The Diary of Ella Rogers, Volume 2: 1915-1916

Ella Isobel Rogers, Diary of Ella Rogers, Volume 2: 1915-16. Black ink and pencil on white paper, 33 pages. Cardboard-bound diary H: 28 cm, W: 17 cm, D: 0.5 cm. ©Mount Allison University Archives, Sackville.¹ Transcription ©MLC Research Centre. jkw/ak/ig

keywords: Belgium, births, church, dress, farming, funerals, France, Hopewell Hill, influenza (Spanish flu), knitting clothing (for soldiers), leisure (sleighing), Moncton, Mount Allison University, movies, music lessons, Peck family, recitals, recruitment, school, sickness, socials, sports (basket ball), war, weddings, Ypres, young people

summary: Ella Rogers was the daughter of Frederick Ernest Rogers, a farmer, and Jennie Eliza Rogers (née Moore), born in 1900 in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick. Her four siblings, Nellie, Bessie, Achsah, and Donald (Don), are frequent points of reference in the diary. Ella Rogers began keeping a diary at the age of eight. VOLUME 1: 1908-1915 covers the outbreak of the war, noting the recruitment of two local boys, Clyde Newcomb and Silas Wright, and her Uncle Donald Mackenzie Moore’s deployment on the front lines, where he was lethally wounded on 21 May 1915. In VOLUME 2: 1915-1916, Ella is a student while Nellie and Achsah are teachers. Ella’s activities place her in her rural home community while her siblings eventually take on positions in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In VOLUME 3: 1916, Ella Rogers is busy with socials, school, recitals, and knitting socks for the soldiers overseas. In VOLUME 4: 1916-1918, she references the federal election, conscription, the Halifax Explosion, the signing of the armistice, and the advent of the Spanish flu. VOLUME 5: 1918-1921 includes first-hand insight into the ordeal of the Spanish flu in the aftermath of the war, as well as insight into the popular post-war movie culture.

Transcription:

Diary

Ella I. Rogers²

G. H. NB

Sept. 26, 1915

 

26 September [1915]

Sunday

Rainy

It has been raining ever since dinner time. It was very cold last night. Quite a few people had things in their gardens freeze. Mr. M. Tingley mowed our hay on the marsh yesterday. Nellie³ & I went on about half past nine & picked cranberries. Mamma came on after dinner & brought out dinner to us. We came home about four o’clock. Nellie and I each picked a half a bushel.

Joe Smith left last Monday for Sussex where he is training. Lester Payne & Asa Procer⁴ inlisted [sic] a few days ago.

They are going a week from tomorrow to Sussex. Willie Keiver⁵ from Moncton inlisted [sic] also Mr. Ganong, the Principal of Ropewell Cape school

Don⁶ dug our potatoes Thursday & Friday. We had about fourteen bushels.

Nellie came up from Riverside⁷ Friday night in the van. She will go down with Frances in the morning.

Win Calhoun⁸ inlisted [sic] at the Recruiting meeting at Albert. Nellie stayed down to the meeting & came up afterwards with Uncle Fred & Mr. T. Wight. She boards at Capt. H. Turner’s.

Achsah⁹ spent last Sunday in Dorchester. She teaches just four miles from there. She was visiting Miss Elston in Dorchester. Miss Elston teaches at Tayloris] Village¹⁰ just a little [pier] from where Achsah teaches so they see each other often.

30 September 1915

Thursday

Bessie¹¹ bought a suit for Nellie and sent it Tuesday night. We expected Nellie up to-night to try it on, so we could send it right back if it didn’t fit, but she didn’t come. She will be up tomorrow night. She expects to go to Institute at Hillsboro¹² the last of next week.

There is a political meeting in the Hall tonight. There will be an election next Tuesday. The Liberal candidates are Carnwath & Pye and the Conservatives are Christopher & Cleavland.

1 October 1915

Friday

Fine

Mr. Wagstaff took pictures of the school to-day. He took each room separately and then both together. It was taken at the back of the school house along by the trees by the brook.

Mr. De Wolfe was married a week ago Wednesday. He They came home last to-night. They are boarding at Cliff Wests. They are going to have a reception for them tomorrow night.

2 October 1915

Saturday

Fair

It has been lovely weather all day but it is quite cloudy now and looks like rain. Nellie, Mamma and I went on the marsh to pick cranberries today. We got all there was left. I guess we got about a bushel and one half altogether.

