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View Tree for Jesse SargeantJesse Sargeant (b. 14 Oct 1894, d. 07 Feb 1939)


Picture of Jesse Sargeant
Cpl Jesse Sargeant

Jesse Sargeant (son of William Sargeant and Martha Milda Robinson)267, 268 was born 14 Oct 1894 in Owen Sound, On268, and died 07 Feb 1939 in Parkview Veteran's Hospital, London, Ontario268. He married Nora Mary Mothersell on 13 Jun 1915 in Owen Sound , On268, daughter of John Thompson Mothersell and Elizabeth Jane Vary.

 Includes NotesNotes for Jesse Sargeant:
[SargeantFamilyTree.FTW]

CORPORAL JESS SARGEANT

Jess was the eldest son of William Sargeant and Mildred Robinson. He was born on 14 Oct 1894 in Derby Twp, near Owen Sound Ontario

"I believe that my father"s (Christian) name was Jess. There is an inscription in a book his mother gave him in which it is spelled that way." and not Jesse.--Nick Sargeant

The service records from the Veterans Affairs Department also show an interesting thing. Where his name is shown on his enlistment papers, the name shows as Jesse with the last "e" crossed out. His demobilization papers show his signature as "Jesse".

"Jess used to come in on my clean kitchen floor. We didn't have linoleum or anything and had to scrub the wooden floor. He came in and his feet were dirty. I was mad at him and I just pushed him out the kitchen door and he hit his knee on the coal-oil can spout. He (then)fell down and played dead. I was so frightened. I was just terrified. Then when I was all sorry and weeping, he jumped up and laughed. My I was mad."---Mildred Stratton.

"My brother could never say elephant. He always said Umphiant. He saw the umphiants at the circus."--Mildred.

There is a photo on page 74 of the 1902 students of SS No. 2 Derby Twp school , The History of Derby Twp. Jess is shown on the front row, second from the left.

Jess worked for Solly Amacher in Owen Sound as a Gardener. Solly had a place near the cemetery. Produced all sorts of produce for him, strawberries, beets, carrots. When Jess worked there he used to bring big bunches of bananas that had got too ripe home. He would bring great big bunches on his back. We sure ate lots of bananas.--Dow

He was tall, quite handsome, quiet in nature, He loved his mother and brought her home a lovely shawl--Roseline

On our way home from Sunday School as young children we saw a racoon and her baby. I ran all the way to our house and told Jess about our find. He was soon on his way to capture this pair of wooley attractive animals which became real pets around our place. They even followed Jess to work once. As we neared home with our catch, Jess pulled out a 25 cent piece from his pocket and gave it to me. He was happy I had reported these "coonies" to him. --Roseline

One a year we had a big Good Friday windstorm which played havoc with our maple bush from which Dad and the boys had cut logs. Jess was helping with the work in the bush and cut his foot badly with the axe. He had to spend time in the house as it was healing. During this time he made me a lovely doll's quilt on the machine I believe. I never have forgot that act of kindness, even though I was very young.---Roseline


"Do you remember when Jess went off to war?--John

"He went early in the First War, with five Derby Boys. George Becket didn"t come home nor Roy Feltis. They were both killed overseas. I don"t know about the other two."-Mildred


Owen Sound Sun
20 May 1915
This morning the citizens said goodbye to the third contribution of Grey county"s sons , one hundred and eighteen stalwart men who have heeded their country"s call. Of this number ninety one are citizens of Owen Sound .
Grey Boys in Third Contingent........

Pte Augustus King, Owen Sound, age 20, single born in Canada, gardener.........

Pte Jess Sargeant, Owen Sound age 20, single born in Canada, gardener.

There is a photo of Jess and several others from the Owen Sound area, in uniforms prior to leaving for France in the History of Derby Township. The photo credit erroneously states that Jess went over in the first contingent. He went in the first replenishment of troops.

There are other photos of Jess, Nora and Jean in many of the family albums. Several have been reproduced in the photo section of this record.

