My Moynahan Genealogy Blog

Monday, November 10, 2014

Remembrance Day 2014 - Lest We Forget

I was surprised to learn that : "More than a third of Canadians are unaware if they had ancestors who participated in either of the world wars". (Based on a survey by ancestry.ca.)

This Remembrance Day blogpost is dedicated to four ancestors who served in the First and Second World Wars and my parents who served with the R.C.A.F. in peace time.

World War I

John Miller Moreland (1882-1940)

Corporal John Moreland (1257597) served as a gunner with the No. 9 Overseas Siege Battery - Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery (RCGA) Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). He embarked for overseas at Halifax on the 29th of September 1916. He served in England and France. While he was with the 8th Candian Siege Battery they fell under intense bombardment on the 28th of May 1918. John Moreland was wounded by shell gas and sent to hospital. He returned to Halifax 10 January 1919. More details can be found here.

Cpl. John Moreland with daughter Dorothy and wife Florence (Curd)

1907 photo of the Halifax RCGA
from Vintage Halifax

World War II

Gerald John Moynahan (1908-1961)

Gerald John Moynahan
R.C.A.M.C. WWII

Gerald John Moynahan (1907-1961) started active service in the R.C.A.M.C. ( Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps) on the 20th of August 1942 in Windsor Ontario. He served 43 months of which 31 months were served overseas in the U.K. and N.W.Europe. He worked as a medic on Canadian field ambulances.

Photo Credit: The Memory Project

After the war he planned to return to his former employer Chrysler Motors Co. of Canada

Medals despatched prior to death: 1939-1945 Star, France & Germany Star, Defense Medal, CVSM & Clasp and War Medal 1939-45.

Gerald John Moynahan (far right) with friends in Picadilly Square England

Thomas Bernard Moynahan (1909-1974)

Thomas Bernard Moynahan
R.C.O.C. & R.C.E.M.E.
WWII

Thomas Bernard Moynahan (1909-1974) started active service in the RCOC (Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps) and later the RCEME (Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) on the 12th of July 1940 in Windsor, Ontario. He served 57 months overseas in the U.K., the Mediterannean and NW Europe. His trade on enlistment was a motorcyclist and a clerk.

After the war, Bernard planned to return to his former employer Chrysler Motors Co. of Canada

Thomas Bernard Moynahan
Picture taken in Edinburgh, Scotland

Leo Joseph Martin Broderick (1919-1943)

Leo Broderick killed in action 1943

Leo Joseph Martin Broderick served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a bomb aimer.

On Sept 5, 1943 at 19:25 Leo's plane left Gransden Lodge airfield, England on a mission of "bombardment" destined for Manneheim, Germany. There were seven men aboard theHalifax aircraft - the maximum for the aircraft. The plane crashed at Nussloch, 9 km SSE of Heidelberg, Germany.

One man was injured: Sgt J.E.Vidler (Rear Gunner)

Three men were taken as prisoners of war: Sgt C.Hewitson 535857 RAF (Flight Engineer), Sgt R.Thomson 1550695 RAFVR (Navigator) and Sgt J.H.Briggs 1082027 RAFVR (WOp Gunner)

Three men were killed at the crash site at Nussloch (9 km SSE of Heidelberg) where they were originally buried until moved to Durnbach cemetery:

Sgt A.C.Brunton 658381 RAFVR(Pilot)
W/O L.J.M.Broderick R/109822 RCAF (Bomb Aimer)
Sgt G.E.Agate 1391419 RAFVR (Mid Upper Gunner)

To read more details about Leo Joseph Martin Broderick click here

R.C.A.F. Peace Time Service: My Parents

Both of my parents served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (R.C.A.F) in the 1950s in the Atlantic and in Comox, B.C. (where I was born)..

My father

My father in the back row second from the left.

My father

My father second from the right.

My father on the left.

My mother with her baby sister.

My mother.