Nellie is to choir practice now. It is in the Methodist Church Fannie Tingley plays.

3 October 1915

Sunday

Rainy

It has been raining a little all day.

Last Sunday it was raining and awfully windy. There wasn’t any church in the evening.

6 October 1915

Wednesday

Cloudy

Yesterday was election day. Carnwath and Pye were ahead of the Conservatives. Carnwath lead.

Yesterday afternoon I went down with Gertie to Riverside and visited Nellie’s school. Gertie was going over home in the Midway van. Nellie & Frances came up home last night with me. I got a drive ride in a car both ways.

Nellie went to Institute this morning. Also both teachers from our school.

There was election of officers in Division last night. I am A. R. S. I have not missed a night a [sic] Division since I joined. Nellie & I got cards for Joe Smith last night. Don got a letter.

There was more drinking at the election yesterday than there has been for quite a number of years but we are glad to say it was not among our Hill young men.

9 October 1915

Saturday

Rainy

Achsah came across on the ferry at noon yesterday and came down from the Cape in the train. Nellie came last night too. Achsah was down with Frances for tea tonight.

There are a lot of cases of typhoid fever in Dorchester. There have been seven deaths already. They think the germ was in the milk that a lot of people bought from a certain family. There are over forty cases now.

Mr. Clark is visiting at Mr. McGorman. We got the last of our hay in Wednesday Thursday.

11 October 1915

Monday

Fine

This is Thanksgiving day. It is a lovely morning. It is quite cold out but is as clear as can be. We had our Thanksgiving dinner yesterday as Achsah has to go back to her school today. She had to drive to the Cape and will leave here before twelve o’clock.

There is going to be a social at Sara Smith’s. It is to get money to buy material for the people of the Patriotic League to work with. I am going to recite.

16 October 1915

Saturday

Fine

Last Monday afternoon Mr. O’Hanley who used to work here in Mr. Stevens [sic] blacksmith shop drove down from Hillsboro with another fellow. He stayed here for tea and the other fellow went down the road for tea. They both went to the social and then went home soon afterwards. There was a large crowd to the social. They made over $18. The basketball boys gave $2 that they had left over from last winter. Miss Doherty went home for Thanksgiving and didn’t come back until Tuesday so she is teaching today to make up for it.

Nellie came up last night. Mr. Opie was here for tea. Viola Newcomb is quite sick. They had the doctor twice. I guess there is something wrong with her liver. She is quite a lot better now and is going to get up soon.

Mrs. De Wolfe had her reception Thursday & Friday Wed. & Thursday. Thelma Russell waited on the door. Mrs. Alden Peck helped receive Miss Alberta. Richardson served and Mrs. Geo. Russell poured tea. Mama was there Wednesday.

Mable [Steeves] has gone to Moncton for a few months.

21 October 1915

Thursday

Foggy & Cloudy

Willy McGorman took Nellie down to Presbyterian church Sunday night.

Monday night I went up to Mrs. McAlmon’s. A lot of us girls made red crosses to sell fair day for the soldiers disablement fund. We made over $25.

There were a lot of people at the fair. Tuesday night there was a missionary meeting. Mr. Pierce spoke. Nellie had to play so she went to the meeting and the rest of us went to Division. Last night we went up to Mrs. McAlmon’s to see about sending the money away. Mamma went up to Mr. Tingley’s so Gertie & I went up too after we got through at Mrs. McAlmon’s. Yesterday was the fair at Albert Harvey and today and tomorrow is the fair at Albert.

Cyrus sent Mamma a snap shot of he and uncle Don. It is very good.

23 October 1915

Saturday

Fair

Don went down to the Albert Fair yesterday afternoon. He walked down & came back on Everett Newcomb’s train. Everett joined the fair there this year & got a great many prizes. Quite a few people were down from the Hill yesterday afternoon. There was a concert in the evening Nellie stayed down to that. Arch O’Henley was down from Hillsboro and he brought Nellie up. He hired a car.

Josie Dolson wheeled down here yesterday afternoon. He will stay until Monday morning.

Achsah went to Institute at Moncton this week. She went up Thursday morning. It is quite windy today. A very cold wind too.

