Anthony George THURLOW Sr

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    Anthony George, or George, was the son of James and Thirza (nee ALDRIDGE) THURLOW.  He was born at Mellis, Suffolk, England.  His family moved from Suffolk some time after 1881 to St. Mary's Cray, Kent, England.  George's parents were living at St. Mary's Cray when he enlisted with the 16th Bedfordshire Regiment of the Royal Army in 1889.  He served with the 16th Bedfordshire for the next 13 years.  During his time with the Regiment George spent 8 months on duty in Malta; nearly 6 years in East India; and, fought in the South Africa (Boer) War of 1899-1902.  For his service with the 16th Bedfordshire's George was awarded the India Medal 1895 with clasp for the Relief of Chitnal 1895, and Medal of South Africa 1899-1902 with clasps: Cape Colony, Wittebergen 1901, Transvaal 1902. 

    Just prior to departing England for South Africa George married Alice MacDonald, daughter of Samuel and Eliza MacDonald of Orpington, Kent.  Their first child was born before George went to war.  George and Alice had three more children when they left England for Canada in the summer of 1907.   After a long military career George took his family to Northern Ontario to small village of Nairn Centre west of the city of Sudbury.  Nairn Center was a station on the Algoma Eastern Railway line by whom George was employed.  He became an established member of the Nairn Center community.  He served on the local School Board and a was a member and one-time Master of the local Loyal Orange Lodge.  George was also elected to serve as Reeve of Nairn Center from 1940-47.

Ever the career soldier at heart and with the European campaigns of WW1 taking many young men's lives George enlisted with the 119th Over Seas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in February 1916.  He arrived in England in August of 1916 where he was given the rank of Acting Lance Sergeant.   The photo shown here was taken about this time.  He remained encamped at Bramshott, England until May 1917 when he reverted to the ranks in order to proceed over seas with 124th Battalion CEF.  He remained with the 124th Battalion, seeing action in France and Belgium, until May 1918.  He was wounded twice in that period returning to duty both times.  George remained on the continent from May to December 1918 employed in the Labourer Pool.  With the ceasation of hostilities on the continent George was returned to England and back to Canada in January 1919.

George left Nairn Center after 1947.  Alice had passed away in 1941.  He spent his last few years at the home of his daughter, Daisy Davidson, in Caistor Centre, Ontario near the city of St. Catharines.  He passed away at the Sunnybrook Military Hospital in Toronto, Ontario 10 May 1952.  He is buried at the Victoria Lawn Cemetary, with military honours, in St. Catharines, Ontario.   George had eight children, 26 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren all living in Canada, mostly in the Sudbury, Toronto, and St. Catharines area.

Written by David Weston, 30 Aug 1999. (George is my wife, Miranda's, great-grandfather)

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