Contains information relating to the military presence, recruitment, and police force in Bradford. Headings include: 1837 Rebellion Attestation Papers Battalions Served by Canadians Bond Head Armson Crash Boyd Gang Bradford West Gwillimbury Policing Col. Tyrwhitt Earl Bowles Early Militia Fenian Raids Korean War Photographs Royal Canadian Legion Veterans War Effort at Home World War I & World War II
*Military/Policing - Other

Event Date : Wednesday, December 19, 2001
Event Type : Death

Description : (Proprietor of Brad Walker Ford Mercury Sales Ltd., Newmarket 1951-1981; Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.), American Air Medal, Retired Squadron Leader in R.C.A.F. in WW II, Charter Member and Past President of Bradford Rotary Club). Peacefully at Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket on Wednesday, December 19, 2001. Brad Walker of Bradford in his 85th year. Beloved husband of Jean (Wrigton). Dear father of Rick Walker and his wife Lynn of Bradford, Maureen (Muff) and her husband Roger Blinn of Fairfax, Virginia, David Walker of Pointe-Claire, Quebec. Dear grandfather of Johnny, Lori, Bradley, Michael, Sharilynn and Amanda. Dear great grandfather of Taylor and Emily. Predeceased by his brother Clarke and Murray. Friends called at Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, Bradford for visitation. Funeral service will be held at the Bradford Trinity Anglican Church on Saturday, December 22, 2001 at 2 p.m. A private family interment at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, London. Donations to the Alzheimer Society of York Region would be appreciated.

Event Date : Saturday, January 09, 1971
Event Type : Death

Description : Died at Stevenson Memorial Hospital, Alliston. War veteran and one of the older residents of Cookstown.(Cookstown News)

Event Date : Wednesday, January 06, 1971
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Toronto, Ont.

Description : Died at Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto. War veteran and one of the older residents of Cookstown. (Cookstown News)

Event Date : Friday, April 22, 1966
Event Type : Death

Description : William Cyril Selby, whose pioneer ancestors in York County became early settlers in West Gwillimbury, died in York County Hospital on April 22, following a coronary. He was the last surviving member of his family to reside in this area. Born on the 9th Concession of West Gwillimbury, 76 years ago, Mr. Selby served throughout the years of the First World War with heavy artillery. Returning after the war, to the farm of his birth, he made his home there, and that farm his life interest, until 1960, when he purchased a home on Church Street and retired to Bradford. Of a quiet and kindly disposition, he was liked by his neighbours and other friends. He was a member of St. Paul's Anglican Church. The story of the Selby family is one which reminds us of the early history of this area, his great-grandmother having been Isabel Sutherland, a Selkirk settler, and another grandparent being a U.E. Loyalist. Mr. Selby was predeceased by two brothers, Mr. Ernest Selby and Percy, one time reeve of West Gwillimbury, and by a sister, Mrs. Roy Kneeshaw (Mary). Two sisters survive him, namely Mrs. Lena B. Selby of Asbury Park, N.Y., and Mrs. Thomas (Stella) of South Orange N.J. The funeral service was held in St. Paul's Anglican Church, Coulson's Hill, with the services being conducted by his rector, Rev. W. H. Warnica, and interment in St. Paul's Cemetery. The pallbearers were Dr. Selby Kneeshaw, Messrs. Carl Bowles, Keith Bowles, Victor Sloane, John Fennell and Sam Lee. Flower bearers were Messrs. Norman Bowles, J. L. Henderson, Waldy Crossland, Thos. Brown and Seward Lee.

Event Date : Tuesday, October 20, 1964
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Bond Head, Ont.

Description : Mrs. Bertha Isobel Strong Faris passed away in Bondhaven Nursing Home, Bond Head, on Tuesday, October 20, 1964, after a period of declining health.Born in Bradford over ninety years ago, Mrs. Faris was actively associated with the church, social and business life here before her marriage to the late Mr. W. G. Faris in November, 1904. She took an active part in the work, and the choir, of the Methodist Church here and, after graduating from Bradford schools, assisted her widowed mother, Mr. Wm. Strong, in the management of the Strong Shoe Store, which was a long flourishing business in the village.Her marriage changed her home but a few miles, to lovely Maple Farm in the Scotch Settlement, where for almost sixty years she had been closely associated with the life of the community and with the Scotch Settlement Presbyterian Church and its work, especially the WMS of which she was a life member. In 1947 she left the farm, residing for periods in Brampton, Toronto, Queensville and Newmarket, but frequent short trips to Maple Farm, occupied by her son Murray and his family, kept her in contact with old friends and surroundings.Mrs. Faris met the great sorrows in her life with Christian faith and courage. She lost her husband and her second son, Lieut. Keith Faris, who was killed in action in Italy on May 24, 1944, within a period of less than a year. She was also predeceased by her brother, Norman B. Strong, two sisters, Mrs. Harvey Graham (Clara) and Mrs. R. H. Perley (Florence); and by a half-brother, Walter R. Strong, and two half-sisters, Mrs. J. R. Y. Broughton and Miss Myra Strong.Mrs. Faris is survived by two sons, Gordon of Ralphton, Ontario, and Murray of Maple Farm, Bradford, and their families, Mary Lou (Mrs. J. Church) with CUSO in Ghana, Africa; Paul of Toronto; Susan, Allan and Jean of the Scotch Settlement.The funeral was held from the Scotch Settlement Presbyterian Church on Thursday, October 22nd. Mr. F. Reed, minister for the Presbyterian Churches was in charge of the funeral services, and interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford.The pallbearers were her grandson Paul Faris of Toronto; two nephews, Robert Sinclair of Barrie and Jack Graham of Toronto; two cousins, Neil Faris of Newmarket and George Faris of Cookstown, and a neighbour, Walter Lloyd of the Scotch Settlement.

