RootsChat.Com

A little update on the medals.  It is the one in the photo and was given to Canadian Expeditionary Force members who served at the front and had retired or relinquished their commissions, been honourably discharged, or returned to or retained in Canada on duty.  I know that my Grandfather Paterson was gassed in the trenches.  It looks like he may have been discharged after that.  He suffered permanent lung damage from the gassing and lived to age 77 in Vancouver, BC where he died.

I just learned a little more family history today.  I highly suspect that the Cheshire medallion is from my grandfather Nicholls.

My grandfather that was in the Boer war was William Percy Nicholls and some information about him is in the thread posted above.  My other grandfather was Alexander Gordon Paterson, born in the Isle of Whithorn.  Apparently there is a public memorial in the Isle of Whithorn with the names of those that  served in WWI and my grandfather is on that list.  Not sure if that list is for those who were born there and served or lived there until the time they served in the military.

Thanks!

Hello, I just stumbled across this website while looking up something else.  William Percy Nicholls was my grandfather.  I am the son of William's son Gilbert, which is also my first name.  I now live near Vancouver, BC.  I would be happy to tell you what I know about William Percy.  I also have many old photos.  I have always wanted to know more about my grandfather as dad never said much about him.  William was an avid collector of fine oil and water color paintings and I have 2 of them, one a painting of Queen Victoria and the other the interior of Well's Cathedral in Somerset, painted in 1814.  He owned a printing shop in Vancouver and owned a number of properties around Vancouver.  He gave dad and my uncle Grahame each a house as a wedding gift in the early 50s.  He was by today's standards, quite well off, but unfortunately he panicked at the start of WWII and sold most of his assets at a loss.  I know nothing about his background in England or if he had obtained any of his wealth there before leaving.  I always understood that he came from Cornwall.  He served in the Boer war and that's all I know about his war service.

I know absolutely nothing about family history of my grandfather and grandmother before them and would be interested to know.  I have a cup that was given to Marion Park's mother when Marion was born in Cathcart, Glasgow on May 23, 1883.

I grew up in Kerrisdale, Vancouver and my uncle Grahame lived 2 houses away until he passed away from a heart attack.  Dad and my uncle also both had waterfront cabins on the Sunshine Coast, north of Vancouver and the cabins were also gifted to them by my grandfather.  I lived in Victoria BC at the time of dad's death in 1995.  My mom, Alexa Jessie (nee Paterson), is 91 and now in a care home.

I only heard once in my life from mom that dad had a previous marriage and I never learned anything beyond that.  I always wondered what the story was behind it.

I would love to exchange more information.