Letters home from Private Edward Ray Jackson who joined the 160th Bruce Battalion of the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Forces in 1916, 8 months before his 18th birthday. He served as a gunner in France with the 1st Battalion of the 1st Canadian Division under Marshal Ferdinand Foch and was wounded in action at Arras on August 30, 1918.
Hello Ruth, my name is Kent Kraemer and I am PA (Peter Alphonsus) Murray's grandson. I was researching the 160th and found your blog. I have spent hours reading Ray's letter's and matching the dates and events to my Grandpa's. I was thrilled to find another of Grandpa's friends. I was well aware of Norman Farquharson and took my family to visit his grave in Houchin British Cemetery in Pas de Calais in August 2010. In case you were not aware, Norman was KIA on March 22, 1918. I reviewed your photos with my Mom and unfortunately, there were a few mistagged. I will comment on the photos for your records. Also, Mom is unaware of any relation to Eileen Jackson as her paternal grandmother was Anne Donovan. I sincerely thank you for sharing your father in law's life and story. We have been looking for a way to honour Grandpa Murray and you have inspired me. Next time I'm up home, I will take another look at the WW1 photos that my Mom has and will post any of Ray if I can find him. Sincerely, Kent.
Kent, thank you for commenting on my blog. I am so happy the blog is achieving one of my goals of reaching descendants of Ray's friends. I knew that Norm Farquharson died his first night in the trenches and was buried in Houchin cemetery. Such a sad story. I did a bit of research on other friends like your Grandpa Murray but not much. We took a trip to the WW1 battlefields in Oct. with a wonderful guide who took us to where Ray fell and the nearby cemetery at Upton Wood where his comrades who fell on the same day were buried. Also spent a day on the Somme and at Ypres where Harold and Bill Skilling fell. Email me directly at rzaryskijackson@gmail.com I'd be grateful for any corrections on the photos or text on my blogs. Thanks again for your interest. Ruth
Hello Ruth, my name is Kent Kraemer and I am PA (Peter Alphonsus) Murray's grandson. I was researching the 160th and found your blog. I have spent hours reading Ray's letter's and matching the dates and events to my Grandpa's. I was thrilled to find another of Grandpa's friends. I was well aware of Norman Farquharson and took my family to visit his grave in Houchin British Cemetery in Pas de Calais in August 2010. In case you were not aware, Norman was KIA on March 22, 1918. I reviewed your photos with my Mom and unfortunately, there were a few mistagged. I will comment on the photos for your records. Also, Mom is unaware of any relation to Eileen Jackson as her paternal grandmother was Anne Donovan. I sincerely thank you for sharing your father in law's life and story. We have been looking for a way to honour Grandpa Murray and you have inspired me. Next time I'm up home, I will take another look at the WW1 photos that my Mom has and will post any of Ray if I can find him. Sincerely, Kent.
ReplyDeleteKent, thank you for commenting on my blog. I am so happy the blog is achieving one of my goals of reaching descendants of Ray's friends. I knew that Norm Farquharson died his first night in the trenches and was buried in Houchin cemetery. Such a sad story. I did a bit of research on other friends like your Grandpa Murray but not much. We took a trip to the WW1 battlefields in Oct. with a wonderful guide who took us to where Ray fell and the nearby cemetery at Upton Wood where his comrades who fell on the same day were buried. Also spent a day on the Somme and at Ypres where Harold and Bill Skilling fell. Email me directly at rzaryskijackson@gmail.com I'd be grateful for any corrections on the photos or text on my blogs. Thanks again for your interest. Ruth
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