We Remember

Edgar Caton

Rank: 
Private
Regimental number: 
7741
Unit at enlistment: 
7th Canadian Mounted Rifles
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
Yes
Wounded: 
Yes
Cemetery: 
Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St. Catharines, Ontario
Birth country: 
Canada
Birth county: 
Wentworth
Birth city: 
Hamilton, Ontario
Address at enlistment: 
Echo Place P.O., Brantford, Ontario
Next of kin address: 
Echo Place P.O., Brantford, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Farmer
Religious denominations: 
Presbyterian
Marital status: 
Single
Age at enlistment: 
20

Letters and documents

BX April 5, 1915

Trooper Caton Tells of Life at Canterbury – Echo Place Member of Second Contingent Writes An Interesting Letter Home

From her son, Trooper Ed. Caton, who joined the 25th Brant Dragoons some time ago and left for England with the advance guard of the Second Contingent, Mrs. W.M. Caton of Echo Place, has received a letter replete with interesting items about the town and the welfare of the troops. Trooper Caton is with D. Squadron, Fort Garry Horse, and is quartered at Canterbury, Kent County, England. He speaks highly of the treatment accorded to the Canadians wherever they go. His letter follows:
 
March 14, 1915
Sunday
Canterbury, Kent County
England
 
Dear Mother,
 
Just a few lines to let you know I am well and happy. This is a pretty hard life but I like it fine. We drill two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon. We haven't got our horses yet, but when we do we will be busy all day.

This is a pretty town. We are going through the cathedral some of these Saturday afternoons. It is the oldest church in England I think. It certainly is a beautiful building from the outside.
 
Easy to Get Lost
 
I have been lost two or three times in the city. The streets are all crooked. I don't think there is one that you can see over three blocks straight ahead. You start up one and the first thing you know you are back where you started from.
 
Comfortable Quarters
 
It is fairly comfortable here; we are in the married men's quarters at the barracks. We have a raised platform, folding; (soft side of the boards up) about three inches from the floor, with straw tick and pillow and blankets. We had an extra heavy one issued to us a couple of days ago. Charlie Flett and I sleep together and so we have 6 double blankets between us, which keep us warm enough. We also have a fireplace in the room. There are five of us in one room. Charlie Flett, Wesley Elliott, I think you know both of these fellows (Wes Elliott is a nephew of Mrs. Dave Elliott) and a couple of Paris boys. We get enough to eat. It is rough and ready, but clean and wholesome, bread and jam with cheese and tea for breakfast and either bacon or sausages, Mutton and boiled potatoes, with the jackets on, (no jam) and carrots and turnips for dinner, bread, jam and cheese with tea for supper. We don't get any butter at all. We often get extras of beans or some kinds of sauce with our meals. Charlie Flett and I are going to get a weekend off and go up to London if possible.

 Well Treated by People
 
We certainly have been used fine by the people of this town. There have always been soldiers here, it being a cavalry depot and remount stables. Lately they have had one or more soldiers (English) quartered in every house. The Canadians are getting the preference in everything just now. There is nothing too good for us. We are the first Canadian soldiers here and are the advance guard for the Second Contingent. We are drilling with about 1000 troops, men of the First Contingent. They just came here about two hours before from Tadworth, where they have been training. They were at Salisbury Plain and several other places before they came here.
 
Spring Has Arrived
 
It certainly seems funny here without any snow. The garden stuff is beginning to show through the ground and the grass is fine and green. I never saw such a beautiful sight in my life as I did when we pulled into Queenstown harbor in Ireland. The hills were all green, birds singing and the miles of water with the sun shining. It certainly was great to see the forts on both sides of the harbor and the battleships and submarines and destroyers and different vessels, both sailing and steam. I sent dad home a small piece of shamrock from a girl on the dock there. I hope he gets it all right.
 
Can Hear Cannon Roar
 
We are only 60 miles from the firing line. There are a few men leaving here nearly every day for the front to fill up. It is great to see them go, bands playing and everybody on the streets shouting. We could hear heavy gun fire the other day, from some naval battle I suppose.
 
About Size of Brantford
 
The population of this city is about 25,000 or 26,000 and there are about 25,000 here, in barracks or quartered around the city. Of these about 1,200 are Canadian troops.
 
