The Fenton Family's Military Service
Alexander Fenton and at least two of his brothers served Canada in World War I. Robert Wright McDonald Fenton Jr. served and presumably survived the war. Harry Stewart-Wynne Fenton died in 1918 in France.
There is a possibility that James Scott Fenton also fought in World War I but so far no records have been found.
There is a possibility that James Scott Fenton also fought in World War I but so far no records have been found.
Alexander Fenton - Military Service in World War I
Alexander Fenton (1886-1976) was already a member of the Canadian Army and agreed to go overseas to fight in WWI. According to the original commission document, he was given the rank of Lieutenant in the Canadian Militia in June 1916, the rank of Captain (specialty in Quarter Master) November 1920 (had already received M.B.E.; also noted as Esquire), in the 17th Duke of Yorks Royal Canadian Hussars. According to documents, he left service as Major.
The first photo is the earliest known photo of Alexander. The photo was obtained from a descendant of Donald & Amy McDonald (cousins of Alexander), who were given three books - and presumably this picture - by Alexander in 1944-45. However, the photo must have been taken much earlier, likely sometime in 1914. He signed the photo as "Colonel"; no military records have been found to show that rank but Alexander's daughter believed he was promoted on the battlefield.
Click on the photos to enlarge them and see captions. See below photos for images of his military awards.
The first photo is the earliest known photo of Alexander. The photo was obtained from a descendant of Donald & Amy McDonald (cousins of Alexander), who were given three books - and presumably this picture - by Alexander in 1944-45. However, the photo must have been taken much earlier, likely sometime in 1914. He signed the photo as "Colonel"; no military records have been found to show that rank but Alexander's daughter believed he was promoted on the battlefield.
Click on the photos to enlarge them and see captions. See below photos for images of his military awards.
Alex Fenton’s medal for service during WWI. Passed to his daughter Jean Fenton Lee and then
her son, Joseph J. Lee Jr., who still has it.
her son, Joseph J. Lee Jr., who still has it.
Alexander Fenton's medal for his service during WWI. This is the presentation medal of his M.B.E. The ribbon at the top is about what it would have looked like when new. He was honored as part of the Order of the British Empire as a member (or M.B.E.) the lowest of the five classes within this award.
Alexander Fenton's uniform pins (at right).
#1 says "Forestry Battalion Overseas, Canada, 242" #2 Alexander appears to have worn this on his hat. Around the bottom edge it says "Royal Canadian Army Service Corps." In the center is G VI R, which is probably for King George. In French around the G VI R it says "Honi soit qui mal y pense" which roughly translates into Shame be to him who thinks evil of it", or more strictly: "Let he who thinks ill there be shamed" and it was the motto of the English Order of the Garter #3 This is called a Tudor Crown, and one was given for the rank of Major. Alex retired as a Major but he referred tho himself as Colonel (presumably he was temporarily promoted on the battlefield) #4 says "Tria junota in uno" which translates into "Three joined as one" and was the motto of the Order of the Bath [we have three of these pins] #5 is the same as #4, it is just colorful |
Alexander Fenton's medal for his service during WWI. This is a smaller medal than the other one. He was honored as part of the Order of the British Empire as a member (or M.B.E.) the lowest of the five classes within this award.
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Alexander Fenton's Promotion to Lieutenant
Transcription:
George V by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
To our Trusty and well beloved Alexander Fenton, Gentleman, Greeting.
We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Active Military of Our Dominion of Canada from the Eighth day of January 1916.
You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the temporary [the word temporary was inserted] Rank of Lieutenant or in such higher Rank as we may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to, of which a notification will be made in the Canada Gazette and you are to exercise and well discipline in Arms , both the inferior Officers and Men serving under you and use your best endeavours to keep them in good Order and Discipline. And we do hereby Command them to Obey you as their superior Officer and you to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us or any your superior Officer according to Law. In pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you.
In Witness Whereof Our Governor General of Our Dominion of Canada hath hereunto set his hand and Seal at Our Government House in the City of Ottawa this Eighth day of June in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixteen and in the Seventh Year of Our Reign.
By Command of His Excellency, the Governor General
Surgeon General
Deputy, Minister of Militia and Defence
To: Alexander Fenton, Gentleman
Canadian Militia
George V by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
To our Trusty and well beloved Alexander Fenton, Gentleman, Greeting.
We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Active Military of Our Dominion of Canada from the Eighth day of January 1916.
You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the temporary [the word temporary was inserted] Rank of Lieutenant or in such higher Rank as we may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to, of which a notification will be made in the Canada Gazette and you are to exercise and well discipline in Arms , both the inferior Officers and Men serving under you and use your best endeavours to keep them in good Order and Discipline. And we do hereby Command them to Obey you as their superior Officer and you to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us or any your superior Officer according to Law. In pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you.
