Dear Editor
I had an uncle (my father's brother), Mornington Otto Lea, who was sent to Canada in 1909 at age 10 as the family was orphaned.
I have been able to trace the sailing details but after his arrival in Halifax on June 9, 1909 aboard the SS Carthaginian, I can find nothing further until 1917 when he enlisted in the Canadian army as a volunteer at the age of 16 or 17 to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
His place of enlistment is given as North Battleford. His occupation was listed as "labourer." His army number was 10/8725
He was wounded a few days before the armistice and died of his wounds on Nov. 22,1918.
I put a search into the 1911 Canadian Census, but no record was revealed, which suggests to me that he might have been passed to a family, who never registered him as part of the family. Tales of exploitation are not unusual.
Anyone with information about this man is urged to contact me at [email protected]
Stan Lea
10 Ricksey Close
Somerton
Somerset TA11 6PN
England
