Listed in the 1897 June birth index. Arthur Ogden Chorlton volume 8c page 872.

Parish records St Clement, Greenhays, Manchester
Baptism May 5, 1897 Arthur Ogden, parents Jarvis Marshall Ogden and Elizabeth Ogden of 7 Fern Street, father is a police constable, by H. Taylor

In the 1901 census civil parish South Manchester, Ecclesiastical parish, Rusholme Holy Trinity, Registration district Chorlton, sub district Ardwick living at 16 Duke St.
Jarvis M. Ogden age 50 born at Manchester, police officer.
Wife Elizabeth Ogden age 40 born at Egmanton, Nottingham.
Son Ernest P. Ogden age 15 Telegraph Messenger.
Son Jarvis M. Ogden age 13, errand boy tobacconist.
Son Maurice W. Ogden age 11.
Son Louis L. (or S) Ogden age 8.
Daughter Hilda L. Ogden age 5.
Son Arthur Ogden age 3.
Daughter Olive Ogden age 1.
Boarder Annie Smith widow age 43 born at Laxton, Nottingham, living on own means.
Daughter (presumably of Annie Smith) Edith Smith age 5 born in Manchester.
All children were born in Manchester.

In the 1911 census at 24 Duke St., Rusholme.
Jarvis M. Ogden, age 60, married 28 years, occupation Police Pensioner, employed as a Night Watchman, born Manchester.
Wife Elizabeth Ogden, age 50 , born Newark, Nottinghamshire, she had 10 children born alive, 7 are still living.
Son Jarvis M. Ogden, age 23, single, Police Constable Manchester, born Hulme, Manchester.
Son Louis Sydney Ogden, age 18, Grocers Assistant, born Moss Side, Manchester.
Daughter Hilda Louisa Ogden, age 15, single, machinist, born Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester.
Son Arthur Ogden, age 13, school boy, born Chorlton on Medlock.
Daughter Olive Ogden, age 11, school girl, born Rusholme, Manchester.
There are 6 rooms in the house.

Served in both WWI (British Army) and WWII (Canadian Army).
His WWI medal card states
Arthur Ogden, Manchester R. Private Regimental No. 2890 and 250686 [The second regimental number would place him in the 6th (Territorial) Battalion of the regiment. 1/6th Battalion Territorial Force.]
Theatre of war served in (2B) date of entry therein 17-8-15 [Theatre of War codes: 2b is Balkan Theatre, Gallipoli and Aegean Islands]
remarks Disembarked 8/3/19
Victory Medal Roll H/1/104 B32 page 6408
British medal ditto
15 Star H/1/41B page 60

UK WWI Service & Award Rolls
Private Arthur Ogden British War Medal and Victory Medal, Manchester Regiment, Regimental Number 250686, previous units 1/6th Manchester Regiment 2890 Private, Manchester Regiment 250686

I found a photograph with Arthur on a horse in uniform with an inscription on the back. Since the photo has been trimmed and was glued into a book, some of it is missing.
914 [There is paper missing in front, could it be 1914, the 9 is not certain]
50686 [obviously his regimental number with the first digit trimmed off]
890 [the other regimental number trimmed]
Pte. A Ogden
6 Manchesters D Cay [does this mean company?]
British Medi [ean was added, in another hand, Mediterranean?]
Exped Force [obviously expeditionary force]
[It looks like some additional text was trimmed from the bottom as well]


[The 6th landed in Gallipoli on May 6, 1915. On the 8th and 9th of January 1916 was evacuated via Mudros to Egypt. In March of 1917 to France. At the end of the war was part of the 127th (Manchester) Brigade, 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division in the Hautmont area SW of Maubeuge.]

From Wikipedia 127th Manchester Brigade
Egypt and Gallipoli
The East Lancashire Division remained in Egypt training and manning the Suez Canal defences until 1 May 1915 when it embarked at Alexandria for Gallipoli. The Manchester Brigade first went into action at the Third Battle of Krithia
In late May 1915 the division was numbered as 42nd (1st East Lancashire) Division – taking the lowest number of any TF division in recognition that it was the first to go overseas – and the brigades were also numbered, the Manchester becoming 127th (1st Manchester) Brigade. The battalions adopted the prefix '1/' (becoming 1/5th Manchesters, for example) to distinguish them from their 2nd Line duplicates then training in the UK as the 199th (2/1st Manchester) Brigade in 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.
The 127th Brigade participated in the Battle of Krithia Vineyard (6–13 August) and then for the rest of 1915 was engaged in trench warfare. [Arthur Ogden would have joined division overseas shortly after the battle of Krithia Vineyard] After the evacuation from Gallipoli, the division returned to Egypt in January 1916 with less than half the strength with which it had set out. It remained in the Canal Defences for the whole of 1916, rebuilding its strength, and taking part in the Battle of Romani (4–5 August). [During the Battle of Romani the infantry division suffered horribly due to their lack of desert training. 800 men in the 127th Brigade died, 800 men victims to thirst and sun.]
Western Front
In January 1917, 42nd Division was ordered to France, the move being completed by mid-March. It spent the remainder of the war on the Western Front. During 1917 it formed part of Fourth Army in 'quiet sectors' (though the brigade commander was killed in May that year) and taking part in some minor operations along the Flanders coast.
In 1918 the division became part of IV Corps in Third Army, in which it remained for the rest of the war. When British infantry brigades were reduced to three battalions in February 1918, 1/8th Manchesters transferred to 126th Brigade in 42nd Division. At the same time, the machine gun company left to join a new divisional machine gun battalion.
During the German Spring Offensive (Operation Michael or the First Battles of the Somme 1918), the troops of 42nd Division took part in the Battle of Bapaume (24–25 March), First Battle of Arras (28 March) and the Battle of Ancre (5 April). Then, during the Allied Hundred Days Offensive, it participated in the Battle of Albert (21–23 August) and the Second Battle of Bapaume (31 August–3 September) during the fighting on the Somme.
When the Hindenburg Line was breached during the Battle of the Canal du Nord on 27 September, 127th Brigade's attack was completely successful. The rest of 42nd Division then passed through to continue the attack. 125th Brigade's follow-up was only partially successful, but the advance was renewed after dark, and the following afternoon 126th Brigade passed through 127th to take Welsh ridge, the final objective.
Third Army's advance in Picardy culminated in the Battle of the Selle on 20 October. 126th Brigade led the division's attack over footbridges laid by the engineers over the River Selle. 1/5th and 1/6th Manchesters of 127th Brigade then followed up to an intermediate objective. The division then had to wheel right, and was held up. But in the afternoon the attack was resumed and 127th Brigade pushed on to the final objective, which 1/6th Manchesters took after dark without much difficulty.
After the Selle, 42nd Division was withdrawn into reserve and halted around Beauvois-en-Cambrésis from 24 October until the advance was resumed on 3 November. On 7 November the 42nd Division captured Hautmont and the high ground to its west. By 10 November the most forward troops of 42nd Division were on the Maubeuge–Avesnes-sur-Helpe road. This was the end of the fighting, because the Armistice with Germany came into the effect the following day. In December the division moved into quarters in the Charleroi area and by mid-March 1919 most of its troops had gone home for demobilisation.
end of excerpt from wikipedia