Event Date : Wednesday, August 28, 1957
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Toronto, Ont.

Description : Dr. Watson died at his home in Toronto on Wednesday of last week. Dr. Watson and Mrs. Watson had visited Bradford during the centennial reunion. Dr. Watson was born near Kingston and was a graduate of Queen's University. He practiced at Granby for 12 years before joining the R.C.A.F. during the Second World War. After the war was over he practiced in Bradford for several years, where he was recognized as a skillful doctor. He is survived by his widow and one brother. Dr. and Mrs. Watson's only son, Craig was killed in a motor accident in 1952.

Event Date : Friday, June 17, 1955
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Calgary, Alta.

Description : A West Gwillimbury Township son, and a brother of the Township's Reeve, Dr. Ernest R. Selby passed away at his home in Calgary on Friday last, June 17. Dr. Selby had not been well during the past several months, due to a heart condition, and the message informing his family here of his death was not entirely unexpected. Born on the Selby farm, lot 12,
Concession 9, West Gwillimbury, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Selby, Dr. Selby attended Bowles' school and Bradford High School before taking his medical course at Toronto University. After his graduation he specialized at Gravenhurst Sanitorium, St. Louis, and at the Mount Royal Hospital in Montreal, before going to Calgary where he established a practice. He was in Calgary about two years when early in the First Great War, 1914-1918, he offered his services to his country. At that time western Canada units were not being recruited and Dr. Selby came east and signed as a medical officer. During his term of military service he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and also won several medals for distinctive service. The was over he returned to Calgary and about two years later he married Laura McQueen of that city, who survives him, with their two sons, Dr. Raymond Selby and Bill Selby, both of Calgary. Also surviving are two brothers, Percy and Cyril Selby, both of Bradford; and three sisters, Mrs. Roy Kneeshaw (Mary) of Bradford, Miss Lena Selby, R.N., of Asbury Park, N.J., and Mrs. George Thomas (Stella) of Orange, N.J. Dr. Selby was a member of the Anglican church. He was a Mason, having joined Simcoe Masonic Lodge, No. 79, Bradford, before going to western Canada. He took much interest in the St. John's Ambulance Corps and had an outstanding record in instructing for this Corps. The funeral was from his home in Calgary with interment in that city.

Event Date : Wednesday, May 18, 1955
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Matlock, Bath, Derbyshire, England

A former well known resident of this district passed away recently at Matlock, Bath, Derbyshire, England, in the person of George Washington Stoddart. The late Major Stoddart was born on March 5, 1877, the youngest and last surviving child of Robert Stoddart, and Sarah McConkey Stoddart, his wife. His early education was obtained at Middletown School and later at Bradford. Early in his career he became interested in military affairs and enlisted in the 36th Peel Regiment under the command of Lt.-Col. Tyrwhitt. He trained at Stanley Barracks, Toronto, and Wolsley Barracks, London, and rose to Captain of his Regiment. He offered his services in the South African War but his services were declined because of the small number of enlisted men taken from Canada. On June 4, 1902 he married the late Pearl Wood, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Wood of Bradford. The issue of this marriage are Winston and George Stoddart. He served on the Council of the Village of Bradford and was subsequently Reeve. Under his Reeveship, Hydroelectricity was first installed in Bradford. He constructed a number of houses in the Village, principally on Barrie Street. He was a lover of trees and many of the fine maple trees on the Village streets were planted during his term of office on the Council. On the outbreak of World War I he offered his services. Early in 1915 he went Overseas with the 74th Battalion. He lost a leg during the War, but returned to Canada only in 1919. Mrs. Pearl Wood Stoddart died on March 6, 1926. In 1943 he married Bernice Hardstaffe of Matlock, Bath, England, who survives him, as well as a daughter, Georgina, by his second marriage. In 1938 he went to England, making his home there until his death on May 18 last. He visited this country several times since the end of World War I and was keenly interested in Bradford and vicinity.