his working career in 1911 with R.H. Montgomery, merchant tailor and men’s furnisher [D07315, D07317]. After the war, he returned to Orillia and found work at the store, which had been taken over from R.H. Montgomery by Jack Sinclair [D04139, D06742, D07313, D07315].

He married Wynona Beatrice Williams in Orillia on 8 April 1919 [D04139]. Wynona only lived for a short time after the marriage, dying in a hospital maternity ward on 1 August 1920 at the age of twenty-six [D04209].

A few years later, Jack Sinclair sold the clothing store to a group of four partners, Reg Burnet among them [D07315, D07317]. They renamed it the Arrow Store [D04317].

Reg remained at the Arrow store for a few years, eventually selling his interest in 1924, when he started his own business, Burnet Men’s Wear [D07312, D07313, D07317].

Reginald married his second wife, Olive Hilda Leatherdale 14 September 1925 [D06741]. They had one child together, Dale, who later joined his father’s business [D07317].

Like his siblings, Reg was highly involved in community associations, and remained involved with the Simcoe Foresters and Canadian Legion. He co-organized an “Across the Lake Swim” event that carried his name [D07314, D07317].

Reginald retired from his clothing store in 1961 [D07212]. He died at his cottage on Bass Lake 27 August 1963 at the age of sixty-nine [D07231, D07212].

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.

---

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).

Profile: Private George Wilfred “Fred” Smith (1888-1918)

For Week 4 of the 52 Ancestors Challenge, I'm going off theme

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George Wilfred “Fred” Smith [1888-1918]

George Wilfred Smith (or Fred Smith as he was later known) was born 5 September 1887, the son of Adam Smith and Kate Julianna Williams and the twin brother of Charles Smith [D04795]. Like his brothers and sisters, he was born in the family home in Eugenia Falls [D04832]. He spent his early years in Eugenia Falls and for a time worked as a sawmill operator [D04736].

Fred enlisted on 22 September 1914, just shortly after World War One began [D04976]. He was one of the very first from the area to enlist [D04864]. Upon enlisting, he joined the 15th Battalion and was made a private in Company D, regimental number 27543 [D04976] [D05062].



Fred trained with the battalion for a few months and sailed over to Europe to join the rest of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in France. In April of 1915, he fought in the battle of St. Julien which was part of the larger second battle of Ypres and one of the first occasions that the Germans used poison gas on the western front. Fred was one of the soldiers gassed and taken prisoner in that battle on April 24, 1915 [D04976, D04864].

Fred spent most of the war in a German prisoner-of-war camp. Despite living in less-than-favourable conditions he kept his spirits up and wrote many letters home to his family. His letters home were usually quite cheerful despite his circumstances [D04830, D04865, D04836].

Fred wrote the letter below to his twin brother Charlie on May 1, 1916 from his prison camp in Germany. It was very likely never read by Charlie as it probably arrived after he had died.

Langensalza, Germany.
May 1, 1916

Dear Brother Charlie:

You can certainly believe that I was glad to get your letter and to read that you and the rest are well. Hope that the warm weather will help father and Uncle Sidney to enjoy better health. The weather is nice and warm here just now and we have a football team so we have that way to cheer us up a little.

Well, how many eggs did you get away with on Easter? I got some for 20 pfennings, or 4e. I had about a dozen Easter week. We have not been getting our letters regular on account of changing camp. Hope it will be better soon. The camp Orrdrufs was taken for convalescent camp. Oh, say! Some one sent me a parcel of underwear, chiclets, magazine, pipe and can of veal and ham and I wish you to thank them in the Montreal paper as the address is blurred so I can't answer and thank them and if it was not intended for me tell that I am sorry. I will put my address on the back of this [sheet?]

Well, Charlie, I do hope this awful old war will soon be over and may God bless and keep you all spiritually and physically, lovingly yours, brother Fred.

P.S. - Give my love to father and mother.

Address - Kriegsgefangenen Laegar, Langensalza, Germany [D04868]

In September of 1916 a letter was received from Fred, written from his prison camp in Germany thanking the Eugenia Women’s Institutes for the boxes of comforts sent to him [D04910].

In February of 1917, a letter was received from Fred in Germany thanking his many friends for the many little comforts they have sent him [D04912].