Streets are Narrow
 
I am getting to be quite an Englishman now, talking in shillings and pence, and walking in the middle of the road, the side streets here are very narrow. Only room for two on the sidewalks. From the building on one side to those on the other is only about 50 or 60 feet at the widest. There is a beautiful archway gate on the main street. I don't know the name of it.

All the fences are brick, about 10 feet high with broken glass on top. The ornamental fences are of small stones and mortar and about three feet high, the stones are beautiful. They look just like marble and are all smooth and shiny. There are some beautiful monuments and churches here. I will get some views, and send home.

I am getting fatter all the time. You would hardly know me now. There is no hump on my back and I keep everything shined up and my clothes pressed. Well I guess this will be all this time. Will write again in a day or so. 

Love to all, Ed.

BX February 12, 1916

Pte. Caton Wounded

Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Caton, Echo Place, received word yesterday that their son Edgar Caton, now at the front with the Canadian Mounted Rifles, had been wounded in the left arm and leg and was now in No. 2 Canadian Stationary hospital at Boulogne. 

Private Caton’s name appears also in this morning’s casualty list from Ottawa. He is unmarried and left Brantford with a group of the 25th Brant Dragoons on Jan. 18, 1915. Later he was transferred to the C.M.R., and he went overseas with the Third Contingent.

BX November 21, 1916

Invalided Home

Mrs. William Caton, Echo Place, this morning received a telegram to the effect that her son, Private Edgar Caton had landed in Quebec, invalided home from the front. Pte. Caton left here about two years ago with the Canadian Mounted Rifles. He was wounded last February and has since spent the most of the time in hospitals and convalescent homes.

BX November 25, 1916

Returning Home

Word was received from the military hospitals commission at Toronto this morning that Sergeant Edgar Caton, of Echo Place, who has jut returned from the front, would leave for Brantford Sunday evening on the 6 o’clock train. It is expected that a reception will be tendered him on the arrival of the train.

BX November 27, 1916

Returned Home

Acting Sergeant Edgar Caton of Echo Place, invalided home returned to the city last evening, and was given a welcome, H.W. Fitton representing the Soldiers’ Aid Commission. He was wounded at Messines.

BX October 21, 1943

Edgar E. Caton

Many friends in the City will regret to hear of the passing of Edgar Caton, husband of Mary M. Caton, 107 Lowell Avenue, St. Catharines, which occurred at the St. Catharines general Hospital, Wednesday.  Mr. Caton, who was in his fiftieth year, in ill-health for several years, was suddenly stricken Tuesday and removed to the Hospital, where death occurred, the physical condition being a result of the First Great War. He had served overseas in the cavalry and other units, enlisting with the Fort Gary Horse.  A resident of St. Catharines for the past twenty years, he was born in Hamilton, and was active in Boy Scout work, being leader of Welland Avenue and Facer groups for over a period of ten years. He was a member of Welland Avenue Untied Church and besides his widow, he leaves four sons, William M. and John M., both in the R.C.N.V.R., James and Robert, at home; three daughters, Mrs. R. Masters, St. Catharines, Miss Frances and Miss Jean, at home, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William M. Caton, Bell Homestead, Brantford, and two sisters, Mrs. Francis Graham and Mrs. A. Wilson, also of this City.  One grandson also survives.  Mr. Caton is resting at the Hulse Funeral home, 75 Church Street, at Lyman, St. Catharines, where service will be held Saturday afternoon.  The interment will be in Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St. Catharines.

BX October 25, 1943

Edgar E. Caton

The funeral of Edgar E. Caton, formerly of this City, was held Saturday from the Hulse Funeral Chapel, St. Catharines, and was largely attended by relatives and friends.  A large delegation of Boy Scouts, under Commissioner Frank Churchill, with whom Mr. Caton had been actively identified for the past decade, were in attendance and formed a guard of honor at the chapel and graveside, in Victoria Lawn Cemetery.  Rev. J.W. Hedley of Welland Avenue United Church conducted the service and the wealth of beautiful floral tributes gave testimony to the esteem in which Mr. Caton was held.  The Canadian Legion committal service was conducted by Comrade William Bayliss and the Boy Scouts’ ritual by Commissioner Churchill.  The following Boy Scout officials were pallbearers: R. Jackson, F. Churchill, J. Hamilton, F. Lopas, J. Whenham and W. Stoddard.

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