Was military policeman [this now uncertain he was a military policeman as he was with the Canadian Forestry Corps] in WWII rank of Sgt. It is thought he served all or most of his time in WWII in Scotland.

In the Canadian passenger lists departed Liverpool on the Victorian, arrived May 16, 1921 Quebec [city] is Arthur Ogden, age 24, single, O.S.O. pass No. 28457, born England, destination Tisdale, Sask., warehouseman in the country he came from, intended occupation farming, Ford P.O., C.P.R. [I assume this was his method of travel to Tisdale]

In the Canada Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A)
Arrived May 18, 1921 Arthur Ogden, age 24, Single, Warehouseman
Born Manchester
Church of England
Object in coming to Canada [I can’t decipher possibly farming ???????]
Money in possession [There are to many dots to be sure. It might be $10.00 or $1000, it reads $10.0.0]
Passage paid by the Government.
Destined to a friend ?? Ford, Tisdale, Sask.
Nearest relative in country from whence passenger came. Mother Mrs. E. Ogden 14 Patey St., Longsight, Manchester. [Longsight is near Ruston and Levenshulme.]

Province of Manitoba Vital Statistics
Marriage Arthur Ogden and Bertha Isabel Curtis December 31, 1923 Winnipeg.

In the 1926 Canadian census of Manitona, Saskatchewan and Alberts
2346 Scarth Street, Regina, Saskatchewan
Head Arthur Ogden, age 29, born England, parents born England, immigrated 1921,
Wife Bertha Isabelle Ogden, age 32, [ahem, actually 36], born England, parents born England, immigrated 1921
Lodger Alma Cowan, single, age 21, born Saskatchewan, father born Saskatchewan, mother born Ontario
Lodger Victoria Regina Reeves, single, age 26, born Saskatchewan, parents born England
Lodger George Forest, married, age 27, born Scotland, parents born Scotland, immigrated 1926

A Homestead under the name Arthur Ogden for the NW quarter, section 28, Township 43, Range 2, West of the second meridian, was a soldier grant. This is about 16 km SE of Hudson’s Bay or about 14 km south west of Erwood . [3 miles east of Etomami (which is 1 miles east of Highway 9]

The soldier grant statement states the following. Date March 14, 1930
Full Name: Arthur Ogden Age: 34 Occupation: Agent
Date of Soldier Grant Entry: July 10, 1922
Date of House built: October 1923 Dimensions: 16X24X8 value $450.00
Date of commencing residence: November 1, 1923
Residence Dates: November 1, 1923 to July 14, 1925 and June 1, 1927 to September 30, 1929
When absent resided in Regina, occupation Salesman
Family wife, no continuous residence
How much breaking have you done?
1923 1 acre, 1 acre cropped
1924 to 1926 none
1927 2 acres, none cropped
1928 20 acres, 3 acres cropped
1929 16 acres, 23 acres cropped
He had 4 cattle in 1923 and 1924
a 14X16 stable was built but burned down in 1926
1/4 mile of 3 wire barbed fence was built.
His application for entry for a soldier grant dated July 4, 1922
His address is Valpareso Sask. Previous occupation is farmer
Attestation certificate No. 3752
Regimental No 250686
In the event of his death communicate with Miss Bertha Curtis, Silver Stream post office, Sask.
It seems his right to the land was forfeit in 1926 as he abandoned the land and did not meet the requirements. Then afterwards moved onto the land, met the requirements and applied for it in 1930. The result of this is not in the file.

