Sixty two of 293 'Chapleau boys' who served in World War I enlisted in 'Men of the North' the 227th Battalion

Add caption

Here is Part Two of Michael McMullen's research into the battalion commonly referred to as 'Men of the North'. In it he focuses on the 62 men who enlisted with the 227th Battalion in Chapleau. It was officially the 227th Oveseas Battalion (Sudbury-Manitoulin-Algoma. Recruiting was underway in Chapleau by April 1916 after the commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel LeP. Jones had visited the community. Michael also notes that 293 Chapleau boys enlisted in Canada's armed forces in World War I, a very significant contribution from such a small community. I extend my sincere thanks to Michael for sharing his research as we mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I on November 11, 2018. MJM .. My email is mj.morris@live.ca 

By Michael McMullen

In doing research for the book, The Chapleau Boys Go To War, co-authored by Michael Morris and myself, originally published in 2015, we compiled the names of 283 Chapleau Boys who enlisted in WW1. On-going research has increased this number now to 293. Sixty-two of these enlisted with the 227th Battalion in Chapleau. Based on Library and Archives Canada data, their names, age and employment status at the date of enlistment are: 

Albert, Joseph 20 Painter; Ashtegezick, John 20 Hunter;

Barr, Alex 35 Teamster; Beazer, Frank 28 Ang Missionary;

Bruce, Edward 34 Store Clerk; Chambers, Ennis 20 RR Brakeman;

Chappise, Thomas 19 Trapper; Chum, James 28 Trapper;

Cote, Hector 17 Teamster; Davis, Joseph 38 Trapper;

Davis, Soloman 19 Hunter; Depew, Chauncey 18 Student;

Donnelly, William 19 Clerk; Doust, Joseph 22 Loco Hostler;

Fortier, Joseph 28 Loco Fitter; Fortunato, Giomi 21 Labourer;

Godfrey, James 15 Student; Gutteridge, Thomas 20 Painter;

Hall, Percy 19 Movie Operator; Hartley, Albert 24 Loco Fireman;

Hughes, Samuel 20 Loco Fireman; Hunt, Maurice 32 RR Trainman;

James, George 39 Bricklayer; Jeffries, Charles 27 Trapper;

Johnstone, David 35 Labourer; Kappria, Henry 34 Trapper;

Lavoie, Joseph 21 Lumberman; Leigh, Frank 19 Student;

Lepage, Florian 29 Baker; Linklater, George 22 RR Switchman;

Lozier, Alphonse 23 Lumberman ; McAdam, David 16 Clerk;

McCuaig, James 20 Loco Fireman; McFayden, Ronald 22 Labourer;

McMaster, Henry 18 Painter; McWatch, Robert 18 Trapper;

Meroult, Charles 18 Labourer; Minnesquah, Antoine 26 Hunter;

Morden, Edward 19 Marine Fireman; Morris, Harry 26 RR Conductor;

Moyle, James 30 RR Brakeman; Neeshwahbun, Thomas 38 Hunter;

Osheckinick, John 25 Hunter; Pedanicut, John 26 Hunter;

Perpete, Victor 29 Merchant; Pitts, Frank 40 Accountant;

Redbreast, Jacob 18 Trapper; Ricard, Joseph 18 Trapper;

Samakese, Isaiah 17 Trapper; Samakese, John 32 Trapper;

Saunders, Thomas 17 Trapper; Schroeder, Charles 33 Loco Engineer;

Shawinegabo, Peter 18 Hunter[ Shesheguin, Robert 26 Trapper;

Souliere, David 21 Clerk; Souliere, Walter 29 Trapper;

St. Louis, Cecil 18 Lumberman; Tremblay, Emile 18 Painter;

Wain, Charles 24 Auditor; Wallace, George 30 Loco Fireman;

Wesley, William 18 Painter; Woodard, Bernard 16 Student.

Of these 62, there were seven who died during or soon after the war due to war-related activities or disease/illness suffered during the war: Percy Hall, Charles Meroult, John Pedanicut, Frank Pitts, Jacob Redbreast, Joseph Ricard and Peter Shawinegabo.

