Frank Albon- Frank Allen 1889-1964 British Home Children

[KarenM]

I know that they are free from the British military.  Since Canada did not technically have its own military until 1931, wouldn't there be duplicates with the British??  I don't know, but it would make sense logically.

  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Canada

Karen

[J.J.]

Bookmarking for future reference...

Joseph Henry Lund is in Brandon for the 1911 census...with his wife Alice (nee Gibbons, from 1901 entry)
Farming...and Elkhorn ( where he is as friend on CEF signup ) is near Brandon...Lots of other Lund family there as well
http://www.automatedgenealogy.com/census11/SplitView.jsp?id=26109.

How wonderful that he knows him as friend.    They may also have attended each other's weddings, then...
I can look for obits as well. I can also trace him in Winnipeg by looking through the directories post war....as long as there aren't a hundred Frank Allen...(His hopes of getting the same job may have been slim post war)
I cannot do this right away...I usually go when things are slow for me...
If anything is found in the meantime...post it all so I can take notes when I go...

[andarah]

I know that they are free from the British military.  Since Canada did not technically have its own military until 1931, wouldn't there be duplicates with the British??  I don't know, but it would make sense logically.

  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Canada

Karen

This is what I was talking about

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_Westminster_1931

Yes, we had a military, but did we not `technically' go to war under the British?  Maybe I'm wrong, but this isn't the place to discuss it since it's off topic.

[valeriec]

www.collectionscanada.gc.ca
Over 600,000 Canadians served in the CEF, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the WW1. The CEF database (attestation papers) is an index to the Canadian military files and are available to view at this site. Using the Ref. # the complete military file can be ordered on-line from Collections Canada. On the home page, under What We Do for the Public, you can order the complete file. Some files contain as many as 25 pages others much less. Under the Canadian Genealogy Centre section, click on military. You can search the database and you can view sample documents. Photocopying is 40 cents per page plus shipping and handling. Valuable information can be gathered from the military files especially if there were followup medicals and in some cases death information is also available. The CEF military records were separate from the BEF records.

I would definitely order his military records as they are not expensive and can be ordered on a secure on-line site.

You mentioned London, Ontario. I would search for a local genealogy site that may have access to obituaries or family histories that are not on-line.
Good luck, Val

[valeriec]

These are some sites for London, ON that you may want to look at.
http://londonmiddlesex.ogs.on.ca
The London and Middlesex County Branch of the Ontario Genealogy Society.

www.londonpubliclibrary.ca

Jorose gave you the site for the London Free Press. I would write a letter to the editor about Frank Allen looking for any surviving relatives. It can't hurt.
The London Public Library will probably have access to older obituaries and may be able to look up all with last name Allen.

Local genealogy groups sometimes have valuable information on families that isn't available on-line. I would write or e-mail the London branch and see if they have any family histories on surname Allen.
Good luck searching, Val

[valeriec]

meant to post this above

Frank Allen DOB 04/02/1890
Corporal
Regimental Number 216609

His attestation papers have his DOB as 1890 not 1889 and he is the first Frank on the list of 23.

Val

[J.J.]

Are Frank's siblings, Arthur Robert, Amos Gracie and Mildred Margaret all accounted for?

[DowneyD]

Thank you all,
For taking so much trouble to help me with all this information, I am very new to this, so as much information, in an ABC approach, is appreciated.  Including all offers of help. When Frank was born in Staines, Middlesex, England, his D.O.B. was 04/02/1889,  this was changed to 1890 as you say in his attestation papers, along with his surname from Albon to Allen.  I do not know much about the British Home Children yet, but I am learning. Do you think he changed his own name??? His brother my g. grandfather was left behind in the UK and sent to live with a relative in Scotland. Amos tried to keep in contact with both of his siblings through Dr Barnados, he lost touch with Frank when his name was changed, it was thought that Frank died in WW1.  They had a sister  Mildred Albon who was sent to Canada under the British Home Children in 1905. Mildred went into a McNeil household as a domestic servant. She later married a Malcolm McNeil and had one daughter Doris McNeil. Doris married a Larry McComb and they unfortunately had no children. I have been unable to find out any details of birth marriage  or death for these individuals.
thank you all so much for your help
Downey D

[DowneyD]

Arthur died as an infant.
Amos lived until 1966, and although I never met him, I now have family that have brought him to life, he had a hard start in life on the Mars Training ship, but went on to have eleven children.
Mildred remains a shadowy figure, who moved from orphanage to foster homes and eventually ended up in Canada in 1905. Amos kept in touch with Mildred, losing touch with Frank when he changed his name and sadly ended up believing he had died in WW1.
Mildred's daughter Doris lived in London, Ontario, she was contacted to say that one of Frank's sons (her cousin) had died. Very sad that she had cousins that she knew nothing about living in her own town. Doris I believe died about five years ago.
Thank you for your interest
Downey D