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William Nixon living in Gleichen before and after WW1

William Nixon living in Gleichen before and after WW1

Posted: 27 Feb 2012 11:14PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Nixon
Hello

I am wondering if anyone can help me find more information about my grandmother's brother, William Henry Nixon?

William was born in Co. Cavan, Ireland on 17 Feb 1890. In 1901 he was living in a Dublin orphange, and the next record I have been able to find for him is his enlistment with the WW1 Canadian Expeditionary Force in Feb 1915. He signed up at Calgary so he must have emigrated to Canada at some point. He served with the 10th Canadian Field Ambulance in France for the remainder of WW1 and was demobilised to Gleichen, Alberta, Canada in Feb 1919. His peace time occupation was recorded as a painter.

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, William died on 8 Feb 1921 as a result of his service in WW1 and is buried at Calgary Union Cemetery.

I have received a copy of William's Canadian Military Service Record from Library and Archives Canada. However I am looking for any other information that can help me build more of the story of William's life, particularly his time in Canada before and after WW1. Any help or suggestions of where to look would be very much appreciated.

Kind regards
Anita (New Zealand)

Re: William NIXON, living in Gleichen before and after WW1 dcd 1921

Posted: 28 Feb 2012 12:35AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: NIXON
Hi, OBITUARY for William NIXON -b.Feb 17 1890 - Dcd
Feb 8, 1921 - Buried at Calgary Union Cemetery.

May show names and locations of other family members - perhaps friends will be noted.

Just a thought - Perhaps William NIXON - came to Canada to enlist in the the WW1 Expeditionary Forces - and did not live here prior to that time?
Many persons came from U.K. USA etc to enlist at that time.

He could have been a painter - at home. His Next of Kin - his sister Mrs. JOHNSON of Berkshire England - perhaps he had lived in that location prior to coming to Canada.

Re: William NIXON, living in Gleichen before and after WW1 dcd 1921

Posted: 28 Feb 2012 1:03AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi sstanger1

Thank you very much for your reply. I was most interested to read your comment that people came to Canada to enlist - that's very interesting. The only clue I have that he might have lived in Gleichen prior to WW1 is that his name appears in the Roll of Honor for Gleichen, published in the local history publication "The Gleichen call : a history of Gleichen and surrounding areas, 1877-1968"
http://www.ourroots.ca/page.aspx?id=3540041&qryID=d2...
He is recorded as enlisting in 1915.

I will keep looking for an obituary but have yet to locate one. Any suggestions about where to look would be appreciated.

Yes, I too thought he may have lived with his sister in England, however I have located her in the 1911 England Census and he is not living with her or in the immediate vicinity at that time. I could find no close matches for William in the England 1911 Census at all.

He may have been living and working as an agricultural labourer in his home county, Cavan, in Ireland in 1911, but William Nixon is not an uncommon name there so I'm not sure if I have found the right person or not.

Thank you again for your help and suggestions. I will keep searching.

Anita

Re: William NIXON, living in Gleichen before and after WW1 dcd 1921

Posted: 28 Feb 2012 2:13AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: NIXON
The following may have some information - especially since his name had been on a memorial.
http://gleichenalberta.ca/
Gleichen – Cluny Historical Society
Box 69,
Gleichen, AB T0J 1N0
email: gleichen.cluny.history@gmail.com

Resents/ Obituaries Index see Deaths/ See Article
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abwcobit/NewsExtract/1921C...

NIXON, W. Elks club full page article S+P

Wishing you much luck with your search
Cheers, Stella

Re: William NIXON, living in Gleichen before and after WW1 dcd 1921

Posted: 28 Feb 2012 5:10AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thanks Stella!

I have followed up on both of your excellent suggestions.

You may be interested to know that in the last few hours I think I have found William on the 1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. There is a Wm H Nixon recorded in the town of Gleichen, but at the time of the Census he was overseas on military service. This fits with what I know. The Census says that he immigrated to Canada in 1910 so that's a great lead for me to follow up. He was living as a boarder in the home of a Mr and Mrs Solberg in Seventh Ave.

Warm regards
Anita

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