My mother - Middle row, third from the right.

My mother's discharge papers

I remember on November 11 every year
to honour my ancestors

and all of the men and women who choose to serve in the military

I remember on November 11 every year
to honour all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.

I remember on November 11 every year
to pray for an end to all of the wars
around the world.

I pray for peace.

Mennonite Button

Saturday, November 8, 2014

52 Ancestors #45 - The Curds of Dover, England.

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "Have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”

This weeks post is about Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton's mother Florence Mary Curd 1886-1915 from Dover England

Florence Mary (Curd) Moreland (1886-1915) with
daughter Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton (1909-2000)

1886 Birth Record

Birth Register 1886

Florence Mary Curd was born March 1886 in Dover, England to parents Alfred Curd (1862 - 1911) and Jane Ann Wellard (1866-1907).

1891 Census

1891 Census Dover
14 West Street, Charlton, Eastry, Kent, England

In the 1891 census, Florence is listed as a scholar meaning at 5 years of age she was attending school. Florence's father is listed as a "Carter". A carter is someone who "carries or conveys goods in a cart".

I have not been able to locate the Curd family on the 1901 census. I did locate some of the family on the 1911 census but by this time both parents had passed on and Florence had left England for Canada.

1908 Emigration & Marriage

Florence Curd travelled from Liverpool to Halifax
March 12, 1908
aboard the S.S. Dominion (Dominion Line)

It is said that: "Florence met John "Jock" Moreland while he was stationed with the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) at Dover (Dover Castle) and they fell in love. He left for Halifax in 1907 and sent for Florence to join him in 1908.

Below is the passenger list from the S.S. Dominion showing "Florrie" Curd (22 years of age) aboard March 12, 1908

Florence's Mother Jane Anne (Wellard) Curd had died in June 1907 at the early age of 41 years.

On April 15 1908 she married John Moreland in Halifax Nova Scotia.
The other information we learn from Florence and John's Halifax marriage record is that John Moreland (26y) is listed as a "gunner" and his father Charles Moreland is listed as a "seaman". Florence Curd's (22y) father Alfred Curd is listed as a laborer.

Marriage record for Florence (Curd) Moreland & John Moreland
Purchased from www.novascotiagenealogy.com

1909 - Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton Born

On the 14 of March 1909, the first child of Florence and John Moreland, Dorothy was born. Pictured below

1915: Florence Dies From Tuberculosis

Florence (Curd) Moreland died on February 3, 1915 of tuberculosis at 29 years of age (see her death certificate below). She had been suffering with the illness for two years.

Death record for Florence (Curd) Moreland edited
Purchased from www.novascotiagenealogy.com

Florence's two daughters, Dorothy (my grandmother) and Florence, were removed to a foster home while their father John Moreland was overseas fighting with the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery (RCGA) as a gunner in World War 1(1916-1918).

Notably, the foster family's home was devasted in the Halifax Explosion but the family survived because they were visiting friends outside the city that day - December 6, 1917.

Florence (Curd) Moreland is one of few women buried at the Military Cemetery in Halifax (Fort Massey Cemetery site 1013) with their son Charles (site no 1175) who died at birth 1 May 1913.

Fort Massey Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia

1968 Reunion with Dover Curds

My grandmother Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton visited her Curd relatives in England in 1968.

Here are some photos from Nana's visits to England.

Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton in red dress holding hands with cousin Dorothy Knight (behind Dorothy Knight is her husband, Charlie Knight).
The young couple holding the two girls are Dorothy and Charlie’s daughter Diane, her husband and their two children.
The man standing in the doorway is Will Chandler (married Clara Alice, known as Alice).
Standing behind Dorothy Creighton is Dorothy Knight’s son

Far left: Dorothy's Aunt May (Curd) Daniel (b 1902-1989),
Ken Chandler (Alice and Will Chandler’s son)
wife and two sons.

