MILITARY HISTORY AM. #1 JOSEPH JOHN MITCHELL TWIST – No. 70978 – Active Service (World War I)
On April 2, 1917, Joseph John Mitchell Twist completed the Attestation Paper for the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF) at Toronto, Ontario.
Joseph was 29 years 4 months old when, as an unmarried man, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) for the duration of the War. Joseph was born in Staines, Middlesex, England and gave his date of birth as December 29th, 1888. He listed his present address as 247 Aylmer Street, Peterborough, Ontario. He listed his next of kin as Joseph E. Twist of 5 Wendover Road, Staines Middlesex England.
Joseph indicated that he had no previous Military experience and he had not served in an Active Formation or Unit of The Canadian Army.
Joseph indicated he had previously worked as a painter. He was described as standing 5 feet 8½ inches with fair complexion and brown eyes. He was trained in and served in Canada at Beamsville Aerodrome in Ontario, which is now part of Lincoln, Ontario.
Joseph Twist served in Canada with the Royal Air Force as the rank of air mechanic 2nd class from April 2, 1917 until April 1, 1918, when he was promoted to the rank of air mechanic 1st class (A.M.#1) until demobilization on January 19th, 1919.
His military records indicate he was trained in aerial gunnery on the JN-4 a plane produced in Canada. At the time the RAF moved south for the winter to Talliaferro Field Number 1 which was under Canadian control at the time and is located near Fort Worth, Texas.
His initial training was in Beamsville, but it is likely that he also stationed for 6 months in Camp Borden, (although this is not mentioned in his military records) before moving to Texas for the winter months (1917-1918) and returning to Beamsville on April 1, 1918.
He had served 1 year 9 months in Canada and in Texas. He was eligible for the WWI Volunteer Service medal.
PERSONAL HISTORY
JOSEPH JOHN “JACK” MITCHELL TWIST
Joseph John Mitchell (Jack) Twist was born December 29, 1888 in Egham, England to Joseph John Twist and Mary Ann Knight. He received his education in the local schools. Jack’s father, Joseph, was a journeyman skilled in painting and decorating. His grandfather, also Joseph Twist, was a waterman who transferred passengers across and along the Thames River in England during the mid-1850s.
Like his father, Jack was an experienced painter, and in October, 1910 he came from Staines, England to work at the Lakefield Canoe and Manufacturing Company on Queen Street. He boarded at the home of a Mrs. Erskine at 132 Water Street in the village. Unfortunately, Lakefield Canoe Company burned down two months later on December 22nd. Jack would be employed by other boat building companies in this area and in Muskoka, as he was an accomplished boat builder and finisher.
Jack Twist joined the Royal Flying Corps (which later became the RCAF) in 1917 and became an instructor in aerial gunnery at Camp Borden where he helped train American flyers. Training was completed at the Flying Fields around Hicks Texas, about 12 miles northwest of Fort Worth. Known as Taliaferro Field No. 1 (sometimes referred to as Hicks Field), the training of Americans in Texas was under the control of Canadians. From rattlesnake skins to wooden airplane propellers, Jack brought souvenirs home from his training camp. The latter part of his airman experience was at Beamsville, Ontario. Jack’s youngest brother, Private William Henry Twist, served in the Royal Army Medical Corps – 59th Field Ambulance during WWI. Sadly he was killed in action on July 20, 1916, age 24 years. Private William Henry Twist is remembered with honour in Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz, France. Another brother, Samuel Edward Twist also served for four years in Egypt with the Royal Horse Artillery as a gunner.
After the war, Jack was again employed by Lakefield Boat Company. He married Wilhelmina Buell Read on July 7, 1919 in Toronto. Wilhelmina (Billie) was born on June 15, 1891 in Bobcaygeon, Ontario, the daughter of Effa Jane Trennum and William Joseph Read, a successful local merchant. Billie was a school teacher in Lakefield and served as organist at St. John the Baptist Anglican Church for over 40 years. Jack & Billie had five children – Elizabeth, Marion, John, Bill and Janet and lived in their home at 84 Concession Street. During World War II, Jack made ‘Fairmiles’ – speedboats for use in the Royal Canadian Navy at a boat building firm in Penetang.
Jack was especially talented at woodworking, and sign painting with the use of gold leaf. His craftsmanship can be seen in the lovely gold leaf calligraphy that adorns the ceiling at St. John the Baptist Anglican Church. He also painted the sign listing veterans’ names which for years was located near the Lakefield Cenotaph.
Joseph John Mitchell Twist died following a series of strokes on January 5, 1964. Wilhelmina passed away on March 17, 1971; both are buried in Hillside Cemetery in Lakefield, ON.
FAMILY HISTORY OF JOSEPH JOHN MITCHELL TWIST
The parents of Joseph John Mitchell “Jack” Twist were Mary Ann Knight and Joseph John Twist. Joseph was a journeyman skilled in painting and decorating. Joseph John Twist’s father and grandfather were watermen who carried passengers across and along the Thames River in England during the mid 1850s. Mary Ann and Joseph had six children – Susan Harriet “Ciss” born April 23, 1887, Joseph John Mitchell “Jack” born December 29, 1888, Samuel Edward “Ted” born January 27, 1890, Mary Ann “Polly” born January 27, 1891, William Henry born June 23 1892 and Rose born February 14, 1894 and died on February 28, 1894, age two weeks.
Jack Twist immigrated to Canada in 1910 but all of his family remained in England, and his brother William died in France in WWI. Joseph John Twist died at the age of 69 years after a long illness in Staines and is buried in St. Jude’s Cemetery, Staines, England. Mary Ann Twist died at the age of 54 years and is interred with her husband at St. Jude’s Cemetery.
This WWII sign was painted by Joseph John Mitchell Twist and erected near the Cenotaph monument located beside Memorial Hall.