Genealogy Chat

My great uncle was born in 1881. Can anyone guess why, after 13 years in the Royal Navy, he should suddenly have joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in September 1914? After the first war, he then emigrated to Canada where he was granted land in British Columbia. The family had no connection whatever with Canada before this, so I am at a bit of a loss. Was it some sort of pre-war recruitment drive, to be rewarded with land after the war? I have a copy of his Attestation Paper but that still doesn't explain the reason why? Any guesses? Thanks, Chris

I assume that you have proof that he is your relative-is the name unusual?

The name wasn't unusual - Albert George Miller - but I have plenty of proof - including the fact that I had to queue up at the Post Office as a child to post them English 'goodies' in the winter months! Chris

Can't really help but this site mentions the Canadian Expeditionary Force:- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet(.)co.uk/FWWcanada.htm remove brackets. Kath. x

Thanks for that Kath - I'll have a read. Chris

Very odd - I wonder why Canada wasrecruiting here though - what about the Canadians? Chris

You ask for guesses - could he have happened to be in Canada when the war started?

I dont think Canada was particularly well populated in the early 1900s and I can imagine the Canadian Authorities killing two birds with one stone - we'll send you a few men, you add to them from English men and we'll give those who survive a bit of land. Since Britain fondly imagined WW1 would be over in a few weeks, then I can imagine that this would seem like money for old rope to a lot of young men. Also, dont forget that upto one third of conscripts and volunteers were rejected on health grounds, until our losses were so great that they would take anyone. OC

Just a thought - early 1900's Canada was trying to populate the west. If your gr-uncle served in the Boer War it is highly possible that they were offered land grants in Canada after the war to any English soliders who wanted to immigrate. Might have decided to take up the offer just prior to WWI and once war broke out re-enlisted in Canada. Sue

Had credit left on ancestry.ca - found this believe to be your Albert Miller 1911 Census of Canada Record about Albert G Miller Name: Albert G Miller Gender: Male Marital Status: Single Age: 31 Birth Date: April 1880 Birthplace: England Family Number: 12 Immigration Year: 1910 Tribal: English Province: British Columbia District: Kootenay District Number: 9 Sub-District: Columbia Sub-District Number: 2 Census Year: 1911 Page: 3 Household Members: Name Birth Year John W Connan 1856 Hate Connan 1859 Thomas Connan 1890 Minnie Connan 1895 Kate Connan 1895 James Connan 1898 Harper S Willman 1885 Fanny Wellman 1888 Albert G Miller 1880 I have saved the original to my hard-drive so if you would like it please pm me your email address and would be glad to send. Original VERY hard to read - but it is possible Sue

Thank you all for that - I'll pm you Sue - and I am very grateful. He joined in Devonport, but the idea of populating Canada seems the most likely - especially as no-one then realised that the war wouldn't 'be over by Christmas'. Thanks again for your ideas. Chris