26 October 1915

Tuesday

Fine

Josie left about nine o’clock Monday morning. Sunday night the Alma minister Mr. Kingston preached here. He was a nice preacher. Mrs. David Tingley has a baby boy. Everett Newcomb Newcomb [sic] got $21 in prizes at the Albert Fair. Ethel Ryan was visiting at Riverside last week. She drove up to see us but we were all away.

28 October 1915

Thursday

Fine

This is a lovely day. Warmer than usual. The war is looking very bad at present. The 26^th Battalion¹³ is in Belgium fighting now. There were quite a number from that battalion in the casualty list last night. The 64^th Battalion¹⁴ that Joe & Lester are in was nearly all Nova Scotia men so now they are taking the N. B. men out of it and putting them in the 104^th.¹⁵ So it will be all Nova Scotians.

30 October 1915

Saturday

Rainy

We had a thunderstorm this morning about eight o’clock. It has been raining all day. The weather is just about like it was a year ago today.

Mamma & Don drove down to Albert yesterday. They brought Nellie up with them. They are having their quarterly exams in the Riverside school now. I have been helping Nellie find the averages and making out their report cards.

Uncle Luther is getting water in his house. He is also getting a well dug in the barnyard.

3 November 1915

Wednesday

Fair

Nellie came up last night and went down this morning. Uncle Fred went to the Grand Division at Point de Bute¹⁶ Monday. The Hill people are going to send a Christmas box to the boys at the front some day next week. They are sending mostly fruit cakes.

6 November 1915

Saturday

Snowy

It is snowing today. The first snow storm we have had this fall.

Mr. M. Tingley went to Grand Division Thursday morning. They are packing the box for the boys this morning at Mrs. [Albert] Newcomb’s. Most of the boys round here brought boxes of chocolates and gum to send.

We got our coal for the furnace yesterday. We don’t use it in the furnace until about Christmas time.

11 November 1915

Thursday

Cloudy

We have had rainy weather all this week. Henry and Eli each got a deer yesterday today. It is the second one Eli has got. Joe Smith came home last night. Merrill Russell¹⁷ enlisted a few days ago in St. John. He ha is working in a drug store there. Mrs. Tingley & Uncle Fred got back from Grand Division.

14 November 1915

Sunday

Fair & Cold

It is quite a cold day today. This is the first day this fall that I have worn my muff.

There is a supplement with war picture [and] it comes every Saturday with the Telegraph.

Clark Write [sic] enlisted a few weeks ago.

21 November 1915

Sunday

Fine

Joe went back Monday. Lester came come Monday night & is going back in the Morning. Guy Russell¹⁸ enlisted. He is out west but his name was among the ones that enlisted in St. John. The 104^th regiment is full now but I guess they are going to make a double one of it. They are also recruiting for the 115^th.¹⁹ Col. Fowler²⁰ is in charge of the 104^th & [Wedderburn]²¹ of the 115^th. There was a recruiting meeting at Albert Thursday night. Nellie was there, Sergeant Knight spoke. He has been to the war and is wounded in several places. Only one fellow enlisted. He was from Turtle Creek.²²

The Anniversary of the League here is Friday. They are going to have a public meeting in the Methodist church. The choirs are practicing every night now. Mrs. De Wolfe was returning her calls last week. She hasn’t been here yet. They are going to move to Albert some time this week.

Miss Doherty’s sister is here now. She came Friday night. Miss Doherty changed her boarding place to Mrs. McAlmon’s a few weeks ago.

Mr. Fred Robinson is worse lately. Mr. Russell & [Arth] stayed with him all night last night.

Mr. Ruphus Steeves the Director of Agriculture for the schools was here last week in the school. Mrs. [Hazen Adin] has a baby boy. It was very windy. Friday night. A big willow tree near Mr. McGorman’s blew over. It is quite warm today. A returned missionary from Persia is going to preach this afternoon in the Baptist Church.

25 November 1915

Thursday

Cloudy

I found out later that Guy was in St. John when he enlisted. He came home Monday night. His people didn’t know he was coming. He said he didn’t know he was going to enlist until he got to St. John. Joe & his father & Mr. John Robinson went to New Ireland hunting. Steve, Conn & Eli Robinson & Henry went in Friday morning. Sat. night they brought a moose out and another one Tuesday.