Curd descendants Peter and Wendy (and friend Alan)

Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton seated at centre of Curd family descendants.
Dorothy Knight (left of Dorothy Creighton) and Dorothy's daughter, husband and children.

The Curd Family Tree

In September 1968, The Curd family reunited with the Canadian Moreland-Creighton clan and one of the "England cousins" drew this lovely family tree as a remembrance of the occasion. I have covered over the names of all living descendants for privacy reasons.

1968 Commerative Curd Family Tree

FYI: The Carrier Arms Pub

14 West St. Dover, England today

If ever I visit England, I want to have a drink at the Carriers Arms Pub (12 West St Kent) pictured here two doors away from 14 West St where Florence Curd lived with her family in 1891.

The Carriers Arms Pub was established in 1871 and has remained there ever since. When we found the Curd family on the 1891 census, Richard Beechum was the "Beer House Keeper".

Other Dover England Links:

Friday, October 31, 2014

52 Ancestors #44: Ice Boating in Windsor, Ontario

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "Have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”

My grandmother Rhea Fern (Coughlin) Moynahan's (1902-1992) photo album has been a wonderful inspiration for my #52Ancestors blog posts. Some of the pictures most fondly remembered by my father are pictures of his mother Rhea iceboating.

This blog post is devoted to the subject of my grandmother ice boating in the early 1900s.

Here is the photo page that my father fondly remembers:

The "Iceboating" page from my grandmothers photo album
circa 1920s

My grandmother Rhea Fern (Coughlin) Moynahan
iceboating (Windsor, Ontario)
(circa 1920s)

The Thrills of Ice Boating

I love that my grandmother was so adventurous in the 1920s when she was in her twenties! And the sport was generally enjoyed by men! It is uncommon to find photos of women engaged in ice boating.

Read the charming account of ice boating (below) from the Windsor Evening Record in 1908.

Iceboats would go forty miles and hour and the sails and tiller on ice would react much more quickly than sails and a tiller would on water. Skill was required or these craft would easily tip. And there was the danger of falling through the ice if the ice boat wandered on to thin ice!

From the Windsor Evening Record

Rhea's family moved from Wallaceburg to "Ford City" in 1918 (when Dominion Glass moved to automation sending glassblowers like Rhea's father looking for other work).

I am unable to place these photos in a specific time or place. The photos themselves offer few additional clues. There were a lot of ice boats on Lake St. Clair during this period of time. Both on the Michigan and Ontario shores.

The 1894 article "On Wings of the Wind" (below) tells us of the dangers and the pleasures of ice boating and advising "Don't go sailing with a novice unless suicidally inclined". We also learn that Poughkeepsie and Red Bank hold the ice boating speed records.

"There is no civilized sport more intoxicating than the form of sailing pictured herein today...the novice that is not swathed in newspapers, woolens, and warm furs will freeze....there is no protection from the wind on those skeleton shells...So when preparing to go ice boating it is wise to tuck a newspaper across one's chest and another across one's back, tie your coat sleeves tightly about your wrists, muffle up your head and ears and still expect the wind to whistle through you like a sieve."

"The sport is very popular in the Canadian Queen City and the fleet is numerous. Erie, Pa., Hamilton, Ont., Newburg - Poughkeepsie, Detroit, Mich., and Red Bank NJ all have lively ice boating clubs says the Buffalo Express. "

"Red Bank and Poughkeepsie hold the American Championships. The record for 15 miles is 20 minutes and 40 seconds....."

The Windsor Evening Record

The ice boats were also used to deliver mail and run whiskey during U.S. prohibition.

Postal History Corner

LINKS:

VIDEOS:

Thursday, October 30, 2014

52 Ancestors #43: The Photographic Camera and a Photograph Album

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge:

"Have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”

This weeks post is about my grandmother

Rhea Fern (Coughlin) Moynahan's photo album.

It is filled with pages and pages of nameless faces.