1931 Canada Census Saskatchewan, Melfort district, Hudson Bay Junction (Village)
Prince Street, Hudson Bay Junction
Rent their home, $20 a month rent, single floor home, wood, 5 rooms, no radio
Head Arthur Ogden, age 34, born England, parents born England, immigrated 1921, nationality Canada, racial origin English, speaks English, doesn’t speak French, United Church, Agent, Life Insurance [crossed out general], earnings $1500 per year
Wife Bertha Isabel Ogden, age 34 [41], born England, parents born England, immigrated 1921, nationality Canada, racial origin English, speaks English and French, home maker

Canada Voters Lists 1935 to 1980
Electoral District of Mackenzie 1940
All Townships 42 and 43, also the South half of Township 44, in Ranges 1 and 2, and Townships 42 and 43 in Range 3, all West Second Meridian.
Arthur Ogden, Farmer Etomami
Mrs. Arthur Ogden, Etomami [interestingly no occupation listed, even though she is a teacher.
Also Mrs. Arthur Ogden, teacher, Hudson Bay Junction [She was listed twice]
Electoral District Mackenzie 1945
Arthur Ogden, soldier, Hudson Bay Junction
Mrs. Arthur Ogden, Hudson Bay Junction, [Again no occupation listed]
Regina, Saskatchewan 1945
2125 Osler Street, Arthur Ogden, house detective [This time Arthur is listed twice]
Regina Saskatchewan 1949
2633 Atkinson Street
Arthur Ogden, Detective
Mrs. Bertha Ogden, teacher
Regina, Saskatchewan 1953
1415 Retallack Street
Arthur Ogden, detective
Bertha Ogden, teacher
Thos. K. Simmonds, salesman
Dorothy G. Simmons [as spelled]
Pat Wylie, salesman
Victoria, British Columbia 1962
Apt. 4, 318 Cook Street, Miss [as spelled] Bertha I. Ogden, teacher
Victoria, British Columbia
Apt. 204 2558 Quadra Street, Bertha Ogden, teacher

Farmed in the Hudson’s Bay area before WWII. After WWII was a hotel detective at the Saskatchewan Hotel in Regina and later at the Empress Hotel in Victoria. [CPR hotels]

Lived at 1415 Retallack Street in Regina.

British Columbia death index, Arthur Ogden, male age 58, July 26, 1956, Saanich

British Columbia Death Registrations
Place of Death Veteran’s Hospital, Saanich, B.C.
Arthur Ogden of 1661 Derby Road, Saanich B.C.
Born April 14, 1897, Manchester, England
Age 59 years 3 months 12 days
Canadian
Married
Head Detective, Empress Hotel
Date last worked at this occupation July 26, 1956, total of 13 years in this occupation
Wife Bertha Isabel Curtis
Father Jarvis Marshall Ogden, Mother Elizabeth Coupe both born in England
Burial July 28, 1956, Veteran’s Cemetery, Esquimalt, B.C.
Cause of death due to Lupus Erythematosus
Approximate interval between onset and death 4 to 6 months

From Dogs in Canada - Official Canadian Kennel Club Publication, November 1949

B.C. Interior Kennel Club Show - Kelowna, B.C., August 17, 1948
Group VI, English Bulldogs Males, Canadian Bred - 1. A. Ogden’s, Duke of Regina

South Okanagan Kennel Club Show - Penticton, B.C., August 19, 1948
Group VI, Bulldogs, Males (over 45 pounds) Canadian Bred - 1. A. Ogden’s Duke of Regina

South Okanagan Kennel Club Show - Penticton, B.C., August 20, 1948
Group VI, Bulldogs, Males (over 45 pounds) Canadian Bred - 1. A. Ogden’s Duke of Regina

Moose Jaw Kennel Club Show - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, September 3, 1948
Group VI [all breeds in this group] 2nd, Bulldog Duke of Regina, Arthur Ogden
Group VI English Bulldogs, Males, Canadian Bred - Arthur Ogden’s Duke of Regina
Group VI English Bulldogs, Males, Open - 1. Arthur Ogden’s Duke of Regina
end of entries from Dogs in Canada

Also an advertisement in Dogs in Canada - December 1948
Season’s Greetings to Breeders and Friends
Ogden Kennels
English Bulldogs
Arthur Ogden
2633 Atkinson Street, Regina, Saskatchewan

The headstone on his grave reads:
Arthur Ogden
Sergeant
Can Forestry Corps
26 July 1956
Age 59

Obituary
Times Colonist, Victoria, British Columbia July 27, 1956
Private funeral service in Hayward's Chapel on Monday July 10. Rev. Canon Downer officiating. Cremation. OGDEN On July 36, 1956. In the Veterans' Hospital. Arthur Ogden. aged 59. beloved husband of Berth I Ogden of 16?? Derby Road; born in Manchester, England, and a resident of Victoria for three years. Mr. Ogden was Head Detective at the Empress Hotel; was a veteran of both wars and had been recommended for the D.C.M.. Besides his wife at home he leaves one Mrs. Gloria Simmonds of Regina two sisters, Olive in Victoria and Louise is England; also two brothers [Jarvis Marshall Ogden and Louis Sydney Ogden] in England; one nephew.,Walter.

[Note: The D.C.M. is the Distinguished Conduct Medal was the oldest British award for gallantry for non-commissioned military personnel. It ranks below the Victoria Cross.]

Arthur Ogden

World War I Service Summary

Note: The only records I have been able to find for Arthur Ogden are
1) His Soldier Grant, a record similar to homesteading, which gives his regimental number.
2) His medal index card which gives his original regimental number and the later assigned number, his regiment and battalion, his medals, his date of entry into a theatre of war, which theatre and his disembarkation date.
3) A photo with information on the back which confirms his regimental number, regiment, theatre of war and his company.
Since there are a number of Arthur Ogdens in the Manchester Regiment knowing his Regimental number is critical. Unfortunately, I cannot find the remainder of his military records including his attestation papers, next of kin, medical records and where served. This is not unusual for the Manchester Regiments as many seem to be lost. This could be due to fire (one of the censuses was burnt for Manchester, however they have been able to recover some of it.), some military records were lost during bombing in WWII or possibly his records were combined with his Canadian WWII records. Therefore I had to find other more general information from other sources. The first source was information on his brigade from Wikipedia and even better the book “6th Battalion The Manchester Regiment In the Great War” by John Hartley. The book is very helpful in giving information about his battalion and sometimes even about his company. However, it should be remembered it is highly probable he wasn’t with the battalion all of those times. Disease and other medical conditions were rife. Also he may have been injured or wounded.
The photo of him is very unusual in that he is on a horse. Why is a foot soldier on a horse? He is wearing spurs and on his left shoulder, a lanyard, both of which are not the usual kit for soldier. Perhaps he was a despatch rider (military messenger). If so, it is highly probable, at times he would not be in the line with his company. You don’t ride horses through the trenches!
The only other source of information is a family story he tried to join the army 3 times, but was underage and kicked out. This may or may not be correct.