Mr. F. Robinson died Tuesday morning. The funeral is to-day. The man in the B. Church Sunday that preached wasn’t a returned missionary. He was a Persian & came to Canada to get an education. He intended to go right back to Persia but on account of this war he can’t get back so he is going through N. B. giving lectures & missionary talk. He is going to be a missionary when he goes back. He gave a very interesting lecture last night.

[L??y] & his father & Mr. John Robinson came home late last night. Mr. Russell got a moose.

27 November 1915

Saturday

Misty

Josie came down last night in the train. He and Mamma were up to visit the school after recess.

There were quite a few people at the League Anniversary last night. All the women and girls that were in the League sat in the front seats. They made about 8 and something over. They didn’t have any admittion [sic] just took up a collection. I recited [Belgium.] John Peck, is visiting his parents Mr. & Mrs. Judson Peck.

2 December 1915

Thursday

Snowy

It snowed all day yesterday & a little bit today. It is not very good sleighing though as the roads were very muddy when it snowed.

Josie went home Monday morning. Don & I got up at four o’clock and went to the station with him. Sunday Dr. Borden preached here. Miss Doherty’s sister went back Tuesday.

5 December 1915

Sunday

Snowy

The roads are awfully muddy here now. It is snowing a little now but the roads are so muddy it melts.

Aunt Josephine is very sick. She has had quinsy for quite awhile. They sent for Julia. She came Sat. The doctor was up to-day.

Eli enlisted a few days ago. He was examined & passed. He will be in the same regiment as Guy. They are not sure yet where they will drill. I guess they are going to St. John in the morning to see about it.

Henry went to Hillsboro yesterday to enlist in the Siege Battery. Haven’t heard whether he was accepted or not. He hasn’t come home yet.

Fred Newcomb²³ enlisted & is training in Halifax. Mrs. Newcomb & children are here now.

8 December 1915

Wednesday

Rain

Aunt Josephine died Monday night about ten o’clock. She died before Doctor Carnwath got there. The funeral is tomorrow. Herbert & [Hanter] are coming to-day. Aunt Annie went down yesterday & got Frances. Millie is coming up to-night in the van.

Silas wrote home that Albert Steeves²⁴ was killed in the trenches. He stuck his head up too far as [sic] was shot. Hugh & Clyde started to carry him to one of the base hospitals but he died before they got there. His people hadn’t heard it. It wasn’t in the papers.

Henry came home Monday. He didn’t pass the exams.

Aunt Maggie has a very bad cough & sore throat. It makes her very weak & she feels sick. She lays down most of the time.

There was [no] division last night on account of Uncle Fred. Mama was up there Monday.

10 December 1915

Friday

Fair

The roads were awfully muddy yesterday but they froze a little last night and are still frozen.

Aunt Josephine’s funeral was after the train came in yesterday. Mr. Opie came in the train. The women didn’t go over to the cemetery so there were very few men in the procession, just Uncle Fred, Herbert, Grandpa, Don, and Clarence. We hired Mrs. McAlmon’s horse to go up with.

Lucy Dobson is just getting over an attack of appendicitis. We are practising at school now for examination day.

16 December 1915

Thursday

Fine

Miss Doherty had her examination today. We have ours tomorrow. There were a lot there today. We borrowed the Division organ & are going to have come choruses. We have the room decorated up a little. I went up [the ???] last night with Mamma to Mr. Roy [Mariner] Tingley’s.

Tuesday evening a crowd of girls & boys came up from Albert to play basket ball. Division was out early so Henry, Don, Orpah, Alma & I went down afterwards. There were eight girls up from Riverside & Albert. I met four of them.

Sara & Orpah played with them. After the girls were through the boys played a game. Mr. Mackenzie refereed. He enlisted & is going to [drill] after Christmas. Merrill Russell has been training in Sussex but he has gone to St. John now to train there.

21 December 1915

Tuesday

Fair

Friday night Henry took Nellie down to Albert skating. I was down on the pond skating after Prayer Meeting. There were only a few there. Last night there was quite a crowd there. It is good skating at the Lake now. Achsah came across the ferry Saturday & came down in the train.

We are going to send Bessie’s Christmas parcel to her to-night. Mrs. Fred Newcomb is here now practicing a solo that she is going to sing Christmas Sunday.

23 December 1915

Thursday

Fair

I was skating last night. There were only a few on the ice. Nellie was up to Mrs. McAlmon’s practicing the Christmas music for Sunday. Achsah & I were skating on the railroad ditch this afternoon. I wore Don’s skates. Don took mine down to Riverside today to get sharpened but the man was sick & could not sharpen them. Lester, Joe, & Fred Newcomb came home today for Christmas.

