100 Years Ago: 73rd Battery Likely to Move to Belleville, Procedure to Secure Personal Effects and Balance of Pay Due Deceased Soldier

The Intelligencer May 10, 1917 (page 3)

“Kingston Likely to Lose All the Artillery But 72^nd Battery. The authorities have decided to distribute the units of the Kingston Depot Artillery Brigade so that each place from which men have been recruited will have an opportunity of supplying more men and thus keep the units up to the strength. …

The 73^rd Battery will be moved to Belleville and thus have a closer chance of drawing men from Hastings and Prince Edward counties. The 74^th goes to Peterboro, and will draw from that city and county. Cornwall will get the 75^th Battery and the ‘united counties’ will thus be able to have more of its sons signed. …  The move will not be made before Petawawa Camp closes this season, but these places will then be the headquarters of the units named.”

The Intelligencer May 10, 1917 (page 6)

“Procedure to Follow. Since the list of casualties has so rapidly increased, many inquiries reach us regarding what procedure should be taken by the relatives to secure the personal effects and any balance of pay there may be due to a deceased soldier.

When a man is killed at the front, his personal effects are gathered together under the direction of the O. C., of the Battalion, and forwarded to the Base where they are checked. They are then forwarded to London, where they are sent to the officer in charge of Estates, Ottawa. Approximately five months elapse generally speaking before these effects reach Ottawa.

In reference to pay, six months after the death of the soldier, the last pay certificate is sent by the Overseas Paymaster to the Office in charge of Estates in Canada, when the necessary audit and adjustment takes place. Communication is then had with the next of kin of the deceased, when information is secured as to the domicile of the deceased; this being determined, the estate is divided pursuant to the law of the province in which the deceased had his domicile.

A minor soldier, that is one under twenty-one, has greater rights than a civilian in reference to the making of his Will. A civilian has to be twenty-one years of age, and in Ontario have his Will attested before witnesses. A soldier, however, by an English statute of 1837, made applicable to Ontario, and even although a minor, may make his Will and no witnesses are required. This, of course, only applies to the deceased’s personal estate.

Inquiries in reference to estates and personal effects should be addressed to the Office in charge of Estates Branch, Militia Department, Ottawa.”