In May of 1917, Kate received a letter from Fred from his prison camp in Germany. The letter included a photo to show that he was still in good health [D04913].

In June of 1917, Kate received another letter from Fred in Germany stating that he was ill, but a second letter arriving in July indicated that he was feeling well again [D04916].

In the fall of 1917, Fred was freed from the prisoner-of-war camp as part of a prisoner exchange. He was sent to a hospital in Switzerland [D04864, D05025 p404].

In the summer of 1918, Fred wrote a letter home from Switzerland under the pseudonym “Old Bill”. The letter was published in the Flesherton Advance, June 13, 1918. Having seen many atrocities and feeling the effects of having been involved in the war for almost four years, he wrote the anonymous letter as a call for anyone who was able to help out with the war effort.

Dear Sir, - Having head through a certain source that you would be pleased to get a letter from anyone in the army, I determined to immediately send you one. I would like it to be one that would bring good results. You see it is with an eye to the interests of the good old flag that I am writing this at all.

What I am going to say relates to manpower, as they say today. Is it possible for Canada to send many more men to the army? Can the women of Canada do any more than they are doing to allow of more men joining up? If not, do they not realise what they owe the army for protecting them against German Militarism? But then, if only all men would only try to imagine what their feelings would be just supposing that all men were slackers and that Germans were in possession of Canada, why everyone medically fit at all would insist on going to the front. Just imagine for a moment our women and children undergoing the horrible treatment the inhuman outrages and insults as the unfortunate Belgians received. It's up to every man who is physically able to do his utmost and the women's duty to see that every man available shall go, as they are doing in "Blighty." No one knows better than I do for experience (I believe that old saying) is the best teacher. If there is anyone who does not believe that, I advise them to try only one month in Germany. So you see, the prospect of being under German rule during a life time (if you don't like to think of any one else) would not be very pleasant, would it? Yours till 1920 or the end of the war.

- Old Bill
[D04894]

In July of 1918, Adam and Kate were waiting to hear word about Fred’s return. Unfortunately, the message that they received was not at all what they were expecting because on 27 July 1918, Kate Smith received news by cable that her son Fred had died in Concert, Switzerland. No further details were given at that time. [D04865, D04921]



Fred’s mother, Kate received a letter later in August 1918 from Switzerland. In the letter, one who had attended Fred’s funeral in Switzerland had indicated that he had died in hospital of influenza [D04919]. Later correspondence confirmed that he had died on 22 August 1918 at the age of 30 at a hospital in Switzerland due to influenza [D04839]. This must have come as a surprise to the family, as they had no idea that he had been in such a serious condition [D04830, D04865, D04836]. The last letter that they had received from him was written on June 15th and he seemed to be in good health at the time [D04864].

Back in Eugenia Falls a memorial service was held on Sunday September the 8th at noon in the Eugenia Presbyterian Church [D04920, D04921]. Rev. McVicar performed the service and the church was overflowing with community members, including a large number of Fred’s fellow Orangemen [D04921]. Many people in the town came to help the Smith family deal with the tragedy as this loss represented their third son to have been lost in two years after Charlie drowned and Emerson was killed in 1917 [D04830, D04865, D04836].

Fred’s remains were buried in Vevey Cemetery in Switzerland. The cemetery is also known as St. Martin’s Cemetery. The inscription reads “He is not dead, just gone before” [D04839]. A funeral service was held for him in Switzerland. He is also commemorated in Flesherton Cemetery along with other members of the family [D04351].



After the war, Fred’s mother was a big part of ensuring that a war memorial was set up in Eugenia Park to commemorate the fallen soldiers from the area, including her two sons. The memorial was officially dedicated on 21 July 1921 and list both Fred and his brother Emerson [D05025 p 401 & 402].

Sources
[D04351] Flesherton Cemetery (Flesherton, Grey, Ontario).

[D04736] 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, district 72, sub-district 4, Eugenia, p. 7, dwelling 70, family 70; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.com (accessed 20 Oct 2018).

[D04795] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929; Reel: 81: 309, 9796, 32; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births," (25 Oct 2018).

[D04830] "Private Fred Smith Dead in Switzerland," Grey County Surname Collection, 1918; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey County Surname Collection.

