Leonard Stephen AVERY

On The War Memorial Trail…..A Photo For WWII Soldier Leonard Stephen Avery

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December 17, 2022. When Pieter began researching the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion in 2015, he hoped to put a face and story to each of the 48 names.  Over the years he’s researched each name, and we’ve told the story of each one, plus shared our visits made to the graves or memorials for many of them.

The Cenotaph Wall of Remembrance in the Borden-Carleton Legion, which displays the photos of the men listed on the Cenotaph, has empty frames for those photos still waiting to be found.

A few weeks ago a photo of WWI soldier James CAIRNS was submitted, ending a 7 year search.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/12/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-photo-for-wwi-soldier-james-cairns/)

…The 7 year search for a photo of WWII soldier Leonard Stephen Avery…

CIMG6065 Empty frame for Avery

Empty frame patiently awaiting a photo of WWII soldier Leonard Stephen Avery.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Not long after the photo of James Cairns was sent, Pieter was overjoyed to receive a photo of WWII soldier Leonard Stephen AVERY, born March 20, 1924 in Bedeque to John Avery and Mary Ellen Arsenault. 

Leonard died accidentally in Ontario while on guard duty at the Chippewa Power Canal in Welland County on the evening of August 23, 1943.  For some unexplained reason, he was accidentally shot through the head while examining a rifle, causing a massive destruction of his brain and multiple skull fractures.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/11/26/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-who-was-accidentally-shot/)

No family came forward with a photo, and we thought perhaps the 7 year ongoing search would go on for many more years.  But then, we heard from Judie Klassen, who has helped with difficult searches in the past. 

…How a photo of Avery was found…

Judie wrote that “…I noticed a number of very recent postings on the Borden-Carleton Through the Years Facebook page that were from Mike Gaudet.  One discussion mentioned Lena Avery (Mrs. Gilbert Arsenault) who was Leonard’s aunt. It appears Lena got married the same day as her brother John and wife Mary (Leonard’s parents)….” 

Judie included a link to the Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1564604580644445&set=gm.5454416931343343&idorvanity=281593188625769

With this clue, Pieter contacted Mike Gaudet, who checked and did have a photo. Pieter asked Mike if he was a relative, and was told “….Not directly related.  The old albums I have came from a lady who died this year and whose mother was an Avery who married a Wedge...”

The photo sent by Mike was of Leonard in uniform with a little girl on his lap.  Pieter realized that this was Leonard’s sister Ruby.

Avery from Mike Gaudet restoration Duane MacEwen

Leonard Stephen Avery with his sister Ruby.  (Photo courtesy of Mike Gaudet.  Photo restoration and colourization: Duane MacEwen)

Another 7 year search that has been successfully concluded!

…9 photos are still to be found for the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion….

The photo of Leonard Stephen Avery is now on the Legion wall, and Pieter hopes that more of the empty frames will be filled over the coming year. “…Unfortunately, photos for 8 from WWI and 1 from WWII are still missing on the wall….” he said.  Can YOU help with this photo wish list?

Names still without faces from WWI

  • Leigh Hunt CAMERON, born in Albany
  • James Lymon CAMERON, born in Victoria
  • William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington
  • Bazil CORMIER, born in Tignish
  • Joseph Arthur DESROCHES, born in Miscouche
  • Charles LOWTHER, born in North Carleton
  • Arthur Clinton ROBINSON, born in Tryon
  • Harry ROBINSON, born in Augustine Cove

Names still without faces from WWII

  • Ernest Ramey GALLANT, born in Borden

A huge thank you goes out to Mike Gaudet and to Judie Klassen for their help in obtaining a photo, and to Duane MacEwen for help in photo restoration. If you can help with the photo search request or have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.   

…Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so.  See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/ or email me at dariadv@yahoo.ca and ask for an invitation to the blog. 

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEuropeDaria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information on the book, please see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw. 

© Daria Valkenburg

On The War Memorial Trail…..The WW2 Soldier Who Was Accidentally Shot

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November 26, 2019. Sometimes a tragic accident takes the life of a young soldier, even from the relative safety of being based in Canada during wartime.  This is what happened to Leonard Stephen AVERY, born March 20, 1924 in Bedeque, son of John Avery and Mary Ellen Arsenault.  Avery’s father died in 1926, leaving his mother a widow with two young sons – Leonard Stephen and his older brother John Austin.  In 1930 his mother remarried, to Horace Melvin Gaudet, and had 8 children with her second husband.

On January 12, 1943, Avery enlisted at the #6 District Depot, General List in Charlottetown, and was transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Canadian Army, and stationed in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. He was on guard duty at the Chippewa Power Canal in Welland County on the evening of August 23, 1943 when for some unexplained reason he was accidentally shot through the head while examining a rifle, causing a massive destruction of his brain and multiple skull fractures.

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Gravestone of Leonard Stephen Avery, in St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Seven Mile Bay, PEI.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

The Charlottetown Guardian of August 31, 1943 reported that “Mrs.  Horace Gaudet of Bedeque received a telegram yesterday afternoon advising that her son, Pte Leonard Avery of the First Garrison Regiment, had been accidentally shot and killed.”

