Jan 29, 1898
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Born at
Edinburgh, Scotland
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Mar 30, 1912
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Embarked the SS
Scotian at Glasgow Scotland as a Home Child with the Quarrier’s Orphanage
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Apr 8, 1912
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Disembarked at
Halifax Nova Scotia and proceeded to the Fairknowe Home for orphaned children, Box 437,
Brockville, Ontario, initially opened by Mr William Quarrier from Scotland. This home was eventually operated by the Quarrier’s
charity.
He stayed
here until taken into the Claude Winters family home near Selby Ontario as a ward, and
employed on the family farm.
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Below are 2 photos of the Fairknowe Home, on the left as it was in
1911 and on the right as it stood in 2011
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Apr 17, 1917
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Attested into
the 1st Reinforcing Draft of the 156th Battalion at Brockville
Ontario
Ø Number 2255358
Ø Next of kin given as Claude A Winters, Guardian, of Fairknowe,
Brockville Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Farm Worker
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Methodist
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May 25, 1917
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Pte Ballantyne made
out a will leaving his estate to the Quarrier’s Orphans Home, at Bridge-of-Weir, Scotland
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May 26, 1917
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Transferred to
the 254th Battalion
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Jun 2, 1917
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Embarked the RMS
Olympic at Halifax Nova Scotia
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Jun 9, 1917
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Disembarked at
Liverpool England and proceeded to the Seaford Camp
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Jun 10, 1917
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The Battalion
was absorbed into the 6th Reserve Battalion at Seaford
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Apr 11, 1918
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Transferred to
the 21st Battalion and arrived at the No 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot)
at Etaples France.
TOS (Taken On
Strength) the 21st Battalion
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Apr 14, 1918
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Left No 2 CIBD
to for the reinforcement camp
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Apr 16, 1918
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Arrived at the
CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) at Calonne Ricouart with 8 other
reinforcements for the 21st Battalion
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Apr 21, 1918
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Joined the 21st
Battalion in the support trenches at Neuville Vitasse and was assigned to “D”
Company
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Aug 8, 1918
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During the
attack at Marcelcave, east of Amiens, Pte Ballantyne was first reported to be Missing in
Action, then was later found to have been Killed in Action
Crucifix
Corner Cemetery
Villers-Bretonneux France
Following the war the British War Medal
and Victory Medals were sent to Miss Quarrier, c/o Quarrier Orphan Homes, Bridge-of-Weir,
Scotland.
No Plaque,
Scroll or Memorial Cross were issued as he had no known relatives
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2008
During the Remembrance Day ceremonies in 2008, Veteran's Affairs Canada conducted a vigil
each night for the week leading up to November 11. This vigil consisted of
projecting the names of every Canadian soldier who is listed with the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission on various buildings and monuments across Canada, and in London
England. The photo below shows Pte Robert Ballantyne's name being projected on the
outside wall of Canada House in London England.
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