In Witness Whereof Our Governor General of Our Dominion of Canada hath hereunto set his hand and Seal at Our Government House in the City of Ottawa this Eighth day of June in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixteen and in the Seventh Year of Our Reign.
By Command of His Excellency, the Governor General
Surgeon General
Deputy, Minister of Militia and Defence
To: Alexander Fenton, Gentleman
Canadian Militia
Captain Alexander Fenton's Induction into the Order of the British Empire
Issued to Alexander Fenton in 1918. See below for transcription
Transcription:
George the fifth by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and by the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India and Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to Our trusty and well beloved Alexander Fenton Esquire Captain in the Forestry Corps of the Forces of Our Dominion of Canada
Greeting whereas We have thought fit to nominate and appoint you to be a Member of Our said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, We do by these presents grant unto you the Dignity of a Member of Our said Order and hereby authorise you to have hold and enjoy the said Dignity and Rank of a Member of Our aforesaid Order together with all and singular the privileges thereunto belonging or appertaining.
Given at Our Court at Saint James's under Our Sign Manual and Seal of Our said Order, this First day of January 1918, in the Eighth year of Our Reign.
By the Sovereign Command
Edward P, Grand Master
[bottom of first page says:] Grant of the dignity of a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to Captain Alexander Fenton
Alexander Fenton's Second Promotion to Lieutenant
Transcript: George V by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
To our Trusty and well beloved Alexander Fenton, Gentleman, Greeting.
We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Land Forces from the Twenty-fourth day of June 1915. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of Lieutenant or in such higher Rank as we may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to, of which a notification will be made in the London Gazette and you are at all times to exercise and well discipline in Arms , both the inferior Officers and Men serving under you and use your best endeavours to keep them in good Order and Discipline. And we do hereby Command them to Obey you as their superior Officer and you to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us or any your superior Officer according to the Rules and Discipline of War in pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you.
Given at Our Cour at Saint James's the Twenty-fifth day of May 1918 in the Ninth Year of Our Reign.
By His Majesty's Command
To: Alexander Fenton
Lieutenant
Land Forces
[on other side it says Land Forces, Canadian Army Service Corps]
To our Trusty and well beloved Alexander Fenton, Gentleman, Greeting.
We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Land Forces from the Twenty-fourth day of June 1915. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of Lieutenant or in such higher Rank as we may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to, of which a notification will be made in the London Gazette and you are at all times to exercise and well discipline in Arms , both the inferior Officers and Men serving under you and use your best endeavours to keep them in good Order and Discipline. And we do hereby Command them to Obey you as their superior Officer and you to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us or any your superior Officer according to the Rules and Discipline of War in pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you.
Given at Our Cour at Saint James's the Twenty-fifth day of May 1918 in the Ninth Year of Our Reign.
By His Majesty's Command
To: Alexander Fenton
Lieutenant
Land Forces
[on other side it says Land Forces, Canadian Army Service Corps]
Alexander Fenton's Promotion to Captain
Transcription:
George V by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
To our Trusty and well beloved Alexander Fenton, Esquire, M.B.E., Greeting.
We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and Good Conduct do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be Captain and Quarter-master in Our Militia of Our Dominion of Canada from the fifteenth day of October 1920. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of Quarter-master by doing and performing all and all manner of things thereunto belonging.
And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us or any your Superior Officer according to Law. In pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you.
In Witness Whereof Our Governor General of Our Dominion of Canada hath hereunto set his hand and Seal at Our Government House in the City of Ottawa this Thirtieth day of November in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty and in the Eleventh Year of Our Reign.
By Command of His Excellency the Governor General
To: Capt. Alexander Fenton, M.B.E.
17th Duke of Yorks
Royal Canadian Hussars
George V by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
To our Trusty and well beloved Alexander Fenton, Esquire, M.B.E., Greeting.
We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and Good Conduct do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be Captain and Quarter-master in Our Militia of Our Dominion of Canada from the fifteenth day of October 1920. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of Quarter-master by doing and performing all and all manner of things thereunto belonging.
And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us or any your Superior Officer according to Law. In pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you.
In Witness Whereof Our Governor General of Our Dominion of Canada hath hereunto set his hand and Seal at Our Government House in the City of Ottawa this Thirtieth day of November in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty and in the Eleventh Year of Our Reign.
By Command of His Excellency the Governor General
To: Capt. Alexander Fenton, M.B.E.