Private
Regimental Number 2890, 250686
D Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Manchester Regiment [1/6th], 127th (Manchester) Brigade, 42nd (East Lancashire) Division

It seems Arthur Ogden would have attested for the 2/6th Battalion Manchester Regiment when he turned 18 in April of 1915.
His oldest brother Ernest had been in the army in India and had returned home transferring to the Army reserve and became a policeman. Ernest was called up at the beginning of the war, sent to France with the 2nd Manchesters and suffered a gunshot wound to the jaw and shoulder in October 1914. While Arthur was training in England Ernest was discharged as being medically unfit.
Arthur’s second oldest brother Jarvis Marshall Ogden joined the 20th Manchesters in January 1915. Arthur’s 4th oldest brother Louis Sydney Ogden was in the 1st Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and the 9th East Lancashire Regiment. Since he earned the 1914-15 Star medal, he would have been in the army at the same time as his brothers. I not sure if Arthur’s other older brother was in the military.

Arthur first entered a theatre of war on August 17, 1915 Balkan Theatre, Gallipoli and Aegean Islands
At the age of 18 years, 4 months he was as a replacement for the heavy losses in the Third Battle of Krithia and later the Battle of Krithia Vineyard. He would have been in the second batch of replacements, numbering nearly 200. They had trained with the 2nd Battalion/6th Manchesters and left England on August 2 aboard the Franconia. By the time they arrived each company of the 6th had been reduced to platoon size even though they had received an earlier draft of replacements and some of the original men had returned from convalescing. His company would have been involved in the trench warfare in Gallipoli for the remainder of 1915. At the time of his arrival tactics were evolving from large scale attacks to digging tunnels towards the Turkish lines and planting explosives under the enemies trenches. One of the officers described this recently arrived draft as follows:
We have had a large draft who are shaking down but they are a rotten lot compared with the old ones. They have not had half the training and have not got any discipline worth speaking of . I got one man for 21 days Field Punishment and loss of pay for general inefficiency and cheek. That woke the rest of them up a bit.
Hopefully, Arthur was not one of the rotten ones! Dysentery, heat, lice, a plaque of flies and the unburied dead in no-mans land were the conditions in which the men lived. The new men seemed to succumb to dysentery at an appalling rate. In October, Arthur’s second oldest brother, Jarvis entered the war in France. 11 days later, back in England, Arthur’s oldest brother Ernest died of his wounds from a year before. In November conditions in Gallipoli improved, and losses significantly declined but frostbite became a problem. On December 29 they boarded a transport ship and the next day left for the Greek island of Lemnos. On December 31 the strength of the 6th Manchesters was 12 officers and 153 ranks - less than a normal company. Only 82 of the original contingent who had arrived in May remained and only 20 of these had been with the battalion the entire time. They had arrived with over 800 other ranks and a full compliment of officers.

The Manchesters left Lemnos on January 18, 1916 and arrived at Alexandria, Egypt on January 20, then travelled by train to Cairo and by tram to Mena Camp close to the Pyramids. On February 1 the battalion moved to El Shallufa, just north of the Town of Suez as a part of the defence force for the Suez Canal. On June 28 they moved to El Ferdan towards the southern end of the Suez Canal. On July 25, in response to an incursion by Turkish troops led by German officers, the 6th was moved north to Kantara nearer Port Said and on the 27th to Gilban. On August 3 they were sent by train to Pelusium, 6 miles north west of Romani (Rommana). The rest of the 127th Brigade arrived the next afternoon and within minutes of their arrival ordered to set off across the desert without their transport and without being fed. The 6th was to guard Pelusium. The 6th left the next day with the camels which had arrived late the night before. Due to the intense heat they paused during the afternoon at a small palm grove which fortunately had a well. There were signs of an obvious fight the day before involving the main portion of the brigade. They rejoined the rest of the brigade in the evening. The next day August 6 they left early in the morning pursuing the retreating Turks. The movement was very difficult with intense heat, insufficient water and food and through soft sand. A collecting party came later to collect those from the 127th brigade who dropped out of the march, around 300 men. One book says there were hundreds of casualties, but they recovered, another says over 800 died of thirst a sunstroke. On August 7 the battalion moved back to Katia. On August 14 they marched back to Romani. In September they were marched to a new garrison at Negiliat, 20 kilometres east of Romani. Since the brigade only left about 80 men behind and were close to full strength, it would seem the 800 deaths are more likely to be 800 casualties, most of had recovered by then or were suffered by the other brigades. The 6th were bivouacked and spread over a wide area and covered with scrub to conceal them from aeroplanes. In the middle of October the battalion was moved back to Romani. After a 3 day march, on November 2, they took over the defensive positions at Bir-el-Abd 20 miles east of Romani. The division continued to advance east following the construction of the railway. On January 17, 1917 they reached El Bittia, about 2 miles from the sea. After this they moved several times. [On February 3, 1917, Arthur’s brother Jarvis Marshall Ogden was discharged from the Army having been wounded and lost his right arm. J. M. Ogden had served with the 20th Manchesters.] By February 28 they were on the docks at Alexandria, almost full strength 29 officers and 889 other ranks.

