world war one vet

[chevelle]

Hello!  I'm new here and if this topic is in the wrong forums, I'm sorry.

My great uncle served in the Canadian Military in World War 1.  He passed away in 1976,  my mother was raised by him but lost his medals.  My mother passed away last year and she had minimal information on his service.

I'm hoping someone here might be able to help.  His name was John Henry Irving, he was born in 1893 and died in Essex Ontario Canada in 1976.  I believe he was born in Montreal and I do know he was a design engineer for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn around 1949-1950.

My mother has a pencil sketch of him in his uniform that has a date of 1914 and the artist's name is W.H.Caven.

My Dad and I are going to do some more research on our own, but if anybody can help find his military record or anything about uncle John, it would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[lethalLemon]

You can try looking here to find a way to request the records:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-909.006-e.html


EDIT: All the have on record for Irving, John Henry's are this guy:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.02-e.php?image_url=http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc007/412685a.gif&id_nbr=478237

and
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.02-e.php?image_url=http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc007/412684a.gif&id_nbr=478236

 

[AC 011]

A good starting point is the Collections Canada website: 

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/war-military/index-e.html

Follow the link to the First World War and start your search.

You can start with his last name, though a name like Irving will probably get a lot of hits.  The other names can help narrow the field but may be omitted in the records depending on what he put on his attestation papers.  If you have his regimental number it will go much easier.  You should get a minimum of a PDF copy of his attestation papers along with a file reference for his file at the National Archives.  With that you can request a copy or you can visit the Archives in Ottawa to see it.

This worked for me in looking up some relatives.  Good luck on your search.

 

[chevelle]

Thanks for everyone's help!  I'll keep plugging away at it! :nod:

 

[lethalLemon]

Thanks for everyone's help!  I'll keep plugging away at it! :nod:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.02-e.php?image_url=http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc007/412676a.gif&id_nbr=478229

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=478229&interval=20&&PHPSESSID=o9jlbi934hh82ekn3kdkl8adn4

Does this look correct? If so, then he just listed himself as John Irving - and didn't list his middle name. If not, then the search continues

 

[Michael OLeary]

Researching Canadian Soldiers of the First World War
http://regimentalrogue.com/misc/researching_first_world_war_soldiers_part1.htm

    * Part 1: Find your Man (or Woman)
    * Part 2: The Service Record
    * Part 3: Court Martial Records
    * Part 4: War Diaries and Unit Histories
    * Part 5: Casualties
    * Part 6: Researching Honours and Awards
    * Part 7: Deciphering Battlefield Location Information
    * Part 8: More Mapping Information
    * Part 9: Matching Battlefield Locations to the Modern Map
    * Part 10: Service Numbers; More than meets the eye
    * Part 11: Rank, no simple progression
    * Part 12: Medals; Pip, Squeak, Wilfred and the whole gang
    * Part 13: Evacuation to Hospital
    * Part 14: The Wounded and Sick
    * Part 15: Crime …
    * Part 16: … and Punishment
    * Part 17: Battalions and Brigades, Companies and Corps
    * Part 18: Photo Forensics: Badges and Patches

 

[chevelle]

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.02-e.php?image_url=http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc007/412676a.gif&id_nbr=478229

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=478229&interval=20&&PHPSESSID=o9jlbi934hh82ekn3kdkl8adn4

Does this look correct? If so, then he just listed himself as John Irving - and didn't list his middle name. If not, then the search continues

I showed this to my Dad last night, and we believe this is him.  The dates on the sketch and this record don't Jive, but that could just be a mistake.  It makes sense, because he was active in the Salvation Army, the birth date is correct, and Dad did say he was a machine operator!

I'm taking Monday off work and Dad and I are going to Essex (where he lived the rest of his life) and go to the legion and the town hall to see if we can dig something up!  I hope this pans out,  I'd really like to get replacement medals to put up with the sketch I have of him. 
I really think It's important to remember our Vets.  His life after the war was cursed with a very evil wife.

Thank you all!