MILITARY HISTORY

Private Gilbert Lorne Northey — 3055987 — ACTIVE SERVICE (World War I)

On October 23, 1917, Gilbert Lorne Northey completed the Particulars Of Recruit, Drafted Under Military Service Act, 1917 (Letter and Service No. P.C. 92230) Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). He was 28 years, 6 months and 6 days old, when as a single man he enlisted in Peterborough, Ontario for the duration of the War plus 6 months. Gilbert Lorne was living at Haultain, Ontario; he was born at Deer Bay, Ontario and gave his birth-date as April 25, 1889. Gilbert Lorne indicated “he had never served with a Militia Force nor any other Military Force”. There is nothing in his Records to indicate where he was educated or to what level. As far as employment is concerned, he lists Farmer. Gilbert Lorne had a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair; he was 5′ 6½” tall, with a 36” chest (expanded); his weight was given as 120 pounds. His next-of-kin was listed as his father, Mr. Thomas Northey of Haultain; his mother is Mrs. Northey. Gilbert Lorne’s medical examination was done October 23, 1917 and he was deemed fit with an A-2 Category for Overseas duty with the Canadian Army. Gilbert Lorne signed the Declaration of Recruit October 23, 1917, at Peterborough. Gilbert Lorne Northey was Attested on January 11, 1918 in Kingston, Ontario and taken-on-strength to the 1st Depot Battalion (Bn), Eastern Ontario Regiment (EOR) CEF as a Private (Pte) with Regimental Number 3055987.

Pte Northey’s Military Records do not have any documentation that covers the period of time from October 23, 1917 to April 28, 1918; a little over 6 months. This 6 month, 5-day period would have been used to do all his Basic and Advanced Training, probably in the Peterborough Training area. The main goal was to form the men into Units and ship them off to England as quickly as possible where their training would be completed. Pte Northey embarked with the 4th Draft, 1st Depot Bn, EOR CEF aboard the SS Telia (the SS Tela was found) from Halifax, Nova Scotia for England on April 17, 1918. He disembarked at England on April 28, 1918; and was taken-on-strength to the 6th Canadian Reserve Battalion (Cdn Res Bn) the same day. Pte Northey must have been struck-off-strength from the 1st Depot Bn EOR, CEF to the 6th Cdn Res Bn at Seaford, England before April 28, 1918.

Pte Northey was granted Leave from February 1 to 15, 1918 while with the 1st Depot Bn (Canada).

September 12, 1918 Pte Northey was struck-off-strength from the 6th Cdn Res Bn to the 38th Bn at Seaford. Although not indicated in his File, he embarked England for France about September 13, 1918 and was attached to the Canadian Base Depot (CBD). Also on September 13, 1918 Pte Northey was taken-on-strength to the 38th Bn from the CBD. September 16, 1918 Pte Northey joined the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp (CCRC); the CCRC is a centre in France where troops were held before being sent to reinforce existing Units. September 17, 1918 he left the CCRC to travel to the 38th Bn, EOR. September 18, 1918 Pte Northey joined 38th Bn, EOR in the Field.

October 1, 1918 Pte Northey is wounded in the Field and is admitted to the No 22 General Hospital at Camier, France with a gunshot wound (GSW) to his Left Leg (flesh wound) and comes under the Eastern Ontario Regiment (EOR). Then on October 4, 1918 he was posted to the EORD at Seaford and is attached to the 38th Bn in the Field. He was invalided due to being wounded and was posted from the No 22 General Hospital to the Eastern Ontario Regiment Depot (EORD) at Witley, England. October 5, 1918 was posted from the 38th Bn to the EORD Holding Depot at Seaford and admitted to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital at Norwich, England.

November 30, 1918 Pte Northey is admitted to the Military Convalescent Hospital (MCH), Woodcote Park at Epsom, England.

December 9, 1918 Pte Northey he was discharged from the MCH and was taken-on-strength from the EORD Holding Depot to the 6th Cdn Res Bn at Witley. December 12, 1918 Pte Northey was taken-on-strength to the 6th Res Bn at Witley. December 19, 1918 Pte Northey will proceed to the 6th Cnd Res Bn at Witley.
On December 27, 1918 he was placed On-Command to Kimmel Park from the 6th Res Bn at Rhye, England, No 3 Military District (MD). December 30, 1918 Pte Northey was to embark from England for Canada.

