Family Military History

[JSR OP]

So, after I posted in the Why did you join / Where did you join thread http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/31273/post-998569.html#msg998569  I was wondering if there was an existing thread on family military histories.  This thread is old, but I suspect there are new members who may like to share their family's military history.

 

[mariomike]

So, after I posted in the Why did you join / Where did you join thread http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/31273/post-998569.html#msg998569 

From the other thread:

My Grandfather, John Cross is born in 1900 in Aultsville Ontario.  Great Grandfather George is 63 yrs old and Great Grandmother Ellen is 30 yrs old.  I don't have a lot of info on John's military career during WWII.  I believe he completed Basic Training in Petawawa, and he served in England as a Bombardier with the RCAF.  I don't know anything of his wartime record....yet. 
<snip>
Hope that clears up the questions of age.  I don't know where 53 came from...

Bombardier would be the American equivalent of RCAF Bomb Aimer ( aircrew ). RCAF aircrew during the war were between the ages of: "over 17 and not yet 33". ( From RCAF "aircrew needed now" recruiting ads in the Star during the war years. )

The 53 came from "my Great Grandfather had a  younger 2nd wife (by 10 yrs)." 

 

[shiska]

On my father's saide the only service I know of was one of my relatives being a cavalry captain serving under Sir Donald Stewart in the late 1800's. I don't know much about his career other than having been involved in the Anglo-Afghan war. The rest of my father's family were all conscientious objectors during the world wars.  On my mother's side the only military service I'm aware of is my uncle who was a career soldier. He retired a few years ago as a Major in the air force. Again, I don't know much about his service. He spent most of his career as an Aerospace Control Officer and ended his career in Ottawa doing something related to finances.

Next in line is me. Currently applying for ROTP or DEO if that doesn't work out. Hoping to be either Artillery,  Infantry, or Armour Officer

 

[JSR OP]

From the other thread:
Bombardier would be the American equivalent of RCAF Bomb Aimer ( aircrew ). RCAF aircrew during the war were between the ages of: "over 17 and not yet 33". ( From RCAF "aircrew needed now" recruiting ads in the Star during the war years. )

The 53 came from "my Great Grandfather had a  younger 2nd wife (by 10 yrs)."

You're going to have me going all over the place to recheck things!  On my grandfather's grave, he has two stones.  One upright with my grandmother's info on, and one laying flat on the ground that is a military one.  I'm pretty sure it has Bombardier engraved on it...  Hmm...Maybe he was artillery....  Now I'll have to call my aunt in Indiana to get the right info...

 

[Sapplicant]

A couple great uncles survived the trek from Sicily to Germany with the Carleton and York Regiment in WW2. Another was a tail gunner in a Vickers Wellington. He survived the whole war, on one occasion, being the sole survivor of a crew that was shot down over Vichy France. The resistance found him first and get him back to europe. He was back in the skies within a few months of returning.

My paternal grandfather was an air traffic controller in Gander, and apparnetly brought in the plane carrying the Dutch Royal Family. He was selected for that duty due to a pre-war hobby; ham radio. Post war, spend the rest of his working days in mid/upper management for NB Tel.

Maternal Grandfater was still training to go to the Pacific in August of 1945. He wound up working as a linesman/foreman for Bell until he retired.

My parents' generation did not serve, and I'll be the first, and only, of my generation.

As for the family's WW1 history, well, it's not pretty.  Very few returned fully intact. My great (great?) grandfather was a victim of a gas attack, and was addicted to the narcotic pain killers he was given for the rest of his greatly shortened life. Couple great great (great?) uncles KIA.

 

[mariomike]

You're going to have me going all over the place to recheck things!  On my grandfather's grave, he has two stones.  One upright with my grandmother's info on, and one laying flat on the ground that is a military one.  I'm pretty sure it has Bombardier engraved on it...  Hmm...Maybe he was artillery....  Now I'll have to call my aunt in Indiana to get the right info...

Hello JSR Op:
The info you provided was accurate. I am sending you a PM with more details.
Regarding your Civil War ancestor: 92nd Infantry, Company K (Captain Levi Miller) St. Lawrence County, New York. Private; enrolled Oct 22, 1861 at Potsdam, NY.    Honourably Discharged: Jan 7, 1865
Looks like he saw a lot of action! :
http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/92ndInf/92ndInfMain.htm#photos

George Cross (1837-1912):
http://home.ix.netcom.com/~drcross/geocross.htm
"Mr. Cross was wounded once, and contracted fever and ague while in the service. He was raised to rank of corporal and was selected as one of the sharpshooters."

John Cross:
"AULTSVILLE - John Cross drowned at Aultsville this week. His many friends throughout the district learned with very deep regret of the death of John Cross, 51, of Aultsville, well known garage operator and sportsman, who was drowned in the Williamsburg canal at Farran's Point, in an attempt to save his three year old son, Fraser, who had fallen into the canal.

The young lad was pulled from the water by the combined efforts of Francis Froats and Gordon Cheeper. It was stated that Mr. Cross had waved would-be rescuers on to save his son first, and that when they turned to save him, he had disappeared beneath the water. The body was recovered in about twenty minutes and an inhalator was rushed from Morrisburg by the Morrisburg Fire Department, but was of no avail in reviving Mr. Cross."

 

[JSR OP]

I have a good friend I went to highschool with in Brockville, who is now working in the US as a Civil War Professor.  Her family is also from the Aultsville area, and if you go back far enough, I'm sure we're related.  Anyhow, she is getting me more info about my great grandfather from NY State and US Federal archives.  I'm really looking forward to seeing those documents!

"Mr. Cross had waved would-be rescuers on to save his son first"

I'm told by my dad and others that one of the two guys who were there when my dad went into the water that was reaching with a pole to get my grandfather first.  He said "Get the boy", so they did.  Once they had my dad out of the water, they turned to get my grandfather, only to see him go under for the last time.  The lock was drained to retrieve his body.  We have a newspaper clipping somewhere from the Cornwall Standard Freeholder telling the story shortly after my grandfather died.  The picture accompanying the article is of my dad and his dog Sandy.

In case anyone is wondering where Aultsville is, it doesn't exist anymore, at least not as a town.  Aultsville and several other small towns along the St Lawrence River were flooded during the building of the St Lawrence Seaway Project.  Most of the houses that were in Aultsville, and the other "Lost Villages" were moved to what is now Ingleside and Long Sault in Ontario between Cornwall and Morrisburg.