17th Duke of Yorks
Royal Canadian Hussars
Major Alexander Fenton's Induction into the National Geographic Society
Major Alexander Fenton's induction
Transcription:
The National Geographic Society
Through the Board of Managers at a meeting held in Washington District of Columbia in the United States of America on the twenty-third day of December 1920 has elected Maj. Alex Fenton, M.B.E. of Montreal, Quebec, Canada a member of that Society .
In Witness Whereof this certificate has been signed and presented
OP Austin, Secretary
The National Geographic Society
Through the Board of Managers at a meeting held in Washington District of Columbia in the United States of America on the twenty-third day of December 1920 has elected Maj. Alex Fenton, M.B.E. of Montreal, Quebec, Canada a member of that Society .
In Witness Whereof this certificate has been signed and presented
OP Austin, Secretary
Harry Stewart-Wynne Fenton
Harry was born June 13, 1896 in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Private Harry Stewart-Wynne Fenton served in the Army for the Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment), 1st Battalion (service #407114). Harry Stewart-Wynne Fenton was killed in action on August 17, 1918. His Attestation Papers dated Jan 28, 1918 are actually papers correcting Harry's name. According to this document, he originally enlisted June 4 , 1915 as Harry Fenton and this paper was to correct his name to be Harry Stewart Fenton instead. It apparently was signed at Witley Camp in England. Harry Stewart-Wynne Fenton was killed in action on August 17, 1918 During operations near Folies, he was severely wounded by enemy shrapnel about 11:45 am on August 17, 1918 and died whilst being taken to the dressing station. He is memorialized by The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org) , Veterans Affairs Canada's Book of Remembrance (www.vac-acc.gc.ca) and the Maple Leaf Project. Harry is honored on the war memorial monument in the square of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland as H.S. Fenton. According to Bruce Fenton (grandson of Harry’s brother, William) he was nominated for the Victoria Cross, but the officers who nominated died before they could give their testimony on his heroics. Bruce also owns a locket awarded posthumously "from the grateful citizens of Pt. McNichol”. Harry was initially buried at Beaufort British Cemetery, which was about 300 metres North of Beaufort Church. It was made in August, 1918 (after the capture of the village by the 1st Canadian Division) between the existing German Cemetery and a farm track. Harry’s remains were later moved to Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery in Somme, France. (His burial records are noted below). He is memorialized by The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org), Veterans Affairs Canada's Book of Rembrance (www.vac-acc.gc.ca) and the Maple Leaf Project (www.mapleleaflegacy.ca); he is buried in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery in Somme, France The Attestation Papers dated Jan 28, 1918 are actually papers correcting Harry's name. According to this document, he originally enlisted June 4, 1915 as Harry Fenton and this paper was to correct his name to be Harry Stewart Fenton instead. It apparently was signed at Witley Camp in England. He is memorialized on the Ellon War Memorial (listed as H.S. Fenton) in the town of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Veterans Affairs Canada's Book of Remembrance and the Maple Leaf Project |
A locket awarded posthumously to Harry Stewart-Wynne Fenton, brother of Alexander Fenton and Wiliam Fenton, etc. who served and died during WWI.
The locket, in the possession of William Fenton's grandson, Bruce Fenton, is inscribed: Pvte H. Fenton from the grateful citizens of Pt. McNichol 1914-1918 |
Robert Wright McDonald Fenton Jr.
Robert Wright McDonald Fenton, sometimes called Jr. and sometimes called Robert Wright Fenton, was born May 22, 1893 in either Ellon or Logie Buchan in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
He immigrated from Glasgow, Scotland to Quebec, Canada on June 12, 1911 on the ship Saturnia with his parents and siblings Elizabeth (Lizzie), Harry Stewart-Wynne., Mary and Alice. He served one year in the 2nd V.B.G.A. (or V.B.G.H.?), 2 years in the 5 Battalion Territorials for Canada. According to the paperwork for a Distinguished Conduct Medal, he was a Lieutenant in the 26th Battalion, New Brunswick Regiment. He received the medal for the following "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the attack, his platoon being held up by a machine gun, he rushed the emplacement, after bombing it with rifle grenades, and captured the gun with its crew of seven. Establishing his own gun in this emplacement, he accounted for a number of the enemy who were in flight, and although exposed to heavy machine gun and shell fire, he maintained it until relieved. At all times he has displayed remarkable coolness and cheerfulness under the most adverse conditions. L.G./28-3-18. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the advance west of Mons, on 8th Nov. 1918. He showed great initiative in pushing his posts forward, and silencing enemy machine guns. Later on he got his platoon into the village and established posts on the eastern edge, keeping in touch with the company on his left. He then pushed on and surprised eight of the enemy in the act of blowing up a railway bridge, and captured them, cutting the wires attached to the explosives, and thereby saving the bridge." |