Notes for Christopher Maurice Seymour: Family information indicated his birth date as 13 Dec 1876. Meryle Iwanicki lists his birth date as 13 Nov 1879.
Christopher registered Homestead on section 21, Township 13, Range 27 of the 2nd Meridian, on 13 April, 1910.
From Rolling Hills Review,1840-1980, Crestwynd Community Club, 1980
Mr. and Mrs. Seymour, their two children, Edythe and William, came from Toronto, Ontario in April, 1910. They were accompanied by Mrs. Seymour's sister, Mrs. Charles Van Nostrand, her husband and three children, Amy, Neil, and Maurice. Mr. James H. Ramage from Port Credit, Ontario came at the same time. The women and children rode in a passenager (SIC) coach on the train while the men rode in the box cars with the settlers' effects, two horses, some machinery, furniture, etc. After staying in Moose Jaw for a few days, they were brought out to the country on the old Willow Bunch trail, by a Mr. Coventry, a land locator in a democrat pulled by a team of horses. They decided to homestead on the N.W.1/4 21-13-27 W. 2nd., where they put up a large tent, which they had brought from Ontario with them, and lived in it for the first summer. All supplies had to be brought from Moose Jaw by team and wagon or sleighs until the Canadian Pacific Railroad was built out as far as Expanse in 1912. We were fortunate that our land adjoined that of Mr. W.C. Harrison, who had the Harrison post office. The mail was brought out by Mr. Mab Gaudry from Moose Jaw once a week and he kept freshhorses at Seymours, so that he could travel on to his home at Willow Bunch with the mail for there and points in between. Mr. Seymour was a veteran of the Boar War in South Africa and a member of the Militia in Toronto so decided to enlist as soon as World War I was declared in 1916. He enlisted in the 210th Battlalion in Moose Jaw and was transferred to the 46th Battalion in France, where he was until 1919. Mrs. Seymour and the children remained on the farm. After enduring many harships (SIC) during the early days, Mr. and Mrs. Seymour retired to Moose Jaw in 1958. Mr. Seymour passed away in 1960 and Mrs. Seymour in 1966. One of the first organizations in the district was the Women Grain Growers Association, and Mrs. Seymour served secretary of this club for quite a long time. Mr. Seymour served on the Bevitt School Board after it was opened in 1911. During their stay on the farm, Edythe Seymour and Lillian Harrison operated a tea and lunch room beside the #2 highway, two miles east of Crestwynd and called it the "Brown Betty Tea Room". Later William (Bill) Seymour opened a service station. These businesses were quite popular until unfortunately the garage burned down, caused by a short circuit in a power plant. It was never rebuilt. Bill Seymour married Theresa Sonmor, who was a teacher at Bevitt School and boarded with the Seymour family. Edythe married Choppy Johnson, a local farmer. About 1916, the Times-Herald newpaper (SIC) of Moose Jaw had a contest for anyone who could sell the most subscriptions to their paper. They offered a car as first prize and a piano as second prize Bill Seymour entered this contest and of course was hoping to win the car. After riding horse-back and walking miles and miles to contact people, the contest ended and he won a Willis Piano, valued at that time at $600.00. This piano was passed on to the Bill Johnson family in later years and is still in use by their musical family. The old Willow Bunch trail passed through our farm, not far from the house, so in the early days there was a steady stream of horses and wagons taking settlers and supplies down to the south country, also Indians with their ponies going to and from Moose Jaw. The Royal North West Mounted Police wearing their red coats used to go by quite often too, on horse back.
Excerpts from information supplied by Mona Clark
Christopher Seymour's war records from the National Archives of Canada show his birthdate as Dec. 13th, 1877 for the First World War, but he enlisted for the South African War (1899-1900) on Oct. 20th, 1899 as 22 years and 10 months, which makes his dirthdate Dec. 1876. He was a member of the 10th Royal Grenadiers' Rifle association in Toronto, war service records state for 12 years. In 1899-1900 he served in the Boer War for the British Empire Regiment #7389 Corps, 2nd Special Service Battalion, RCR He enlisted Oct 20th, 1899 at Toronto under the command of Lieut. Colonel Otter. He was discharged Nov. 5, 1900. Received a Queen's Medal with four clasps-Paardeberg, Draifontein, Johannesburg, Cape Colony. In 1916 he joined the 128th Battalion, Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, at the rank of Private. Their headquarters were in the Scott Building. They were ordered to Camp Hughes, near Brandon, for summer training. Due to lack of transport overseas, the 210th went back to Douglas Barracks for winter training. Before leaving for overseas by train, there was a Presentation on Colors in the barracks. The colors were stored in the St. Andrews United Church before they left for overseas. They traveled by two trains to Halifax. They stopped in Ottawa where they were inspected by the Duke of Devonshire, who had just been installed as Governor Gerneral of Canada. He signed an oath to be faithful and bear the war now existing between Great Britain and Germany--until legally discharged.
1917 Jan 4 Letter from "Dad to Edie" form Moose Jaw April 12 Postcard to Edie from Halifax, N.S. April 17 He left Halifax on the S.S. Northland April 29 Arrived in Liverpool, England April 30 Entered a segregation camp at Bramshott, England. Was transferred to LOS 19th Res battalion form the 210th Battalion may 10 Postcard to Edie, from Bramshott June 20 Postcard to son Bill from Longmon July 24 Postcard to Bill from Bramshott Aug 26 Postcard to Edie from Bramshott Road to Siphook Sep 7 SOS transfer to 46th Battalion. Proceeded overseas for service. First experience under fire was near Lens, then up to Belgium for the storming of Passchendaele. Sep 8 Postcard to Bill from Folkstone Sept 16 To Canadian Corps Reinforcement at Camp Field
1918 April 23 Postcard to Edie from 55 Le Havre May 12 Postcard to Bill from France. Mentions Lou (probably Johnson) being in the trenches Aug 19 Att'd 10th Bde. as bahman to Lt. Van Vorman Oct 7 From 10th Bde., he was granted 14 days leave in U.K. Oct 21-24 Granted extension of leave (private family affairs) Oct 28 Rejoined 10th Bde. from leave
1919 Mar 23 Postcard to Edie from Belguim. He said his next leave sould be in town of Bruay April 26 46th Btn. Proceeded to England April 28 T.O.S. pending return to Canada May 3 Postcard of Canadians marching past Buckingham Palace, London May 20 Christopher Seymour had medical & dental examinatons at Bramshott, England. He was diagnosed with congenital amblyopia in his left eye, and was demobilized. May 31 Embarked for Canada on H.M.T.S. Mauretanian from Bramshott. England June 6 Arrived in Toronto June 11 Discharged from Her Majesty's Service. Reason: demobilization
More About Christopher Maurice Seymour and Annie Lyle Darwin: Marriage: June 29, 1901, Toronto, Ontario.
Children of Christopher Maurice Seymour and Annie Lyle Darwin are:
+Edythe May Seymour, b. March 05, 1903, Toronto, Ontario, d. December 26, 1981, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Christopher Maurice Seymour (b. December 13, 1876, d. May 29, 1960)
Notes for Christopher Maurice Seymour: