Oscar Burton Fennell

Rank:

Gunner

Regimental number:

305071

Unit at enlistment:

8th Brigade C.F.A., 40th Battery

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario

Commemorated at:

Wesley United Church

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Bruce

Birth city:

Chesley, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

48 Brighton Place, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

48 Brighton Place, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Clerk

Employer:

J.R. Fennell and Son

Religious denominations:

Methodist

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX May 18, 1917

Pte. Oscar Fennel is Doing Nicely – Bullet Was Still in His Shattered Arm at the Time he Wrote

Private Oscar Burton Fennell, son of J.R. Fennell, Erie Avenue, who was numbered among the wounded at the battle of Vimy Ridge, has written to inform his people at home that he is doing nicely in the Ontario Military hospital at Orpington, Kent, England. His letter was dated April 29, and he wrote:

April 29, 1917

You will notice that I was lucky enough to get into a Canadian hospital. We are about 15 miles from London, and it is a dandy place, with all Canadian doctors and nurses. I arrived here the day before yesterday and sure was glad to get settled, because it is no fun travelling with a bone in your arm fractured; the “humorous” bone, they call it, but believe me, it is far from being humorous. I still have the ball in my arm, but a bit of an operation will take it out. I have seen a picture of it in the X-ray and it is a nice clean looking pill.

Mother asked in a letter some time ago if I ever saw “Busty” Moyer. I used to often see him; in fact we lived in the same billet for five weeks. The weather has been fine ever since I got hit, and it has seemed rotten, lying in bed some of those nice days. It was pretty cold up on Vimy Ridge after I got mine, and I had to hide in an old German dug-out till morning, and then walk back a couple of miles to the dressing station. After that I travelled in ambulance, train and boat. The hospital trains and boats are fitted up pretty comfortable, but it is pretty rough travelling in the motor ambulance; especially up near to the line, where the roads have been badly cut up with the traffic. They use thousands of these big three ton motor trucks, and they make a mess of a road if it is a little soft.

BX May 2, 1917

J.R. Fennell, of 48 Brighton Place, has received word that his son, Gunner Oscar Burton Fennell, was seriously wounded on April 21. Gunner Fennell left with a Brantford battery.

BX October 9, 1917

Returned Soldiers

The following men were expected to leave Halifax on Monday, October 8 and may reach Toronto on Wednesday, October 10: Sergeant Percy Unsworth, Cpl. William Neil McKinnon, Privates Albert Leopold Aldred, Herbert Roscoe Fisher, Oscar Burton Fennell, Earl Hutchinson, Stanley Shoebottom.

BX October 11, 1917

Two Veterans Have Returned – Privates Aldred and Fennell Were Welcomed to Their Old Home

At least two returned soldiers arrived in the city last evening. About 6.30 Mr. George MacDonald, secretary of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission, received word that several men would arrive on the G.T.R. at 7.32. In all eight men were expected back, so he hurriedly gathered together a number of the members of the commission and four automobiles and met the train. A number of the members of the Great War Veterans were also at the station with their cars. Only two men, Privates Aldred and Fennell arrived on the International Limited, and they were taken to their homes after they were welcomed. It is thought that some more returned veterans arrived over the T.H.B.

BX January 15, 1966

Oscar Burton Fennell

Oscar B. Fennell, 71 of 70 Allenby Avenue died today at the Brantford General Hospital. A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John R. Fennell he was born at Chesley but resided in Brantford most of his life. With his brother, Harry, Mr. Fennell operated Fennell Brothers Grocery Store in Eagle Place for 45 years prior to his retirement in 1958. He was a veteran of the First World War serving with the 8th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He served overseas in France and Belgium. Mr. Fennell was a member of Wesley United Church. Surviving besides his wife, the former Blanch M. Graham are one brother, Harry of Brantford; one sister, Mrs. D. (Nora) Lorimer of Toronto; several nieces and nephews. Mr. Fennell is at McCleister Funeral Home for private service Sunday at 2 p.m. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.