Dow talks of his mother hearing him grunting out in the kitchen and going out to see what was the matter. They had a big wood stove and Jess and he used to sit near the stove where it was warm. Here was Jess, he"d come home on leave, sitting behind the stove on the floor with his arms around Dow, hugging him so hard he grunted. She told him to stop that he was hurting him. He said "I"ll be missing him. This is why I"m going over there."--John

"I believe he served at Passendale and Ypres"--Mildred

Service Record 409184
Enlisted 11 June 1915, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
(Some of the people from the Owen Sound area that enlisted on or around the 11 June 1915, are listed in the Appendix.)
Theatres of Service, Canada, Britain, France
Discharged-15 March 1919, Toronto Ontario
Type of Discharge-Honourable
Rank on Discharge-Corporal *(Dow says that he was offered the sergeant"s rank, but refused because of his surname.)
Medals-British War Medal, Victory Medal

Enlistment papers
Trade at Enlistment - Gardener
Description of Jess Sargeant on Enlistment
Apparent Age-21, Height 5"91/2", Eyes - blue, hair - reddish,
Religion-Methodist

Original Battalion was the 37th

He was granted permission to marry by the officer commanding 37th Battalion some time in July 1915, he does not know the exact date.

Next of kin-Nora Sargeant, 864-10th St East, Owen Sound Ontario Canada.

For further details of his service record, see the Appendix. Photocopies of the originals of these documents are on file with the writer.


Indications are that Jess served as part of a machine-gun crew in the 21st Battalion of the 2nd Division of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces.

1 August 1995 from National Library 21st Battalion War Diary.
"14-15/08/1917 Attack on Hill 70
Among those whose works deserve special commendation in this connection and as runners are L.Cpls GA Brown and J Sargeant and Ptes WW McGure, C Colwell and W Lloyd"

Capt Herbert W McBride, A RIFLEMAN WENT TO WAR, 1935 ,
Forward:
"It was such fighting ability that enabled my 21st Battalion to come home with the record of never having been given a black eye in over 4 years of active participation in the war. They never went after anything they did not take, and they never gave up anything they captured. Of the original 1058, less than 105 are now alive, most of them buried in Flanders fields and the Somme.
"W.S. Hughes"



Letters Home
During his stay in England and France, Jess wrote home and some of the correspondence survived. There are several post cards, now in the possession of his son Nick Sargeant of London, the texts of which are reproduced here;




Dec 2, 1915
Bramshot Camp
Lipbrook Hants Eng
Dear Folks
Just a card showing you that I am still on the salty water. This is a picture of our vessel, which I never want to see again. I am well but have been sea sick. We are 250 miles from England. We are sleeping on top deck tonight with our life belts on as we are in danger of subs.
J.S.

2 Feb 1916
Bramshot
Lipbrook Hants
Dear Mother
Received your parcel OK and was more than pleased with the socks for they came in very handy. Got the on the 24th of last month. This is one of the cards I got when I was on pass. Some swell place. We are breaking out camp here and I don"t know where we are going. There are nearly half of the camp leaving this morning. I hear them churning yet. I am well and hope you are the same.
from your son, Private J Sargeant
Post marked Pte J Sargeant , Staff 32 Batt, Bramshott Camp, Lipbrook Hants Eng.

22 Mar 1916, London
Dear Mother
I am enjoying myself on six days pass to London before I go to France. Am well.
From your son, Pt J Sargeant, London

27 Jun 1918
Seaford (spelled Ceaford)
Dear Mother
These are some of the views I saw while on leave. We got these cards in his majesties shafts(?). Aren't they swell. A little different from dad"s hackneys. Drop us a line if you receive them.
Jess.


