Genealogy Chat

Hi, does anyone have world-wide Ancestry membership or could otherwise do a look-up elsewhere for a Bartholomew Smith who served, it's believed as an officer, in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during WW1? My gg-grandmother's youngest brother, his birthdate was 24 Sep 1884, and he was born Leytonstone, Essex. It's believed he stayed in the army until he was penioned off after a massive heart attack aged only 42. He then returned to England. Any information would be gratefully received.

Have you seen this Army Pension Record on Ancestry

Name: Bartholomew Smith
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1886
Age at enlistment: 19
Birth Parish: Leytonstone
Birth County: Essex
Document Year: 1905
Regimental Number: 6199
Regiment Name: Lancers of the Line
Number of images: 6

Canada, Soldiers of the First World War, 1914-1918 about Bartholomew Smith
Name: Bartholomew Smith
Birth Date: 24 Sep 1885
Birth Location: Leytonstone, London, England
Relative: Mrs S Smith
Regiment Number: 22692

was 8 years in 7 th lancers

Attestation papers for soldiers WW1 Canada are free here:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/index-e.html

His arrival in Canada?

Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
about Bartholomew Smith Name: Bartholomew Smith
Gender: Male
Age: 28
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1885
Birth Country: England
Date of Arrival: 28 Mar 1913
Vessel: Lake Manitoba
Search Ship Database: View the 'Lake Manitoba' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: St.John, New Brunswick
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
Roll: T-4828

Original says he was a stableman, had been in Canada before for 8 years, 1905-1913.

A visit to England 1930:

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
about Bartholomew Smith Name: Bartholomew Smith
Birth Date: abt 1884
Age: 46
Port of Departure: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Arrival Date: 21 Sep 1930
Port of Arrival: London, England
Ports of Voyage: Plymouth
Ship Name: Aurania
Search Ship Database: View the 'Aurania' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Cunard Line
Official Number: 147277

Original says he's going to 179 Newport Rd., Layton E. 10, London. he's a medical orderly.

And his return to Canada:

Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
about Bartholomew Smith Name: Bartholomew Smith
Gender: Male
Age: 46
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1884
Birth Country: England
Date of Arrival: 13 Oct 1930
Vessel: Ascania
Search Ship Database: View the 'Ascania' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: Quebec
Port of Departure: Southampton, England
Roll: T-14770

Heading home to 1a Gerard St., London, Ontario to join wife Mrs. Grace Smith.

Note: He was aged 46 at this time.

:-D This is all brilliant information! Thank you so much, Family Tree Fairies!
x

This looks like his permanent return to England, he says England is his future permanent residence. He's heading to the same address as the previous visit. Curiously he doesn't have his wife with him.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
about Bartholomew Smith Name: Bartholomew Smith
Birth Date: abt 1885
Age: 46
Port of Departure: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Arrival Date: 29 Jun 1931
Port of Arrival: London, England
Ports of Voyage: Quebec
[Plymouth]
Ship Name: Alaunia
Search Ship Database: View the 'Alaunia' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Cunard Line
Official Number: 147315

Another visit to England, this time heading to 36 Cobbold Rd., Leystonstone, London, occupation attendant.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
about Bartholom Smith Name: Bartholom Smith
Birth Date: abt 1884
Age: 41
Port of Departure: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Arrival Date: 1 Aug 1925
Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England
Ports of Voyage: Quebec
Ship Name: Megantic
Search Ship Database: View the 'Megantic' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: White Star Line
Official Number: 127981

If you go to the URL Margee posted above, and take the search help link instead of the search link, then you can see how to buy a copy of his service record. Once you have that, you'll know his unit, and also via the search help link, you can find the War Diaries of most units. WDs give a day by day account of what the unit was doing. Other ranks are rarely mentioned by name, but since your guy was an officer, there might be some mention of him, especially if he was wounded.