January 9, 1919 Pte Northey ceases to be On-Command to Kimmel Park, No 3 MD and is struck-off-strength from the 6th Res Bn to the CEF in Canada, No 5 MD. Pte Northey would have embarked at England about January 7, 1919 aboard the SS Olympic. He arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia on January 17, 1919. January 21, 1919 Pte Northey is granted Leave with Subsistence Allowance to February 3, 1919. January 22, 1919 Pte Northey was taken-on-strength to Casualty Company at No3 District Depot. February 10, 1919 Pte Northey received his Last Pay of $53.23 and the monthly Assignment of $20.00 to his father Mr. Thomas Northey is cancelled.

February 11, 1919 Private Gilbert Lorne Northey is struck-off-strength from the Canadian Army (Active) on demobilization at No 3 DD, Kingston, Ontario.

Private Gilbert Lorne Northey served with the Canadian Army a total of about 1 year, and 1 month: 4 months in Canada; 7 months and 19 days in the UK; 21 days in France and 20 days travel time.

Based on his Military Service, Private Gilbert Lorne Northey would have been awarded the:

British War Medal; and
Victory Medal.
He was also awarded War Service Badge – CEF Class “A”

Private Gilbert Lorne Northey’s medals and decorations were dispatched on October 9, 1921.

An excerpt from an article in Maclean’s magazine by Barbara Ameil, September 1996:

The Military is the single calling in the world with job specifications that include a commitment to die for your Nation. What could be more honorable?

PERSONAL HISTORY

GILBERT LORNE NORTHEY

Gilbert Lorne Northey was born at Deer Bay in Harvey Township on April 25, 1889. He was the youngest child of Mary Wood Sanderson and Thomas Henry Northey. Gilbert was two years old when his mother died on April 2, 1891 leaving Thomas with six young children. The family moved to Burleigh Township near Haultain where Gilbert finished his schooling. In 1911, Gilbert was working as a servant on the family farm of George & Hannah Johnson of Smith Township. On October 23, 1917, Gilbert went to Peterborough and enlisted to serve his Queen and country. On Christmas Eve in 1919, Gilbert Lorne Northey married Gertrude May Hockaday in Lakefield just before he was called up and sent to Kingston in January 1918. Gertrude May Hockaday was born on December 22, 1898, the daughter of Mary Charity “Minnie” Heard and William Thomas Hockaday.

After the war, Gilbert and Gertrude settled in Douro Township where Gilbert took up farming. They had a son Elwood Percy Willis Northey born in 1921. Sadly about five years later, Gilbert came down with tuberculosis of both lungs and battled the disease for about a year and a half before he passed away on November 7, 1928. Gertrude died on October 6, 1942 and both are buried in Lakefield Cemetery.

THE GILBERT LORNE NORTHEY FAMILY OF BURLEIGH TOWNSHIP

Gilbert Lorne Northey’s paternal great grandparents were Margaret Gordon and William Pengelley Northey who married on February 22, 1814 in Germansweek Parish, Devonshire, England. They immigrated to Canada settling in Bridgenorth, Ontario and had a family of eleven children.

Gilbert Lorne Northey’s paternal grandparents were Annie Perkin and William Northey who were married in Germansweek Parish, Devonshire, England on March 11, 1841. They came to Canada settling in Smith Township raising a family of nine children – Grace “Charity”, James, Elizabeth “Betsy”, Margaret, John, William, Mary Jane, Thomas Henry and Harriet Northey. William Northey passed away on February 18, 1875 and Ann died on July 18, 1896; both are buried in Lakefield Cemetery.

Gilbert Lorne Northey’s maternal grandparents were Edward Sanderson and Elizabeth “Eliza” Fletcher who married in Peterborough on October 23, 1845 and had at least three children – John, Mary Wood and Sarah Jane Sanderson.

Gilbert Lorne Northey was the youngest child of Mary Wood Sanderson and Thomas Henry Northey. Mary and Thomas were married in Lakefield on October 21, 1877. They farmed in Harvey Township for the first few years. They had a family of six children – Bertha Matilda, Charlotte May, Edith Maude, Laura Pearl, Edgar Roland and Gilbert Lorne Northey. Sadly Mary died on April 2, 1891 at the age of 31 years leaving Thomas with a young family. She is buried in Lakefield Cemetery.

Mary’s younger sister, Sarah “Jane” Sanderson lost her husband, Caleb Long, from consumption on September 26, 1895, age 37 years, leaving her with two young children – Edith Elizabeth and Herbert William Long. On May 19, 1987, Sarah Jane Sanderson and Thomas Henry Northey blended their families and were married in Lakefield. Sarah Jane passed away on May 4, 1922 and Thomas Henry Northey died on Christmas Day in 1931 as a result of an automobile accident; both are buried in Lakefield Cemetery.