[D04836] "Private Fred Smith Died in Switzerland," Grey County Surname Collection, 1918; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey County Surname Collection.

[D04864] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 1 Aug 1918, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 9 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D04865] "Private Fred Smith Dead in Switzerland," Flesherton Advance, August 1, 1918, p. 2, col. 3; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D04868] "A Letter From Germany," Flesherton Advance, July 6, 1916, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D04894] "Ole Bill Writes From Switzerland," Flesherton Advance, June 13 1918, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 18 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D04910] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, September 7, 1916, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 18 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D04912] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, February 22 1917, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D04913] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 31 May 1917, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D04916] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 26 July 1917, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D04919] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 22 Aug 1918, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D04920] "Eugenia," Flesherton Advance, 5 Sep 1918, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D04921] "Eugenia," Flesherton Advance, 12 Sep 1918, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D04976] Canada, "Service Record Card - Fred Smith"; digital images, 48th Highlanders Museum (http://48highlanders.com/04_03.html : accessed 10 Nov 2018).

[D05025] Mildred Young Hubbert, editor, Split Rail Country: A History of Artemesia Township (Owen Sound, Ontario: Stan Brown Printers Limited, 1986)

[D05062] Canadian Expeditionary Forces Fifteenth Battalion, Nominal Roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men (Ottawa: Government Printing Bureau, 1915), 13.

Profile: Private Emerson Claude Smith (1881-1917)

I've decided to start off 2019 by taking Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. I don't know how far I'll get with it, but I figure it will help start the process of writing and documenting the research that I've found so far.

Each week there is a theme to get you going on choosing an ancestor to profile. For week one, the theme is "First". So, I've decided to profile a First World War soldier. I've been doing some work on the Smith family of Eugenia Falls and so for this week, I'm going to profile Private Emerson Claude Smith.

Private Emerson Claude Smith (1881-1917)
2nd cousin, 3 times removed



Emerson Claude Smith was born 13 October 1881 in Eugenia Falls, Grey County, Ontario Canada, the son of Adam Smith, a blacksmith, and Kate Julianna Williams [D04797, D04735, D04798]. He spent most of his early years in Eugenia Falls, Grey County, Ontario but did work for a number of years in Edmonton, Alberta [D04861]. He did not fallow his father into the blacksmith trade, but instead became a woodworker for a period of time. [D04736]

Emerson enlisted to fight in World War 1 in Owen Sound on 14 December 1915 [D04906, D04798, D04799], about fifteen months after his younger brother, Fred enlisted. His attestation papers give a physical description of him as being 5 ft, 8 inches in height, 165 pounds with blue eyes, fair hair and fair complexion. He had a scar on his right knee [D04798]. His attestation also gives his occupation prior to enlisting as a chauffeur [D04798].

Upon enlisting, Emerson was assigned service no 838414 and assigned to the 147th (Grey) Battalion which began recruiting in late 1915 [D04799].

After training for almost a year, the 147th sailed on the SS Olympic to England, departing on 13 November 1916 and arriving on November 21st [D04799]. Emerson was transferred to the 8th Reserve Battalion on 1 January 1917 and then on April 1st to the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion [D04799]. His unit landed in France April 22nd and he was reported as having arrived for duty on April 27th [D04799].

Sadly, Emerson was killed in action on 7 June 1915 at the age of 36. He died at Vimy Ridge, after being in France for only about two months. [D05025 p405, D04861, D04799]. He was buried at Petit Vimy on the slope of Vimy Ridge [D05025 p405, D04861].



Emerson’s mother, Kate Julianna Smith was given the memorial cross for losing her son [D04799]. She may have also received some consolation in a letter that Emerson wrote to her just before his death. The letter in included the following passage that seems to indicate that he was comfortable with whatever fate lay in store for him:

"I am not just as good as I might be, but I am going to try very hard to lead a better life. Do not worry too much about me, because God will bring me through safely if He sees fit." [D04805]

The Smith family printed this memorial in the Flesherton Advance 6 June 1918 in his memory:

In Memory Of Pte. Emerson Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Smith, Eugenia, killed in battle June 7, 1917.
Somewhere in France, near the long battle line,
Stands a cross on the grave of that dear son of mine.
He suffered, he died, that his country might live.
Paid the full price, gave all that could give.
Through he lies far from home, over the sea,
I shall meet him again in the life that's to be.
- Father, Mother, Sisters, Brother.[D04863]