On March 1, 1917 they departed on the Corsican, arriving at Marseilles on March 9. The 6th Manchesters and the rest of the 42nd Division were about to enter their third theatre of war, Belgium and France, in the Somme sector. After rest, training, road building and some new equipment, tin hats, gas masks and new, shorter Lee-Enfield rifle, designed for trench warfare rather than long distance shooting they again entered the trenches. On April 28 they went into the trenches by Canal Wood. They were in and out of the line, did some night patrols, suffered losses from shelling. In July the 42nd Division was moved to a new sector at Achiet-le-Petit. On August 20 they began moving to Ypres. A few months later they moved to the Dunkirk area. They were gassed on December 11.

On March 23, 1918 the 1/6th Manchesters entered the First Battle of the Somme (1918). The date of the battle was March 21 to April 6 with the allies having over 1/4 million casualties and the Germans just under 1/4 million. The Germans were the attacking force. The battalion had over 250 killed, wounded or missing between March 23 and March 31. It was the heaviest fighting they had had since Galipoli. On April 11 they received a draft of 140 directly from Britain who just finished their training and were all 18 years of age or younger. In July the battalion men started to fall ill with the Spanish flu in what would become a world wide pandemic. The Manchesters were involved with the Battle of Amiens which started on August 6 and they entered on August 12. A few days later they advanced to maintain fighting contact after discovering an enemy withdrawal. The second phase known as the Battle of Bapaume began on August 21. Two companies would attack, capture the German front line, then the others two companies would continue the attack. On September 2 they were at the vanguard of the attack accompanied by 3 tanks. In mid September they had casualties caused by the allied guns firing short. On September 27 the attacked in an area near Havrincourt. The men knew the area well as they were there in May of 1917. A member of Arthur’s D Company recorded the Germans wanted to do nothing more than surrender. However more than 34 men were killed and many more wounded.The result was the Hindenburg line had been breached. The German High Command stated they were determined to continue hard fighting so they could obtain an “honourable peace”. On October 20 the battalion attacked at Grand Champs, obtaining their position and the remaining German garrison, “400 strong, was seen running away for all they were worth, however nearly 30 soldiers were killed and a hundred wounded. In the following days the Manchesters continued to advance, but the conditions were so bad and the the men affected by the continual cold rain they were sent to recuperate for 2 days. By November 8 they left Le Carnoy and moved to billets at Hargenies and on November 11 the order for caseation of hostilities was received.
The men were then moved to billets at a school in Hautmont which had been recently vacated by the enemy. On November 26 a private died of the Spanish Flu. On November 30 one private wrote in his diary “Battalion in state of discontent owing to tightening of discipline.” On December 4 one hundred new troops joined the Manchesters. These were mainly men who had been exempted from overseas service due to their health. On December 14 started a long route march to the Belgian village of Fleuris with took them to the 19th where they were billeted with civilians. On the 22nd the first 17 troops were demobilized, returning home to Britain.
In January 1919 educational classes began in preparation of returning to civilian life and later in the month small groups of men were demobilized every few days. In February another draft of 100 men arrived which speeded up the return of long service men. By the end of February most eligible men had been demobilized. Arthur was returned home on March 8, 1919

World War II
Canadian Forestry Corps
From what I can gather a large amount of lumber was needed for the war. It was more efficient to cut this timber closer to where it was needed rather than cut the lumber in Canada and ship it to Europe. The ships were needed to provide other supplies. The army recruited trained loggers, organized them into companies, gave them military training including weapons and sent them to the highlands of Scotland. Each company consisted of about 180 men and 6 officers. An advance party was sent in October of 1940 and by June 1942 there were 30 companies plus a headquarters company. Ten of these companies were sent to mainland Europe after D-Day.
Since we have several photos of Arthur at logging camps in the Hudson Bay area, it seems he would qualify. We understand he was a military policeman, so it would seem his job was to keep the loggers in order. However the military policeman could be a mistake and he was involved with logging the entire time.

Since the 20th Company was the only one (I believe) mobilized from Saskatchewan, at Saskatoon, it is highly like he served with this company. With additional information from Robert J. Briggs, he was indeed in the 20th.
Copied from a post by Robert J. Briggs
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~jmitchell/cfc/OgdenArthurPrivate.pdf
20th Company, Canadian Forestry Corp
Canadian Mobilization Point – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Mobilization Date – 2 Oct 1940
Sailed for the UK June 21 1941 on the HMT Stirling Castle. [Their convoy did sight a submarine their ship dropped depth charges. The submarine escaped the destroyers.]
Arrived in Scotland – 2 Jul 1941
Ceased Operations in Scotland – 21 Mar 1945
Camps Occupied in Scotland
(relocation dates indicated) – Torwood, Kincraig; Nethybridge, (12 Jun 42)
Of the 30 Companies 10 would go onto the mainland, 10 would stay in Scotland and 10 returned to Canada to cut fuelwood.

The following are excerpts from military records shared by Robert J. Briggs
Excerpts from the War Diaries of No. 20 Company Canadian Forestry Corps
Company Orders by Major R. T. Cook Station Saskatoon, Date October 16, 1940
Strength increase Regimental Number L. 50167 Private Arthur Ogden, Church of England , married

L. 50167 Pte. Ogden A. Sick. Admitted to camp hospital at 1000 hours November 7 1940
Discharged November 9th 1940

December 7, 1940 granted leave of absence to December 11, 1940 (along with many others)

December 23, 1940 granted leave of absence to December 28, 1940 (along with many others)

Company Orders by Major R. T. Cook, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, January 5, 1941
Attachments
Sick in Regina Military Hospital
L. 50617 A. Ogden

January 6th, 1941 20th Company departs by train for Valcartier Camp in Quebec. Arthur is still in Saskatchewan

February 10 1942 Arthur rejoins his unit.