26 December 1915

Sunday

Rainy

It snowed all day Friday & there was good sleighing yesterday but it has been raining snowing hard all day & the snow is nearly all gone.

We didn’t have a large Christmas tree this year only one about a foot high on the table in the living room. It is the first Christmas I can remember that we haven’t had a Christmas tree.

Some of the presents Nellie is going to give haven’t come yet & Bessie’s presents to Don & I haven’t come yet. Bessie got her photo taken & sent one to Mama. Nellie and Achsah all in different positions. They are very good. Don got a photo of Josie in his cadet suit. It is fine. Mama got a new black plush coat & a new hat. She is not wearing any colors now.

The minister read a letter in church today from Clyde & Silas to the members of the choir & congregation of the church. Merrill Russell came home Friday night. Some of the boys cleaned a path of the ice off to skate on but when we went on last night there was about an inch of water in some places so we didn’t stay long but came off & some of them played basket ball. Joe in in [sic] the evening.

Mrs. Wagstaff has the church decorated up very nicely today. We had a new [donor] [?odl??].

30 December 1915

Thursday

Fine

There was a Red Cross social Monday night at Mrs. McKay’s. There were a lot there. We They made $20.

Arch O’Hanley came Monday in the train & went back yesterday morning. His brother Clem enlisted a few days ago but did not pass.

A week ago Tuesday night George [Steeves], Carl Newcomb, Allen Newcomb, & Charley Tingley joined Division & last Tuesday Douglas Milburn joined.

They Don & I were skating yesterday. Some were skating last night. I got a pair of hockey boots & Don put my skates on them yesterday morning.

Bessie’s Christmas parcel came Tuesday.

Merrill & Joe went back Tuesday morning. Fred & Lester went back with him. Frances went to Pedicotiatic²⁵ Tuesday.

Mr. & Mrs. Allingham were here for Christmas also Henry Newcomb.

1 January 1916

Saturday

Fair

Guy & Eli came home yesterday for New Years. They are

Achsah & I were skating after Prayer meeting last night. The ice is not very good.

Clark Wright came home yesterday. He was in this morning & Guy was in last night.

5 January 1916

Wednesday

Snowy

Fannie Tingley was married last night to Henry Nelson. It was a very large wedding. There was a chivaree. I was there. We girls went in afterwards & stayed a few minutes. The Division gave her a cut glass water pitcher. There was no Division. There was a large crowd at the chivaree. Some from Lower Cape.

It snowed yesterday & made good sleighing and it snowed a little this morning but it has turned to mist now.

Nellie went to Sussex to an Agricultural School for teachers Monday & Achsah also went back Monday. Guy, Eli, and Clark went back that morning. Frances came home today. An lot of people round here have been sick with colds & sore throats. I have a bad cold but went to school today.

We were skating Saturday night.

10 January 1916

Monday

Fine

We have had some quite cold weather lately. The only zero weather we have had this winter. We haven’t had hardly any sleighing this winter. There is not a hit [sic] of snow on the ground now.

Nellie came home Saturday. Don drove [???] & Frances down to school this morning. Nellie every one around here had had or has the “grippe” now. I have been sick since Wednesday night. I am better now but can’t eat anything and so I am weak yet. May is sick today so there is no school in her room. Alma Robinson has been real sick. She had the doctor once or twice. Aunt Annie is sick in bed. There are about nine or ten other people sick around the Hill.

Willie McGorman & his mother went to Sussex Thursday morning. Janie is quite sick. Willie came home Saturday.

12 January 1916

Wednesday

Fine

I was out last night for the first time since Wednesday. I was to Division. Chester, Basil & Stanley Steeves joined Division. Don is not very well now. I guess he has the grippe. May is not all better yet. There is no school in her room this week. Don, Mamma & I played games this evening.

It snowed Monday night & there is good sleighing now. The boys cleared some of the snow off the pond last night so they could skate.

15 January 1916

Saturday

Fine

Mamma & I were to Prayer Meeting last night. It is very cold weather now & lovely sleighing. The wind has been blowing hard all day but it has gone now & it is lovely out. Very moon-light.