The Summerside Journal of September 2, 1943 recorded that: “P.E.I. Soldier Killed in Ont. Pte. Leonard Avery, 18, of Bedeque, P.E.Island, stationed at Camp Niagara with the 1st Garrison Regiment under command of Lt. Col. Carmichael, was killed shortly after seven o’clock on Sunday night when a rifle he and his fellow soldiers were examining was said to have accidentally discharged, Headquarters of Military District No. 2 said.”

The article also noted that his brother John Austin Avery and his stepfather Horace Gaudet were serving with the Canadian Forestry Corps in Scotland. On September 3, 1943 he was buried in St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Seven Mile Bay.

Although Avery came from a large family, no photo of him has yet been found.  In addition to his brother John Austin, his Gaudet half-siblings were: Walter, Frederick, Edwin, Albert, Ivan, Lillian, and Ruby.  One child, Mary Blanche, died in childhood.  If you have a photo or stories to share about Leonard Stephen Avery, please contact Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

 

Upcoming Presentation in Crapaud

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July 9, 2018.  Everyone is invited to attend the upcoming presentation about the Cenotaph Research Project at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Crapaud on Thursday, July 12, 2018.  Below, please see poster and a list of photos of soldiers we are still looking for.  Can you help???

Poster Cenotaph Research Project presentation

Names still without faces from WWI

  • James CAIRNS, born in Kinkora
  • Leigh Hunt CAMERON, born in Albany
  • James Lymon CAMERON, born in Victoria
  • William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington
  • Bazil CORMIER, born in Tignish
  • Joseph Arthur DESROCHES, born in Miscouche
  • James Graham FARROW, born in Argyle Shore
  • Charles LOWTHER, born in North Carleton
  • Arthur Clinton ROBINSON, born in Tryon
  • Harry ROBINSON, born in Augustine Cove

Names still without faces from WWII

  • Leonard Stephen AVERY, born in Bedeque
  • John Daniel FERGUSON, born in Borden
  • Ernest Ramey GALLANT, born in Borden
  • Singleton Charles JEFFERY, born in Bayfield, New Brunswick

The Cenotaph also lists an F. ARSENAULT.  No information at all has been found for someone of this name from this area.

As a separate project, Pieter is helping researchers in The Netherlands who are looking for photos and information on Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands.  If you have a relative with a grave in The Netherlands and would like to participate, you can email your photos and info to Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca and he will forward the information on your behalf.  Or you can drop off your photos on Thursday and after being scanned they will be returned to you.

© Daria Valkenburg

 

Another Photo For WWII Soldier George Preston Smith

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March 21, 2018.  In two previous blog entries the story of George Preston Smith was shared. SMITH, of Kinkora, was with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, and lost his life in a freak accident in Belgium during WWII when his gun went off while he was trying to pull it out from under a pile of coats stashed in the back of a military truck.  (See On the War Memorial Trail ….. At The Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek and On the War Memorial Trail ….. PEI Soldiers Buried In The Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek)

After reading an article mentioning Smith, “On the War Memorial Trail ….. PEI Soldiers Buried In The Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek”, published in the County Line Courier, one reader, who asked to remain anonymous, shared a photo of George Preston Smith with Alice van Bekkum of the Faces To Graves Foundation in The Netherlands and also with Pieter as part of the Cenotaph Research Project.

George Preston Smith

George Preston Smith (Photo courtesy of Smith’s family)

This generous gesture is giving this soldier an additional layer to his personality, as can be seen from this undated photo.  If you have a story about George Preston Smith or more photos, please let us know.

Smith is buried at Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  If you have photos or information on any other WWII soldiers who are buried in The Netherlands, please help the researchers at the Faces to Graves project by sharing that information. Photos and stories can be sent either through their website at http://facestograves.nl/index.html or by email to info@facestograves.nl.  Alternatively, you can contact us at dariadv@yahoo.ca and we’ll forward on your behalf.

In looking at missing faces for the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph Research Project, which this blog documents, we are still seeking photos for the following:

Names still without faces from WWI

  • James CAIRNS, born in Kinkora
  • Leigh Hunt CAMERON, born in Albany
  • James Lymon CAMERON, born in Victoria
  • William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington
  • Bazil CORMIER, born in Tignish
  • Joseph Arthur DESROCHES, born in Miscouche
  • James Graham FARROW, birthplace unknown
  • Charles LOWTHER, born in North Carleton
  • Arthur Clinton ROBINSON, born in Tryon
  • Harry ROBINSON, born in Augustine Cove

 Names still without faces from WWII

  • Leonard Stephen AVERY, born in Bedeque
  • John Daniel FERGUSON, born in Borden
  • Singleton Charles JEFFREY, born in Bayfield, New Brunswick

Please check your old photo albums and see if you might not have one of these men in them!  Our goal is to find a photo for them all!  Please share your comments and stories by emailing us at dariadv@yahoo.ca or by commenting on this blog.

UPCOMING PRESENTATION: Pieter has been invited to speak about the Cenotaph Research Project at Central Trinity United Church in Breadalbane at 7 pm on Sunday, March 25, 2018.  Photos and information about soldiers welcome.  Members of the Tryon & Area Historical Association will be present to accept donations to the “Muttart Memorial Fund”.

© Daria Valkenburg