Harold Joseph Ireland

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

406106

Unit at enlistment:

36th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Cemetery:

St. Josephs Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Brant

Birth city:

Brantford, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

Kennedy Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

Kennedy Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Moulder

Religious denominations:

Roman Catholic

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX March 14, 1916

For Examination

Private Harry Joseph Ireland, Kennedy Street, who left here with the third contingent and after spending several months in various hospitals in England suffering from a severe form of rheumatism, returned last November, left for Toronto today for a final examination, necessary to receive his pension. Mr. Ireland was at one time a well-known wrestler and sportsman, but his sickness in England has left after effects that will prevent him from indulging in active sport again.

BX November 20, 1915

Many Invalided Men Arrived

Four Brant County men have been returned to Canada, invalided out of the service owing to wounds. Three of these have been taken to the Soldiers’ Convalescent Home in Toronto, these being Private Harold Joseph Ireland, 36th Battalion, Kennedy Street, city; Bugler Albert Charles Lewis, 1st Battalion, 139 Chestnut Avenue, city and Pte. Charles H. Bloxham, 10th Battalion. The fourth, Private Aylmer Donald Fraser of Paris, returned to Paris. The men formed part of the 142 men who arrived at Toronto yesterday and who were given a big reception in Toronto. It is not known when they will come home here.

BX November 24, 1915

Returned Men Came to City Very Quietly – Paris man Went Through and Private A.J. Rose Slipped Home – Men Were Mixed Up at Toronto

Private A.J. Rose of 19th Battalion, residing at 25 Foster Street, and Private W.J. Roach 27 Cayuga Street, both invalided home with rheumatism contracted at Shorncliffe, England, both disappointed because they did not get to the firing line, came home last evening. They slipped out of the train and into a taxi and went home, avoiding the reception given to Pte. Bloxham and Bugler Lewis. Both are on two weeks’ furlough from the convalescent home, Toronto. Rose is from near London, England, and Roach from Devonshire.

At least these two returned heroes slipped unostentatiously into the city last evening and managed to miss the big civic reception prepared for them. Had it not been for a mix up in Toronto all the men would have arrived on the 6.42 train as per schedule.

The wounded men were taken to the Union Station in Toronto in two batches from the convalescent home. At the station they both arrived from different directions and one went to the front of the station while the other went to the rear. The ambulance that arrived first went to the rear of the station and waiting for the second car, missed the first train.

Through this mix-up Mr. J.C. Bloxham, who was in Toronto to meet his returned son, missed him at the station, and while his son came in on the first train, arriving here in time for the reception, the father didn’t get in till shortly after 8 o’clock.

There is still uncertainty here as to how many arrived. Bloxham only knew of two other men besides himself on the train he came in on, and that was Bugler Lewis, who got his share of the reception. The other was a Paris man, but he went directly through to Paris.

Then on the train that Mr. J.C. Bloxham arrived on was Private H.J. Ireland, of the 36th Battalion, residing on Kennedy Street.

It is somewhat of a matter for lament that the unavoidable mix-up occurred in Toronto for all the returning heroes were thus unable to participate in the reception prepared for them.

Private J.H. Ireland, Kennedy Street, who left here with the 36th Battalion sailing for England on the 18th of June with the third contingent, returned here last evening on the 8.34 G.T.R., having been delayed owing to the mix-up at the Union Station. Ireland was only in England two weeks when he was taken with chronic rheumatism and spent four and a half months in various hospitals. He is home for a week and then goes to the convalescent home in Toronto.

To a reporter Private Roach told stories of deadly Zeppelins in the night sky and sudden darkness and silence in English camps. He said:

“I was sent home from France suffering from rheumatism and left the men of the 19th Battalion behind me. Life in the English camps had done for me. We marched four days and nights through mud and rain, and only bivouacked for short intervals. Zeppelins make life in an English camp as dangerous as France.” Roach says that all the 19th are at the front.

BX June 28, 1922

Death of H. Ireland Followed Wire Accident

Was Able to Loose Himself From Pole, Falling a Flaming Torch to the Ground 30 Feel Below, Sustaining a Broken Arm – Clothes Were burned Off Him and Death Ensued This Afternoon

Died of Injuries

Death from the effect of his injuries came at 3 o’clock this afternoon, after he had suffered greatly. The passing did not come as a surprise, as little hope had been held out from the first.

Coroner Dr. C.C. Fissette was notified, and a jury was impanelled for the holding of an inquest.

Details of Accident

With his body covered from head to foot with painful and severe burns, caused by flaming oil, and with his left arm and several ribs broken and with injuries internally, Harry Ireland, Western Counties’ lineman, lies in a critical condition at the General Hospital. Reports from the hospital today stressed the critical nature of the unfortunate man’s condition and the accident of which he was a victim may yet prove fatal.

Ireland, along with Foreman Clifford Main, was yesterday working on a pole, just a few feet south of the East End fire station, Ireland was strapped to the pole immediately in front of the transformer and nearly 30 feet from the ground, and Main was working just above Ireland. Suddenly the transformer flared up as a fuse was being placed in it. The transformer box was a seething mass of flame in an instant and Ireland was completely enveloped in the fire. He cut the belt which held him to the pole, and jumped to the ground. Main climbed down past the flaming box to safety. Ireland, however, was wearing heavy woolen clothing and this was burned to a cinder. In fact there were only bits of cloth here and there remaining. Main was less seriously burned.

The ambulance was rushed to the scene and Ireland taken to the hospital where he was attended to by Dr. Wiley. Main was removed to his home after his burns had been dressed but Ireland’s condition aroused great anxiety and it is doubtful whether or not he will pull through.

Ireland is a big, well-built man, formerly well-known here as a heavyweight wrestler. He is a married man with a family of several children. His home is on Sydenham Street, Terrace Hill.

BX June 29, 1922

Obituary

Harold J. Ireland

There died at the General Hospital at 3 o’clock yesterday, Harold Joseph Ireland, whose sad death by accident was reported yesterday. Dr. C.C. Fissette held an inquest upon the body at Beckett’s undertaking parlors and after viewing the remains the jury adjourned till next Tuesday, to sit in the police court. Mr. Ireland was 33 years of age. He lived at 107 Sydenham Street and leaves in sorrow his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. George C. Ireland, his wife and five children, Olive, Grace, Harold, Douglas and Helen, and two brothers, George and John. The funeral will take place on Saturday morning of this week from the home on Sydenham Street to St. Basil’s Church and from there to St. Joseph’s burial ground.

BX July 4, 1922

To the Grave

Harold Joseph Ireland

The funeral of the late Mr. Harold J. Ireland was conducted on Saturday morning from his residence, 177 Sydenham Street, to St. Basil’s church and thence to St. Joseph’s cemetery. At the church requiem mass was sung by Rev. Father Dogorski and the pall bearers were Messrs. Herman Huff, Gordon Huff, Joseph McCall, Charles McDonald, Charles Casey and Steven Kovecs. Many friends and relatives were present and the floral tributes some of which were received from the Society of Linemen and other organizations with which the deceased was connected, were very beautiful. At the church Mr. Harry McCabe sang “Face to Face.”