18 January 1916

Tuesday

Fine

It was very cold this morning. About 14° below zero. Last Sunday Mr. Markham preached in the Baptist church as Mr. De Wolfe was away. His wife was visiting at her home in Margaretsville & she took sick & he went to see her. They came home Saturday. She is not real well yet.

A lot of people are sick yet with the Grippe. Most of the girls and boys have had it but a great many of the children are sick now. Henry Nelson has blood poisoning in his arm. They are afraid he will have to have his arm taken off. He scratched his arm a few days ago & they suppose he got cold in it.

Mrs. Judson Peck died Saturday morning. Jonny Peck came Sunday. The funeral was yesterday. Momma went up with Cliff West. We had school as Miss Archibald didn’t feel able to go. Don has gone over to Division to make the five. It is nearly Division time now.

21 January 1916

Friday

Fair

It snowed last night a little. Frances had the Grippe. She came home from Riverside Tuesday with sick and she is in bed now but is getting better. Henry Nelson is getting better. Tonight after school I walked over to meet Nellie. I met her by Mr. Miles Tingley’s. Edna & Nina Hayward brought her up so I came back with them. Achsah has a cold now. She expects t the the [sic] Grippe. I guess people all over Canada have it. Maggie Archibald has had it. She is in Vancouver teaching school. Mary Russell had it too. She is visiting Eva in Boston.

26 January 1916

Wednesday

Fair

Last night some of the Albert boys & girls came up & played basket ball. I went down after Division. It rained Saturday night & now it is icy on the roads. I guess in a good many places there is bare ground. Nearly every one takes a wagon now. It has been very mild these last few days. Ms. McGorman got home today. Lester Payne has been home for a few days. He is going away in the morning. Don & I went down playing Basket Ball to-night. It is the first night I have played.

30 January 1916

Sunday

Fine

It is good sleighing now and is quite warm today. I was down watching them play Basket Ball last night. Three people were up from Albert playing. Miss Sinnet is spending the week end with Miss Doherty. She was down last night. She teaches in Harvey. She went to Normal the same year Achsah did.

2 February 1915

Wednesday

Snowing

It has been snowing a little this evening. Mrs. Harry Russell has a little baby boy. Mrs. McRack (Mrs. H. Woodworth’s mother) was buried today. She died with pneumonia. The service was in the Methodist church. Billy O’Conner died with a paraletic [sic] stroke. He was buried in New Zeeland to-day. A. Wilson from Albert was also buried today. Mrs. Ruben Woodworth is real sick.

This is the last page of the diary. The following is written underneath what appear to be math related notes.

Parliament building burned.

Fire started at 9 Thursday night. Feb. 3 1915.

Went to concert in consolidated school Friday. Feb. 25

Calhoun’s funeral Wed. Feb. 23.

Clark Merrill, Joe & Mary Home.

Uncle Pard home.

---

1. Digital reproduction received on 8 October 2019 via David Mawhinney, archivist, dmawhinney@mta.ca; 506-364-2563.↩︎

2. Ella Isobel Rogers was born 21 July 1900 in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, as the fifth child to Fred E. Rogers, a farmer, and Jennie Rogers (née Moore). Her parents’ background was Irish. See birth record.. Ella became a teacher and worked as a teacher for several decades. In October 1942, at the age of 42, she married Harry Downey, who owned a lumber business in Curryville, Albert County, New Brunswick. See marriage record.↩︎

3. Nellie Pauline Rogers was born 10 June 1893 in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick to Fred E. Rogers, a farmer and Jennie Rogers (née Moore). Nellie taught school in Riverside (Riverside-Albert), New Brunswick, from at least 1915 to 1916 before moving to Minto, Manitoba, to teach in August 1916. She attended the Teachers Institute in Brandon, Manitoba, starting in 1917, and later worked as a teacher in Nanton, Alberta. Ella Rogers mentions her frequently. See birth record.↩︎

4. Procer is a misspelling for Prosser; there were two Asa Prossers from New Brunswick who enlisted for war service: Asa Prosser, born 22 April 1892, and his brother Asa William Prosser, born 9 February 1898.↩︎

5. Lieutenant William Burt Keiver was born 26 August 1896 in Albert County, New Brunswick, and enlisted in the 85^th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force on 15 October 1915. He was discharged on 10 May 1919. “Personnel Records of the First World War - CEF 490352,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/37ShrwZ.↩︎

