Genealogy Chat

Hi, Im looking for:

Name: John Edward Rapley
Birth Date: 6 Dec 1888
Birth Location: Hoo, England
Regiment Number: 171830
83rd Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
Trade: Electrician

His attestation papers are on ancestry with above info, dated 17th Aug 1915, am I right in thinking that this meant he joined the forces whilst already living in Canada rather than living in England?

His marriage cert, dated 16 Sep 1915 says he has been living in Toronto for 2 years and is stationed at Camp Niagara.

Again that makes me wonder whether he would have gone to canada of his own accord or was sent there with british forces..?

Where would his WW1 records be kept? Would they be at Kew or in Canada? I cannot find anything on CWGC or Nat Archives.

The Canadian Library and Archive website will help you.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/cef/001042-130-e.html

he would have joined in Canada & his Army papers would be in Canada.at The national Archives of Canada,

this from their website:-

First World War Military Records
The First World Records can be found in RG 9, Records of Militia and Defence, Series III, and RG 150, Records of the Overseas Military Forces of Canada. In addition to the War Diaries the NAC has the following records:

RG 9, III-A-2, Canadian Sections at General Headquarters
RG 9, III-A-3, CEF, Siberian Force
RG 9, III-C-1 to 15, War Diaries for all units (infantry, artillery,
RAF, Forestry, Medical, Service) RG 9, III-D , Records of the Canadian War Records Office
RG 150, II-1, Daily Part II Orders, 29.7 metres
RG 150, II-2, Attestation Papers, 72.9 m
RG 150, II-3, CEF Personnel Files, 3,205.2 m
RG 150, II-6, Sailing Lists, 7.4m
The NAC holds a very large collection of First World War material. Only the War Diaries have been microfilmed and the rest must be viewed at the National Archives

This appears to be him, on the website mentioned by Pete:

Name Date of Birth Rank Regimental number(s) Reference
1. RAPLEY, JOHN EDWARD 05/12/1888 171830 RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8101 - 7

From the above you should be able to view his Attestation Papers and order up his full service record, usually VERY detailed indeed.

On his attestation papers dated 17 aug.1915 there is no wife's name.
His next-of-kin was given as Izaby? Rapley, aunt, 25 Empire Ave., Toronto. That was crossed out and changed to Annie J. Rapley, mother, 91 S???wick Ave.
Often the next-of-kin is changed when the man marries and it's changed from mother's name to wife's name. Not in this case.

See it yourself here:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/cef/001042-100.01-e.php

Is this him on the 1911 Canadian census?

Rapley John M Head M Jul 1881 29
Rapley Isabella F Wife M Jan 1876 34
Rapley John M Brother S Dec 1887 23

Both Johns were born England, Isabella Ontario.

(This doesn't make sense, how could John be a brother of John?)

Do you think he went to Canada as a British home child. This happened to an ancestor of mine and he was a soldier in wwi. I had a quick look but cant find John Rapley. If you google British Home children a number of sites come up.

Is this him on the 1891 census?
Pleasant Row, Stoke, Kent
John Rapley, head, 34, mud labourer (cement), born Chalk, Kent
Ann, wife, 32, born Upnor?, Kent
Elizabeth C., dau, 10, scholar, born
Frederick, son, 9, scholar
William, son, 7, scholar
Mahala, dau, 6, scholar
John E., son, 3
Children all born Hoo, Kent.

Same family on 1901 census (mistranscribed as Rysley)
3 Sea Weed Villa, Stoke, Kent
John Rapley, head, 44, general labourer, born Chalk, Kent
Ann, wife, 44, born Frindsbury?, Kent
Frederick J., son, 19, general labourer
William, son, 18, general labourer
Mahala, dau, 16
John E., son, 13
Horace, son, 7
Children all born Hoo, Kent except Horace born Stoke.

John E Ripley's attestation papers are labelled b 5/12/1888 on the cover, but I read the date inside as 6/12/1888. Similarly, I read Isaby's address as 26 Empire Ave, not 25. Today, there is an Empire Ave, S off Queen St, just E of the Don Valley. John is not marr on his attestation, and has no military experience. The former ties in with his marr a couple of months later, and the latter makes it unlikely his a UK soldier ordered overseas - besides which, Canadian soldiers were definitely better paid than Brits, but not as well-paid as the US. I'm convinced that the electrician of the attestation papers is the John of the 1911 census - I can't read his occup, but I do get Hydro???, and electrical power companies here are called hydro companies - e.g., mine is BC Hydro. Bloor St becomes Danforth at the Don Valley, and 3km further E, Main is a cross st, with Gerrard crossing it a couple of blocks S of Danforth. Westlake is parallel to Main (2 blocks W), and N of Danforth. John's address on the census is Main St, with Gerrard, Westlake and Danforth mentioned on adjacent pages. The census is viewable at:
http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/1911a/e082/e002039020.pdf


Marriages Dec 1880 (>99%)
----------------------------------------
ACHERS James Gamble Hoo 2a 789
Peek Sarah Frances Hoo 2a 789
Rapley John Hoo 2a 789
Rayfield Ann Hoo 2a 789
----------------------------------------

Chalk is in N Aylesford Rego D, 5km E of Gravesend; Stoke is in Hoo Rego D, 8km NE of Hoo; Hoo is 8km NE of Chatham; Lewisham is 3km S of Greenwich; Upton is a hamlet near Frindsbury, which is in N Aylesford Rego D.

Births
----------------------------------------
RAPLEY John Alfred 1853q4 N Aylesford 2a 253
Rapley John 1855q4 N Aylesford 2a 242
RAPLEY Frederick John 1881q4 Lewisham 1d 1079
RAPLEY William 1883q1 Hoo 2a 557
Rapley Mahala 1884q2 Hoo 2a 538
RAPLEY John Edward 1888q1 Hoo 2a 559
Rapley Horace 1893q4 Hoo 2a 536

It's not clear which John, if any, is the dad, nor that Fred, with the wrong pob, is ours.

Note that if John of the census is registered a month after his birth, he'd be in 1888q1.
His dob on the census is a year off cf his enlistment papers.


Results for: Kent, England, British Isles
Father: Edward Rapley, Mother: Susan Scotchmur
Exact Spelling: Off

International Genealogical Index / British Isles - 6
Select records to download - (50 maximum)
1. Agnes Elizabeth Rapley - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 06 SEP 1853 Shorne, Kent, England

2. FREDERICK RAPLEY - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 07 JUN 1861 Northfleet, Kent, England

3. Eliza Maria Rapley - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 1859 Northfleet,Hoo, , Kent, England

4. George Rapley - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 24 NOV 1850 Cobham, Kent, England

5. John Rapley - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 1856 Chalk, Kent, England

6. William Rapley - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 09 MAR 1847 Cobham, Kent, England

[All LDS member submissions]

I've heard of a child being named after a dying sib who managed to survive, but we should have seen both Johns on the UK census;
it could happen that sister Isabella marr John Rapley, but again Isabella's missing from the census and pob=ONT; if his brother is Frederick John, then maybe the Frederick has been dropped.

The last is feasible, but it looks like Isabella is his aunt on the attestation papers. I'm stumped!
It also looks like his mum has followed him over.

While looking on BVRI I came across the possible birth of the father. Don't know if you have it?
John Rapley christened 16 Dec.1855, Chalk, Kent. Parents Edward & Susannah.