Company orders by Major N. T. Cook [must be a typographical error] Cove Field Barracks, Quebec, P. Q., May 3 1941
Appointments and Promotions
L 50617 Pte. A. Ogden to be Acting Lance Corporal with pay to fill existing vacancy, effective May 3, 1941

June 3, 1941 Lance Corporal Arthur Ogden granted leave to June 6, 1941 [Perhaps this is when he had his picture taken with his niece and nephews Garth, Derek and Joyce Kinnear.]

Formal Roll of all Ranks, June 16, 1941
L. 50167, Acting Lance Corporal A. Ogden

Ships to sail from Halifax, Nova Scotia on June 21st, 1941
#20 Company Canadian Forestry Corps including 6 officers, 15 Sergeants and 180 other ranks. They were formally located in Quebec Military district arriving in Halifax on June 19. Other troops including reinforcements and Royal Netherlands troops are also embarking for a total of 1626 on the SS Stirling Castle. [Courtesy David Ryan]

June 30, 1941 on board HMT [His Majesty’s Transport] 164 at Greenock [near Glasgow, Scotland] however since the ship was expected to land at Liverpool they cannot disembark until June 2. They took a train to Kinerbraig Station, Invernesshire and proceeded by truck to Norwood Camp, Glenfeshie [Forest]

July 7 1941 granted leave to July 14

Bob Briggs doesn’t the remainder of 20th Company War Diaries

On October 10, 1943 Sergeant Arthur Ogden L50167 is now with 12th Company and on his way back to Canada

From additional information from Robert J. Briggs
In October 1943 the Canadian Forestry Corps was reorganized. There was a shortage of timber in Scotland and the availably of shipping to Europe had improved. A large number of men were returned to Canada. Arthur Ogden was transferred to No. 12 Company which came back to Canada. Since he is shown in a photo in August 1943 with the No. 20 Company he must have served all of his time in Scotland with No. 20 Company.

End of excerpts

Bertha Curtis and Arthur Ogden Timeline

1882 August 22
Arthur’s parents Jarvis Marshall Ogden and Elizabeth Martin Coupe are married in Manchester, England. Jarvis age 31 is a police constable. He was born in Manchester but went to India as a boy with his mother and siblings. Jarvis had been a soldier in India. Elizabeth is 21 years old, born in Egmanton, Nottinghamshire and later came to Manchester as a child.

1884 September 4
Bertha’s parents Thomas Curtis and Frances Bagnall are married in Manchester. Thomas age 22 was born in Manchester, and was an apprentice, possibly grocer or pattern maker. Frances age 25 was born in Manchester and was a weaver.

1889 August 15
Bertha Isabel Bagnall Curtis was born in Manchester. She was the third child of Thomas and Frances.

1891 census
Bertha living with her parents, brother & 2 sisters at 66x68 Stanley Grove, Kirkmanshulme, Manchester,

1897 April 14
Arthur Ogden born Chorlton On Medlock, Manchester

1901 census
Bertha living at 15 Slade Grove, Levenshulme, Manchester with her parents 2 brothers and and 2 sisters, 1 sister is not listed. Arthur living at 16 Duke Street, Chorlton with his parents, 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

1909
Bertha’s mother Frances Ogden (nee Bagnall) dies age 49.

1911
Bertha is living at home with her father, Marion, Jessie, Thomas and Hilda. Bertha and Marion are teachers.
Arthur is living at home with his parents and siblings Jarvis, Louis, Hilda and Olive. Arthur is a student.

1912
Arthur’s father Jarvis Marshall Ogden dies, age 61.

1914 October 24
Arthur’s older brother Ernest is wounded in action in France. Ernest dies in late 1915, probably as a result of his wounds

1915
Arthur enlisted with Manchester Regiment. Also some time during the war Bertha serves in some capacity as a nurse, as seen in a photo.

1915 August 17
Arthur enters the war in Gallipoli, fortunately he arrives after the second and third battles of Krithia and the Battle of Krithia Vineyard.

1916 January
Arthur’s battalion moves to Egypt.

1916 April
Bertha joins the Voluntary Aid Detachment and works in an Auxiliary Hospital in Manchester.

1916 August 5 and 6
Arthur’s brigade participated in the Battle of Romani losing 800 men due to thirst and sun [The brigade would normally have up to 4000]

1917 January
Arthur’s battalion moves to France and spends the remainder of the war in France and Belgium.

1918 October 8
Bertha’s younger brother Thomas Curtis is killed in action in France or Belgium. Arthur’s brother is badly wounded in the first weeks of the war then later dies as a result, another of Arthur’s brothers losses an arm in the war and Bertha loses a brother in the last month of the war.

1919 March 8
Arthur returns from France and later leaves the army.

1921 May 16
Arthur arrives in Canada, destination Tisdale Sask. His ticket is paid by the government.

1921 June 19
Bertha is living at home in Manchester with her widowed father and her younger sister Hida. Bertha is a teacher.

1921 December
Bertha arrives in Canada, destination to her sister Jessie in Moncton. She pays for her own ticket.

1922 July 4
Arthur obtains his Soldier Grant entry.
Bertha’s address is Silver Stream, Sask. She is probably teaching school there. Presumably shortly before or after she attended Normal School.