6. Donald Alexander Rogers was born 29 April 1899 in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick to Fred E. Rogers, a farmer and Jennie Rogers (née Moore). See birth record.↩︎

7. Riverside: Village in Albert County, New Brunswick.↩︎

8. Winrey Moore Calhoun was born 10 October 1883 in Lower Cape, New Brunswick, and enlisted in the 104^th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force on 25 September 1915. He died in action on 8 August 1918. “Personnel Records of the First World War - CEF 82078,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/37PCa4F.↩︎

9. Achsah Gallacher Rogers was born 5 October 1896 in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, to Fred E. Rogers, a farmer, and Jennie Rogers (née Moore). She was educated at the Provincial Normal School in Fredericton and taught in Rockland and Midgic in 1915 and 1916. She began teaching in Antler, Saskatchewan, in August 1917, before moving to Alameda, Saskatchewan, and later Rowley, Alberta, in 1918 and 1919 respectively to teach grades six, seven, and eight. Like her older sister Nellie, Achsah figures prominently in Ella Rogers’ diary. See birth record.. ↩︎

10. Taylor Village: Village located between Memramcook and Dorchester, on the Memramcook River, New Brunswick.↩︎

11. Bessie Moore Rogers was born 21 August 1894 in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, to Fred E. Rogers, a farmer and Jennie Rogers (née Moore). See birth record.↩︎

12. Hillsborough is a village in Albert County, New Brunswick.↩︎

13. 26^th Battalion, Infantry. Organized at Saint John, New Brunswick, November 1914 and arrived in France 15 September 1915. Consisted of 42 officers and 1008 other ranks. Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force: Infantry Battalions. Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/3mzIoJW.↩︎

14. 64^th Battalion, Infantry. Organized at Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 1915 and arrived in England 9 April 1916. Consisted of 38 officers and 1089 other ranks. Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force: Infantry Battalions. Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/3mzIoJW.↩︎

15. 104^th Battalion, Infantry. Organized at Sussex, New Brunswick, October 1915 and arrived in England 5 July 1916. Consisted of 42 officers and 1084 other ranks. Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force: Infantry Battalions. Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/3mzIoJW.↩︎

16. Point de Bute: Community in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.↩︎

17. James Merrill Russell was born 19 June 1897 in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, and enlisted in the 104^th Battalion on 18 November 1915. He was discharged on 22 February 1919. “Personnel Records of the First World War - CEF 606766,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/2JbhppE.↩︎

18. Private Guy Fife Russell was born 26 June 1897 in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, and enlisted in the 115^th Battalion on 13 December 1915. He was discharged on 14 July 1919. “Personnel Records of the First World War - CEF 617966,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/3jJmGRU.↩︎

19. 115^th Battalion, Infantry. Organized at Saint John, New Brunswick, November 1915 and arrived in England 31 July 1916. Consisted of 34 officers and 801 other ranks. Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force: Infantry Battalions. Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/3mzIoJW.↩︎

20. Lieutenant Colonel George William Fowler was born 24 February 1861 in Hammond Vale, King’s County, New Brunswick, and enlisted in the 104^th Battalion on 13 September 1915. He was discharged on 1 January 1918. “Personnel Records of the First World War - CEF 397094,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/3oHEGQj.↩︎

21. Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Vernon Wedderburn was born 16 April 1861 in St. John, New Brunswick, and was appointed to commissioned rank for the 115^th Battalion on 10 November 1915. He was discharged on 28 February 1919. “Personnel Records of the First World War - CEF 288584,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/2HDub00.↩︎

22. Turtle Creek: Community in Albert County, New Brunswick.↩︎

23. Lieutenant Frederick James Newcomb was born 7 April 1888 in Memel, Albert County, New Brunswick, and enlisted in the 104^th Battalion on 16 December 1915. He was discharged on 15 September 1919. “Personnel Records of the First World War - CEF 559512,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/3mDhUHs.↩︎

24. Albert Harry Steeves was born 7 January 1892 in Hopewell Hill, Albert County, New Brunswick, and enlisted in the 26^th Battalion on 5 November 1914. He was killed in action on 17 November 1915. “Personnel Records of the First World War - CEF 249399,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/2TDc1O9.↩︎

25. Pedicotiatic: Misspelling of Petitcodiac, village located on the Petitcodiac River in Westmorland, New Brunswick.↩︎