John James Scanlon

Rank:

Lieutenant

Regimental number:

10531

Unit at enlistment:

4th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Cemetery:

St. Paul's Cemetery, Almonte, Ontario

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Greater London

Birth city:

London, Hackney, Clapton

Address at enlistment:

36 Brighton Row, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

53 Shrubland Road, Walthamstow, London, England

Trade or calling:

Stenographer

Employer:

Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway

Religious denominations:

Roman Catholic

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX May 7, 1915

Letters Were Written Before the Big Fight – Yesterday’s Mail Brought Letters From Officers and Men at the Front – Lieut. Jones Refers to Some Terrible Sights Seen Along Roadside as Troops March Along

On the English mail which arrived here yesterday came a number of letters from Brantford men at the front to their relatives here. All of them had been written before the big battle north of Ypres, but even the letters tell between the lines, that there was something in the air.

The following letter has been received by Col.-Sergt. A. Hart, of the Dufferin Rifles, from Sergt. J. Scanlon, formerly with the Duffs, now with the Divisional Headquarters, Canadian Contingent:

April 19, 1915
“Somewhere the Sun is Shining”

Dear Arthur,

Was awfully pleased to get a letter from you and have conveyed your good wishes to the other boys of the 38th, through my brother, Joe, as he is still with the 4th Battalion, where he is a dispatch runner. I was transferred at Salisbury to the divisional headquarters, where all the nibs are and (I suppose you will be pleased to hear), I was promoted to staff sergeant. Our good old 38th has a very good percentage of N.C.O.’s. Brantford, therefore must have turned out some good soldiers – ahem! I shall not be sorry when the time comes again to fall in at the armories and hear Col. Howard’s usual command before the Monday night’s route march.

My word, didn’t we have some rain in England, and for a long time on the continent (Don’t we travel some?) but just now we are experiencing some beautiful weather, and it seems a shame there should be war all around us. We have been lucky in the last of casualties. Poor old Tommy Rose gone. He and Tommy Lockyer were a couple of lads in the cookhouse. It was as good as going to a music hall to see and hear them carrying on. When we get to Berlin the account will be a big one to settle. Remember me to all old pals. We get some narrow squeaks now and again, but I hope we shall pull through. The boys of the Canadian division have held their ground as yet and will continue to do so. We are well looked after in the way of food and clothes and bathing.

So long, and write soon,

Jack

BX June 8, 1915

Chocolates Arrived – Brantford Soldier Sends Acknowledgement of Children’s Gift, Sent at Christmas

S.W. Seago has received a letter from Staff Sergeant J.J. Scanlon, who left here with the First Contingent of Dufferin Rifles in which he acknowledges the receipt of a box of Cowan’s chocolates, which was sent on Dec. 11, 1914 from the proceeds of the children’s concert, given in the drill hall. All the Brantford soldiers received the same remembrances, and for some unknown reason the little packets were delayed in their delivery. The letter which was received by Mr. Seago follows:

May 25, 1915

Dear Sam,

I have just received a box from Cowan’s and I thank those who have been the means of my getting it.

Good luck,

J.J. Scanlon

Ottawa Journal, September 27, 1956

Captain John J. Scanlon Veteran of Two World Wars Dies

Capt. John James Scanlon, MSM, of 367 Echo Drive, who served overseas with the Canadian Army in both World Wars, died this morning in Civic Hospital follwing a brief illness. He was 71.

An executive member of the Ottawa Red Chevrons, Capt. Scanlon was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and Bar while serving overseas between 1914-1918 with the Fourth Battalion of the First Canadian Division. In 1940 he went overseas with the Canadian Forestry Corps and served as adjutant until 1943.

Retired in 1950

Following his return from overseas in 1920 he joined the staff of the Department of National Health and Welfare here. He retired in 1950 after 30 years’ service.

Born at Clapton, Middlesex, England, and educated at London, he was a son of the late Thomas Scanlon and his wife, Celia Kelly.

Coming to Canada in 1911, Capt. Scanlon was employed with the Massey Harris Company at Brantford and later with the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway before going overseas in 1914.

He was married in Ottawa in 1925 to the former Edna Young Coulter, who services.

Capt. Scanlon attended the Church of the Ascension and was a member of Beauly Lodge, A.F. and A.M., Inverness-shire, Scotland, and a life member of Doric Lodge, A.F. and A.M. Ottawa.

Former Scoutmaster

He was also one of the organizers and a former scoutmaster of the 19th Ottawa Scout Troop.

Surviving in addition to his wife, are a son, Joseph, of Ottawa, a former Journal reporter; one daughter, Mrs. Ingvard Pedersen (Kathleen), of Oakville, Ont.; three brothers, Joseph of Ancaster, Ont. And James and Francis, both of London, England; two sisters, Mrs. Claude Coyne (Margaret) of Newcastle, England, and Miss Eileen Scanlon, of London, England; and four grandchildren.

Funeral will be held Saturday from the Hulse and Playfair Funeral Home, 315 McLeod Street, for service at 10 a.m. in the Church of the Ascension, Echo Drive. The service will be conducted by Ven. Archdeacon C.G. Hepburn, assisted by Rev. R.S.V. Crossley and Rev. A.E.L. Caulfield. Interment will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Almonte.