6 June 1918
Thorncliff
Dear Mother
Just a card to let you know I am well and am leaving here shortly for overseas. We are having very bad weather here now. Heavy rain storms. Write soon
Love son Jess

22 Jan 1919
Owen Sound
Dear Mildred
This is afternoon and Jess sleeps a lot and is a lot better part of the time but seems lazy and don"t speak much but knows all you say to him and nods his head. Well dear will try to let you know every day.
Love from Mother Don"t worry.

24 Oct 1924
Pelly
Dear Folks
Just a card to let you know I am feeling well.---to hear from you.
Lovingly Jess

Marjorie Wall---I knew Jess and Nora. I"ll never forget we were in the milk business, I mind him going up there to gather milk and they put some dynamite in a can and it hadn"t gone off and Jess went to look it over. It blew up in his face. He had his face all covered in bandages.

Marjorie Wall-Of course I remember when Jess went off to war. I think he wanted to go and do his duty. I"ll never forget when he came home, my father (George Sargeant) said to him "Did you ever kill a man?"

Jess said "Yes,I met him on the bridge and it was either him or I".

He had shrapnel in the brain. The couldn"t operate on it. He was lucky to have a good family. I think he had his family when he came home, at least part of it. I never heard of a finger injury. I know my Dad helped a lot with the family.

Norman Sargeant wrote a summary of Jess's War Record
On Oct 4th 1916 Jesse joined the 21st Btn in France (The 21sters were part of the 2nd Division) probably as a machine gunner. On April 9th the following year all Canadian divisions were involved in the capture of Vimy Ridge. This was the first time Canadians fought as a separate national division of the Allied Forces and defined Canada as a nation. The 1st and 2nd divisions captured nine villages, On May 9th Jess was promoted to Lance Corporal. He sustained a minor wound on 19 August 1917.
During the first week of November, the 1st and 2nd divisions attacked and captured Passendaele. Jesse was wounded on the 3rd of Nov.
In March 1918 the Germans mounted a counter attack, but the 2nd Division stayed in the line until relieved in July 1918.
From August 8th to 17th the 2nd Division was at Amiens. From the 26th to Sept 4th they were at Arras. On August 26th 1918 Jess was promoted Corporal.
Sept 2nd, Canal Du Nord the Hindenburg Line was broken and the Germans outflanked. Jess was wounded on 13 Oct 1918. Then on November 11the 1st and 2nd Divisions became part of the army of occupation. On Jan 14 1919, Jess was posted home.


"Jess came home but his big finger was shorter. I don"t know what happened to that big finger. He had terrible headaches and he was violent some times. Because of the headaches he spent a lot of time in London.(at the veteran"s hospital)."---Mildred

That wound in his neck was fixed by a German doctor, Jess told me. We got word from headquarters when he was wounded in the neck by a piece of shrapnel.--Dow

"I was living in Toronto by the time Jess came home from the war. He would lie on mother"s bed sometimes in the day. He just kept looking up. He didn"t even blink his eyes. They were wide open. It seemed so strange to me.--Mildred

Mother said that they were terrified. He took the lamp out to the barn and started to let the cattle out of the stable with the lamp, undoing the chains on the neck collars. Father followed him of course. They had a terrible time. It always made me nervous when mother told me about that."--Mildred.

Following the war, and soon after his return home, we learned that he was a shell shocked person. Gave us some very anxious days and nights. He had been wounded twice I believe in battle and I well recall how he fell on my mother's bed. We finally got him lying down and for several days he lay with his eyes open till one day his tiny daughter (Jean) was at his bedside and he came to and noticed her. His life was sad. He came west and started homesteading in Saskatchewan. His health was broken, nerves shattered. He was brought home to Ontario. Was in a soldier's hospital in London and passed away in 1939.---Roseline

"He returned to Canada and went to Pelly Saskatchewan to farm. His health broke and Cliff and his father went out to Saskatchewan to get him. He also raised peanuts as a hobby here in London when they lived here."--Helen (There is a photo of the house in Pelly in Dow Sargeant"s album)

"He was in hospital a lot. He was a quiet person. I remember him, although I was only 7 when he died."--Nick

"He came back after the war and homesteaded. I believe I recall my mother saying that he worked either for the telephone or hydro in addition to the homesteading."---Nick.

