A Week of Remembrance, Day 1

Every day from Nov. 1 to Remembrance Day, The Banner is remembering the 49 men named on the Chatsworth Cenotaph, in the order they died. Each entry gives only what the records show: rank, unit, date of death, his tie to our township and where he is buried or commemorated. Where records disagree, we say so. Where a hometown isn't documented, we list it as Unknown.

Day 1 remembers 5 men who died between April 23, 1915 and September 9, 1916.

Private James Harold Minorgan

Private James Harold Minorgan. Photo: Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Canada; contributor Operation Picture Me.

• Service number: 7239
• Unit: Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment) 1ST Bn.
• Date of death: April 23, 1915 (killed in action)
• Hometown: Chatsworth
• Local tie: CVWM next of kin: "Son of James and Mary Minorgan, of Chatsworth, Ontario."; Named on the Chatsworth Cenotaph (VAC National Inventory inscription).
• Burial or memorial: Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery (I. F. 7.)
• Note: An April 1916 Owen Sound Sun photo caption calls him Corp. J. Harold Minorgan and says he was killed at the battle of Langemarck; the Canadian Virtual War Memorial lists him as a private and names no battle.
• Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/138533); Chatsworth Legion Branch 464 honour roll; Chatsworth Cenotaph inscription (VAC National Inventory).

Private William John Finnie

No verified photograph of Private William John Finnie has been found. The silhouette stands in for him.

• Service number: 55201
• Unit: Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) "A" Coy. 19th Bn.
• Date of death: November 28, 1915
• Hometown: Unknown
• Local tie: No documented tie to Chatsworth, Holland or Sullivan found beyond his name on the Chatsworth Cenotaph. CVWM: "Son of John and Mary Finnie, of Salem, Ontario."; CVWM gallery: "Finnie was born in Elora, Ontario, and enlisted in Toronto".; Named on the Chatsworth Cenotaph (VAC National Inventory inscription).
• Burial or memorial: La Clytte Military Cemetery (I. B. 17.)
• Note: His name is on the Chatsworth Cenotaph, but The Banner rates his documented tie to the township as unconfirmed.
• Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/438349); Chatsworth Legion Branch 464 honour roll; Chatsworth Cenotaph inscription (VAC National Inventory).

Private Frederick Charles Merriam

No verified photograph of Private Frederick Charles Merriam has been found. The silhouette stands in for him.

• Service number: A/20426
• Unit: Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) 16th Bn.
• Date of death: June 13, 1916 (killed in action, attack south-east of zillebeke)
• Hometown: Chatsworth
• Local tie: CVWM next of kin: "Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Merriam, of Chatsworth, Ontario."; Named on the Chatsworth Cenotaph (VAC National Inventory inscription).
• Burial or memorial: Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Sp. Mem. H. 21.)
• Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/490242); Chatsworth Legion Branch 464 honour roll; Chatsworth Cenotaph inscription (VAC National Inventory).

Private Wellwood Robert Crane

No verified photograph of Private Wellwood Robert Crane has been found. The silhouette stands in for him.

• Service number: 838790
• Unit: Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment) 147th Bn.
• Date of death: August 20, 1916
• Hometown: Chatsworth
• Local tie: CVWM next of kin: "Son of Mr. R. N. and Mrs. E. Crane. of Chatsworth, Ont."; Named on the Chatsworth Cenotaph (VAC National Inventory inscription).
• Burial or memorial: Chatsworth (Shiloh) Cemetery
• Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/425175); Chatsworth Legion Branch 464 honour roll; Chatsworth Cenotaph inscription (VAC National Inventory).

Lance Corporal Howard Marsh

No verified photograph of Lance Corporal Howard Marsh has been found. The silhouette stands in for him.

• Service number: 47891
• Unit: Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) 15th Bn.
• Date of death: September 9, 1916
• Hometown: Chatsworth
• Local tie: Legion 464: "Son of Mr. John Alexander & Mrs. Isobel Susan Marsh, Chatsworth, Ontario"; Named on the Chatsworth Cenotaph (VAC National Inventory inscription).
• Burial or memorial: Puchevillers British Cemetery (IV. B. 3.)
• Note: His name is on the Chatsworth Cenotaph, but The Banner rates his documented tie to the township as likely rather than confirmed.
• Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/511756); Chatsworth Legion Branch 464 honour roll; Chatsworth Cenotaph inscription (VAC National Inventory).

About this series

Records used: the Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Veterans Affairs Canada), the Chatsworth Legion Branch 464 honour roll, and the Veterans Affairs Canada National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials entry for the Chatsworth Cenotaph, with Owen Sound Sun and other newspaper reports where noted. Photographs are from the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Canada, where they are posted on the soldier's own record. If you have a verified photograph or family record of any of these men, write to news@chatsworthbanner.ca.