Hall, Percy

Private Percy Cameron Hall was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 28, 1896, and was the son of Walter Davidson Hall of Vancouver, British Columbia. He was a moving picture operator in Chapleau when he enlisted at Chapleau in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion, on April 30, 1916. He was serving with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps, 1st Battalion, when he died on August 29, 1918 at the age of 21. Private Hall was classified as missing in action and presumed dead, and is commemorated at the Vimy Memorial, Vimy, Pas-de-Calais, France. His name is inscribed on the Chapleau cenotaph located at the Legion Hall, the memorial plaque at St. John’s Anglican Church, Chapleau and on a memorial tablet at the Church of the Ascension Anglican Church, Hamilton, Ontario.

Meroult, Charles

Private Charles Meroult was born in Montreal, Quebec in August, 1898. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Meroult of White River, Ontario. He was living in White River and working as a labourer when he enlisted in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion at Chapleau on January 9, 1917. He was with the 8th Reserve Battalion when he died on April 23, 1917 at Seaforth Military Hospital in Liverpool, England from cerebral spinal meningitis. He was 18 years old. Private Meroult is buried in the Kirkdale Cemetery, Liverpool, England.

Pedanicut, John

Private John Pedanicut was born on June 24, 1890 in Chapleau, Ontario. He was the son of Joe Meineguess (Memegos) Pedanicut and Mary Pedanicut, of Chapleau, the husband of Sarah Pedanicut and the father of son Austen also of Chapleau. He was living in Chapleau and working as a hunter when he enlisted in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion at Chapleau on July 7, 1916. He was with the Canadian Forestry Corps when he became seriously ill in late 1917. He was invalided back to Canada from Liverpool, England in late March 1918 and admitted to the Spadina Military Hospital in Toronto in mid-April 1918 at age 28. He died of tuberculosis on June 27, 1918 at the Weston Sanatorium in Toronto. Private Pedanicut is buried in the Chapleau Roman Catholic Cemetery.

Pitts, Frank

Private Frank Pitts was born on May 2, 1876 in Berkshire, England. He was married to Louisa (Moore) Pitts and was the father of Amy (Pitts) Green. He was working as an accountant for the CPR in Chapleau when he enlisted at Chapleau in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion, on June 17, 1916. Upon arrival in Europe, he became sick and spent much time in hospitals before being invalided to Canada in late 1918. He spent time in Toronto-area hospitals being treated for stomach cancer before being discharged in early 1919. Private Pitts died on March 15, 1922, at the age of 45, and is buried in the Chapleau Protestant Cemetery. His name is inscribed on the memorial plaque at St. John’s Anglican Church, Chapleau.

Redbreast, Jacob

Private Jacob Redbreast was born on January 1, 1898 at Brunswick Post, Ontario. He was living there and working as a trapper when he enlisted at Chapleau on June 29, 1916 in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion. His mother Susan Redbreast was at Brunswick Post and a sister Harriet and a brother Robert lived in Chapleau. He was serving with the Canadian Forestry Corps, Base Depot, and had just been scheduled to be invalided back to Canada when he died of tuberculosis on August 24, 1918 at age 20. Private Redbreast is buried at Lenham Cemetery, Lenham, Kent, England. His name is inscribed on the Chapleau cenotaph located at the Legion Hall and on a memorial tablet at the Church of the Ascension Anglican Church in Hamilton, Ontario.

Ricard, Joseph Albert

Private Joseph Albert Ricard was born in Moose Factory, Ontario on February 8, 1898 and was the son of Mrs. Caroline Shesheguin of Missanabie, Ontario. He was living in Missanabie working as a trapper when he enlisted in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion at Chapleau on June 12, 1916. He was with the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles (2nd Central Ontario Regiment) when he died of wounds suffered in action on August 29, 1918. He was 20 years old.Private Ricard is buried at Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery near Ligny-St. Flochel, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Shawinegabo, Peter

Private Peter Shawinegabo was born on January 12, 1898 in Biscotasing, Ontario and was the son of Ignace and Josephine Shawinegabo of Chapleau. He was living in Chapleau and working as a hunter when he enlisted in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion at Chapleau on July 20, 1916. He was with the 227th Battalion when he died on March 26, 1917 at Hamilton from acute pneumonia at age 19. Private Shawinegabo is buried in the old Chapleau Roman Catholic Cemetery.

---