Elizabeth Brown, wife of James C. Gardiner, was born in the Township of Usborne October 22nd, 1858. When she was six years of age she suffered the irreparable loss of a devoted mother. She was brought up under the care of an older sister. Her marriage to James C. Gardiner was a very happy one. They had several children:
- Robert L. was born November 20, 1880. Quite early in life he went to the Canadian West. He married Isobel Duncan of Simcoe County, Ontario. When the World War broke out he enlisted in the 58th Battalion and saw service in France. He was wounded a couple of times and was so severely shell shocked that since the close of the war he has been compelled to spend his time in Westminster Hospital, London, Ontario.
- Isabel Rutherford died in Lincoln, Nebraska when she was twelve years of age.
James Garfield (later)
- Jeannette Fairley married George Allen and lived at Kirkton, Huron County. They had five sons.
- William John was born December 30, 1888. In the spring of 1915 he enlisted in the 33rd, London Battalion and saw gruelling service in France for three years. In August 1918, a few months before the close of the war he had his hip shattered by a bullet and lay for months in a hospital in London, England. He lived on a farm in Saskatchewan until his death in 1956.
- Edwin was born November 20th, 1892. At the age of twenty-four he signed up with a Winnipeg Battalion and like his brothers soon found himself in active service in France. He was a machine gunner. He was killed in the battle of Passchendaele. His body was never found.
- Earl Elbert was born January 18, 1894 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Like his three brothers he, too, enlisted when the war broke out. He joined up with the 58th Battalion. On the 26th of June, 1917 he paid the supreme sacrifice at the battle of Lens. His elder brother found the body. Four of his comrades carried it from the field of battle to La Chaudiere, one mile from Vimy Ridge where it was buried.
In 1920 tablets to the memory of Earl and Edwin were placed in the walls of the old stone church North of Kirkton. Each of these tablets is in the form of a shield. They are linked together and surmounted by a wreath of flags and have beween them sprays of Maple leaves. They are of oak with gold lettering. The one on the right reads:-
To the glory of God and in the fond and loving memory of Earl E. Gardiner of the 110th Battalion, C.E.F., son of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Gardiner, who while serving with the 58th Battalion, C.E.F. was killed in action at the batlle of Lens, June 26th, 1917, and is buried at Vimy.
The tablet on the left is to the memory of Edwin L. Gardiner, 221st Battalion, killed while serving with the machine gunners at Passchendale on November 6th, 1917. At the bottom, between the tablets, are the following words:-
They shall not grow old as we grow old. Age shall not weary them or years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we shall remember them.
When the church in which these tablets were placed was dismantled in 1934, they were taken and placed on the walls of the Thames Road United Church. At a largely attended service held in this church August 5th, 1936, these tablets were unveiled by Hon. James Gardiner, the Premier of Saskatchewan, brother of these boys. The mother, Mrs. James Gardiner, was present on this occasion and was paid many tributes of respect by the members of the large congregation and by her distinguished son.
Post-script:
You are correct about Earl E. enlisting with the 110th but so did Robert Lindsay. I include the extracts from the Sailing List of the 110th Battalion dated 31 Oct 1916 at Halifax for the ship SS Caronia. The 110th was broken up after it reached England and at least one company (perhaps 200 men) was sent to the 58th Battalion as replacements.
Service Number 727212 L/Corporal Gardiner, Earl Elbert; Next of Kin James C. Gardiner R. R. # 1, Kirkton, Ont. Born in the USA, enlisted in St. Marys on 13 Dec 1915
Service Number 727651 Private Robert Lindsay Gardiner, Next of Kin James C. Gardiner , Kirkton, Ont. Born in Canada. Enlisted in Kirkton on 2 Mar 1916
Thomas J. Hunter, Navan, ON
November 2000
Her life has known much sorrow, but she has come to the eventide with heart unembittered and faith unshattered. She is happy in the love of her children, her grandchildren and a host of friends.Few people through the length and breadth of Canada have made such a contribution to their country as have Mr. and Mrs. James C. Gardiner - four boys in France - two never to return - and one for years the Premier of one of our finest Provinces - Saskatchewan - and in 1936 Minister of Agriculture for the Dominion. Elizabeth Gardiner died in 1946.
Return to Home Page