"There were two medals. I recall them vaguely. I can show you an example of my father-in-laws. The registration number along with the name of the soldier was cut in the rim of the medal."--Nick

"Dad had a balloon-tired bike that he used to ride. He rode from London to Brantford I know."---Joan Cook

Rose Reilly- (quoted from the Sargeant Family Newsletter June 1997)
I remember visiting my Dad at Westminster Hospital. (In London). Thee was one man---I remember him well--he had both legs off. I believe above the knees and he had leather sleeves on both stumps. He could walk on them, but he was in a wheelchair most of the time. I believe Mom used to have a picture of him. I can still see patients who were never allowed out: some of them would be cursing, others just looked out the windows.
They used to have movies a couple of times a week for patients and their families could go to them. We used to go sometimes but I think I usually fell asleep and then I hated having to go outside at night and walk home to Chelsea Green. It was quite a walk and after being inside it was always cold, even in the summer.
We would go up to visit Dad and we'd play on the tennis courts. Dad used to do the grounds around the tennis courts sometimes when he felt OK. Mom always thought he'd end up not feeling well when he did this work, but I'm sure he enjoyed doing it. When we visited Dad he'd always take us to the canteen and he'd buy us a chocolate bar; I remember I always chose a Sweet Marie. The bars were larger then and cost a nickel or a dime.
Mom always thought I was Dad's favourite, probably because I was a tom-boy. When we lived in London, he could come home Wednesday for the day and on weekends as long as he was okay. Sometimes he would get home when he wasn't okay and it would be rough on Mom.
I remember Dad buying me a pair of roller-skates, double ball-bearing ones with red wheels. Another time he took me Christmas shopping and I was supposed to pick out gifts for the other kids.
I remember going to Pond Mills and Dad swam across the pond. I was scared he wouldn't make it.
Dad used to make something like soup...hot water and butter poured over bread which he had broken up. He stirred it up, added pepper and salt and ate it. I tried it and it wasn't bad. He used to like soft boiled eggs...three or four eggs put in a dish, mixed up with salt and pepper. He had a special dish he used. It was more like a big wine glass with a stem on it.
When we moved to Brantford, Dad didn't get home quite as often, but it was always exciting for us when he did. He even rode a bike home a couple of times. It was a great bike, but on a long trip like that a lighter bicycle would have been easier pumping.
These are some things I remember about my Dad.

"I remember Dad riding the Schwinn bike from London to Brantford. He did it once or twice only I think. That would be on old highway #2 and that would be quite an accomplishment. I recall we lived next door to a bus driver who complained that he"d almost hit my dad with his bus."--Nick Sargeant

"Dad won prizes at the Western Fair for his woodworking and for wickerwork. He also had a garden at the hospital" --Joan Cook


Jess and Nora had a family of eight children, Jean of Brantford, Nye Neil of Brantford, Roseline Riley of London, Nora Summerhays of Brantford, Joan Cook of Brantford, Nick of London, Norman of Brantford, and Digby of Brantford.





More About Jesse Sargeant:
Burial: Unknown, Mount Hope Cemetery Brantford On.268
Known As Name: Jess Sargeant.269, 270

More About Jesse Sargeant and Nora Mary Mothersell:
Single: 13 Jun 1915, Owen Sound , On.270

Children of Jesse Sargeant and Nora Mary Mothersell are:
  1. +Digby John Noel Sargeant.
  2. +Roseline Mildred Grace Sargeant.
  3. +Iris Jean Nora Sargeant, d. 12 Feb 1976270.
  4. Norman Warren Sargeant.
  5. +Jesse Alone Sargeant.
  6. +Norma Marie Una Phyllis Joyce Sargeant.
  7. +Violet Nye Florence Marguerite Sargeant.
  8. +Joan Nightengale Sargeant.
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