1923 October
Arthur builds a house on NW quarter section 28, township 43 range 2 west of the 2nd

1924 November
Arthur occupies the house

1924 December 31 Arthur and Bertha marry in Winnipeg, Bertha is listed as no continuous residence at the farm house.

1925 July 14 Arthur ceased living at the farm house. Not all requirements have been met to take ownership of the land. Arthur listed as living in Regina, Sask., salesman. Presumably Bertha is here also.

1926 June 1
Arthur and Bertha Ogden are living at 2346 Scarth Street, Regina.

1926 October 30
Bertha returns to England travelling under her maiden name, [possibly because of her passport] destination 229 Slade Lane, Manchester. Her occupation is teacher.

1927 February 20
Bertha returns to Canada travelling under her married name to 2346 Scarth Street Regina, fare paid by her husband

1927 June 1 to September 30th 1929
Arthur returns to the Soldier Grant quarter of land.

1930 March 1 Arthur is listed as an agent at Hudson Bay Junction, Sask., presumably Bertha is there also.

1931 June 1
Arthur and Bertha are living on Prince Street Hudson Bay Junction. Arthur is a General Agent, later someone added Life Insurance. Bertha is a home maker.

1932 September 5
Daughter Dorothy Gloria Ogden is born. Bertha travels to Swan River, Manitoba ahead of time so that she has the services of a doctor.

1940
Arthur joins the Canadian Forestry Corps, Canadian Army, he served most of his time in Scotland cutting lumber for the war effort. While he is away Bertha is teaching, the school inspector decides to move Bertha and her young daughter Gloria from a 1 room school to the town of Hudson Bay, as he has concerns about bear attacks in the area. Later Gloria attends school in Regina at the Qu'appelle Diocese School.

1941 February
Bertha’s father Thomas Curtis dies age 79

1943 September
Arthur’s mother Elizabeth Martin Ogden (nee Coupe) dies age 83.

1943 October
The Canadian Forestry Corps is reorganised with a majority of the men, including Arthur, returned to Canada.

1946?
The family moves to Regina. Arthur becomes what is described as a “Hotel Detective” for the Saskatchewan Hotel. Bertha continues to teach.

1949 August
Bertha and Gloria go to England for a holiday, and visit with family.

1951 August 3
Daughter Gloria is married to Tom Simmonds. At least some of this time until at least 1953, Arthur, Bertha and Gloria and family live in the same house on Retallack Street in Regina.

1951 October 10
Arthur and Bertha Ogden are invited to a luncheon by the Lieutenant Governor of the province in honour of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburg at the Hotel Saskatchewan. About this time the Leader Post features a photo of Pansy, one of Arthur’s bulldogs, decked out with Union Jacks.

1953?
In about 1953 Arthur and Bertha move to Victoria, British Columbia. Arthur is head detective at the Empress Hotel. Bertha is a kindergarten teacher.

1956 July 26
Arthur dies in Victoria, age 59. He has served in both World Wars, been a farmer, a logger, some sort of agent and a hotel detective. He was known for raising bulldogs who won a number of prizes. Arthur is survived by 2 brothers (and possibly a sister), his daughter Gloria and 3 grandchildren.

1957 June
Bertha goes to England on a holiday.

1959 May
Bertha goes to England on a holiday.

1959 Summer
Bertha visits her sister Jessie’s family in Montreal, probably on her return from England.

1978 October 2
Bertha dies, age 89. She was living at 205 - 2558 Quadra Street, Victoria, B.C. She had taught for nearly 50 years, in Manchester, Hudson Bay area, Regina and Victoria. She is survived by a sister, Jessie, daughter Gloria, 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

end of timeline

Notes

Served in WWI as a nurse.

Birth listed in 1889 September index as Bertha Isabel B. Curtis at Chorlton volume 8c page 918.

Parish records St. George, Hulme, Manchester
Born August 15, 1889, baptized October 6, 1889 Bertha Isabel Bagnall Curtis, parents Thomas and Frances Curtis, married at St. George in 1884, mother’s maiden name is Bagnall, their residence is 84 Raby Street, Moss Side, father is a pattern maker, ceremony performed by George Cranston.

1891 census living at 66x68 Stanley Grove, Kirkmanshulme Manchester,
Thomas Curtis, Grocer Master age 29 born in Lancashire. [no city listed]
Wife Frances Curtis age 31, born Lancashire.
Daughter Marion F. Curtis age 5.
Son Benjamin L? Curtis age 3.
Daughter Bertha I Curtis age 1.
Daughter Gertrude E Curtis age 2? months.
1 servant.

In the 1901 census civil parish South Manchester, Ecclesiastical parish Birch in Rushulme St. Agnes living at 15 Slade Grove, Levenshulme, Manchester.
Thomas Curtis age 39, born at Manchester, Lancs. living on his own means.
Wife Frances Curtis, age 41 born at Manchester.
Daughter Marian F. Curtis age 15.
Son Benjamin L. Curtis, age 13,
Daughter Bertha I. Curtis age 11.
Daughter Jessie Curtis age 7.
Son Thomas B. Curtis age 2.
All the children are listed as being born in Manchester. Gertrude Curtis is not listed.

In the 1911 census 83 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Chorlton, Lancashire, Ardwick sub district, South Manchester parish.
Thomas Curtis, head, widower, age 49, wine merchant, born Manchester.
Daughter Marion Curtis, single, age 25, teacher, born Manchester.
Daughter Bertha I Curtis, single, age 21, teacher, born Manchester.
Daughter Tessie [must be Jessie] Curtis, single, age 17, student, born Manchester.
Son Thomas B. Curtis, single, age 12, student, born Manchester.
Daughter Hilda C Curtis, age 8, student, born Manchester.
Servant Emma Lee, single age 51, born Sheffield.