After the war, Emerson’s mother was a big part of ensuring that a war memorial was set up in Eugenia Park to commemorate the fallen soldiers from the area, including her two sons. The memorial was officially dedicated on 21 July 1921 and list both Emerson and his brother Fred. [D05025 p 401 & 402]




Sources:
[D04735] 1901 census of Canada, Ontario, district 66, sub-district A-5, Artemesia, p. 14, dwelling 126, family 126; RG 31; digital images(accessed 15 Oct 2018).

[D04736] 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, district 72, sub-district 4, Eugenia, p. 7, dwelling 70, family 70; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.com (accessed 20 Oct 2018).

[D04797] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929; Reel: 48: 8357, 26; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births," (25 Oct 2018).

[D04798] Canada, "WWI CEF Attestation Papers, 1914-1918," Attestation Papers: Emerson Claude Smith; digital images, Ancestry.ca(accessed 11 Nov 2018).

[D04799] Canada, "Emerson Claude Smith WW1 Military Service Record"; digital images, Library and Archives Canada(accessed 27 Dec 2018).

[D04805] "Claude Emerson Smith," Flesherton Advance, 16 Aug 1917, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 2 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspapers.

[D04863] "In Memory," Flesherton Advance, 6 Jun 1918, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 2 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspapers.

[D04906] "Eugenia Soldiers," Flesherton Advance, 30 Mar 1916, p. 3, col. 2; digital images(accessed 10 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.

[D05025] Mildred Young Hubbert, editor, Split Rail Country: A History of Artemesia Township (Owen Sound, Ontario: Stan Brown Printers Limited, 1986),

In Remembrance

Today being the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1, I thought I'd post a remembrance to all of those in my tree who fought in the war

Edwin Ashton	BEF	Survived WW1
Lawrence Ashton	75th Bn CEF	Died September 2, 1918
Charles A. Brown	4th Signal Co. CEF	Survived WW1
Wilfred M. Brown	Can Signal Pool, CEF	Survived WW1
Herbert Hewett Burnet	CEF	Survived WW1
Everett Delahaye	US Military	Survived WW1
Peter Delahaye	US Military	Survived WW1
John C. Douglas	20th Bn CEF	Survived WW1
Stewart Arnold Douglas	CEF	Survived WW1
Thomas W. Douglas	3rd MGC CEF	Survived WW1
Reynold Hardy	CEF	Survived WW1
Duncan Hook	Lancashire Fusiliers, BEF	Died July 8, 1915
Geoffrey Hook	Royal Air Force, BEF	Died April 10, 1918
Harry Theodore Hook	BEF	Survived WW1
Robin Hook	Lancashire Fusiliers, BEF	Died August 7, 1915
Valentine Hook	Royal West Surrey Regiment, BEF	Died May 3, 1917
Howard Radford Letty	CEF	Died October 8, 1916
George Russell Miller	CEF	Survived WW1
James Piggott	CEF	Survived WW1
Christopher Place	King's Royal Rifles, BEF	Died February 19, 1917
Thomas Place	East Lancashire Regiment, BEF	Died August 13, 1915
John Raymond Price	CEF	Survived WW1
Emerson Claude Smith	4th Canadian Mounted Rifles CEF	Died June 7, 1917
George Wilfred "Fred" Smith	15th Bn CEF	Died July 22, 1918
John McLeod Wainwright	CEF	Survived WW1

Lawrence Ashton Memorial

I have discovered through Toronto Branch OGS' For King and Country database that there is a memorial for Lawrence Ashton at Lambton Mills School.

Is the person in this photo Lawrence Ashton?

A few months ago, I purchased a picture below off ebay:

The picture is of a WW1 soldier and the uniform indicates that he was in the 75th Battalion CEF. My thoughts (and main reason for purchasing the photo) were that this could possibly be my great-grandfather, Lawrence Ashton, who was in the 75th Battalion CEF. I have included some pictures below that are of him for comparison. Any thoughts as to whether he might be the same person as the one in the ebay photo? I've asked a few people and have received different opinions.