British Army, British Red Cross Volunteers
Bertha Isabel Curtis of 85 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Manchester
service from April 1916 to January 14 1919
Rank: Volunteer Aid Detachment
Duties: Ward and Kitchen
Hours worked: Full weeks duties of 4 hours each day, but not every week
Commission: East Lancashire 192
Hospital: Reform Club Branch of Heaton Mersey Auxiliary Hospital, Heaton Moor, Stockport; Brook House, Levenshulme
See Wikipedia: Voluntary Aid Detachment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_Aid_Detachment

1921 census
85 Stockport Road, Levenshulme {Manchester]
Head Thomas Curtis, age 59 years 8 months, widower, born Manchester, wine merchant, own account at home
Daughter Bertha Isabel Curtis, age 30 years 8 months, single, born Manchester, teacher, Manchester Education ????, Aliera? Park Municipal School
Daughter Hilda Constance Curtis, age 19 and no months, single, born Manchester, housekeeper

From Canada Ocean Arrivals (form 30A)
S.S. Minnedosa, Date of Sailing December 17, 1921
Bertha Isabel Curtis, age 31, single
Present occupation, Schoolmistress, Intended occupation, same
Born Manchester
Object in going to Canada is to settle
Do you intend to remain permanently in Canada. Yes
Did you ever live in Canada. No
Money in possession $50.00
Destined to sister. Mrs. Kinnear, 75 Dominion St., Moncton, N.B.
Nearest relative in country which you came from. Father, Mr. Curtis, 85 Stockport Rd., Levenshulme, Manchester

Attended Normal School. In 1922, before being married, taught at Silver Stream School. Silver Stream is about halfway between Nipawin and Tisdale and between Gronlid and Arborfield. [Her name is listed as a teacher at Silver Stream School in the local history book “Homestead to Heritage: History of Armley and Districts of Manlius, Armley, Silver Stream and Waterfield.”] Taught in the Hudson Bay Junction area then during WWII in Hudson Bay Junction. Taught for many years in Regina, then Kindergarten in Victoria.

Listed as a passenger on the Montcalm (Canadian Pacific) arrived October 30, 1926 Liverpool departed Montreal Bertha Curtis, destination 299 Slade Lane, Manchester, Teacher, age 38, permanent resident of Canada. I think this is a match as the age, occupation, and the address is the same street her parents had lived on. Possibly she was travelling under her maiden name to match her passport. Also see the next note as she returned from England 3 1/2 months later.

Listed as a passenger on the Alaunia, departed from Liverpool, Arrived Halifax, Nova Scotia February 20, 1927, Bertha Isabel Ogden age 37, married, born Manchester, England, citizenship British crossed out then Canada, in Canada in 1921 - 1926, address 2346 Scarth Street, Regina, Sask., fare paid by husband Mr. Arthur Ogden, her occupation school teacher, address in UK sister Mrs. Craven [Hilda] 4 Cleveland Avenue Levenshulme

Listed as passengers tourist class, Empress of Canada (Canadian Pacific) arrived Liverpool August 5, 1949, departed Montreal,
Bertha I. Ogden age 59, occupation housewife, destination 1 Sandy Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy.
Dorothy G. Ogden, age 16, student.

Probably listed as a passenger on the Empress of Britain (Canadian Pacific) arrived June 24, 1957 Liverpool. departed Montreal, Bertha I. Ogden, birth date August 22, 1889, widow, destination 2 Windall Close, Hove 4, Sussex, housewife, visiting for 8 weeks. This birthdate is incorrect by 7 days. Since it is known she had documents listing 3 different birth dates, this is very likely a match.

Listed as a passenger on the Empress of France (Canadian Pacific) arrived Liverpool May 19, 1959, departed Montreal, Bertha Ogden, birth date August 15, 1889, single?, destination 7 Anson View, Victoria Park Manchester, permanent resident of Canada, citizen of UK and Canada.

Canada Voters Lists 1962
Apartment 4, 314 Cook Street, Victoria, British Columbia
Miss {should be Mrs.] Bertha I. Ogden, teacher

Canada Voters lists 1968
Apartment 204, 2558 Quadra Street, Victoria, British Columbia
Bertha Ogden, teacher

British Columbia death index, Bertha Isabel Ogden, Female, age 89, Victoria, October 2, 1978

Death Certificate
Bertha Isabell [as spelled] Ogden
Place of Death: James Bay Lodge, Victoria, B.C.
usual residence: apartment 205, 2558 Quadra Street, Victoria, B.C.
widowed, husband Arthur Ogden
schoolteacher retired
Born August 15, 1889, Manchester, England
Father: Last name Curtis, first name not known, born England
Mother: name not known, born England
Cremation October 6, 1978

Times Colonist - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, October 4, 1978
Obituary
OGDEN On October 2, 1978, In Victoria, B.C., Bertha Isabell Ogden of 205-2558 Quadra St., formerly of Regina, Sask. Predeceased by her husband, Arthur, in 1954. [1956], she is survived bv a daughter, Mrs. T. (Gloria) Simmonds of Prince Albert, Sask.; five grandchildren, Kim, Darrell, Shirley, Linda and Averil; three great-grandchildren; also a sister, Mrs. Kinnear of Quebec. She was an active member of the Anglican Church. She taught school for many years In Victoria, Regina, Hudson Bay and England. Funeral service In St. John' Anglican Church, Quadra St., on Friday, October ? at 1 p.m., with the Rev. R. D. MacRae officiating, followed by cremation. In lieu of flowers, friends, so desiring, may donate to the charity of their choice. 'McCall Bros. Funeral Directors in charge of arrangements.