The 1881 Census for Canada shows that the Cote family was living in Quebec. The head of the house was Basile Cote age 26 born 21st December in Quebec, a Mechanic by trade. His wife was Adele age 21 born in 1860.
Ten years on the 1891 Census shows Adele Cote as head of the household age 31 and widowed. her children were listed as Andre 9 (born 10th October 1881), Marie was also 9. Joseph was 6 (born 4th December 1884) and Basile 4, (born 10th March 1887).
I found a Family Tree on Ancestry.co.uk (Pigeon Tree) which gives the information that Basile Cote ( snr) died on 11th November 1887 aged 32.
The 1901 Census records Joseph Cote aged 16 living at Lle Verte, Temiscouta, Quebec. He was a lodger and the nephew of the Head of house. He was an apprentice by trade. His brother Basile was also at this address.
The 1911 Census records that Joseph was still living in Quebec as a lodger. The Head of the house was Alexander Marcon and the address was Lle Verte, Temiscouta.
Joseph Cote’s army records tell us that he enlisted into the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) on 13th November 1917 at Hailsbury, Ontario, Canada.He gave his trade as Farmer, his marital status as single and his next of kin as Andre Cote (brother) address 338, Rue Orleans, Maisonneuve, Montreal.
Joseph embarked from Montreal on 28th July 1918 and arrived in Liverpool, U.K. on 15th August 1918 and was transferred to Bramshott Camp. On 28th August he reported sick and was diagnosed with severe Neuritis of the arms and hands,which is the inflammation of a peripheral nerve or nerves usually causing pain and loss of function. He received hospital treatment at 12th Canadian Hospital at Bramshott and was then transferred on 18th September 1918 to the 8th Reserve Battalion and posted to Witley Camp. He appears to have had recurring bouts of Neuritis and received treatment at various hospitals.
Joseph was eventually discharged on 3rd January 1919 and transferred to Kinmel Camp in Rhyl for repatriation to Canada. Joseph contracted Influenza and died at Kinmel Camp at 9.30 am on 22nd February 1919.
(From Library and Archives of Canada Service Files of 1st WW 1914-1918).
Kinmel Park Camp was a segregation camp used to house Canadian Soldiers awaiting repatriation to Canada after the end of WW1. Unfortunately the conditions at that time were extremely harsh with a lack of every kind of commodity, the camp was overcrowded and the services were poor, there were shortages of clothing, food and blankets. As a result of this situation, a vast number of servicemen and women became ill and many succumbed to the Influenza Epidemic or complications associated with this infection.
He is buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Bodelwyddan.
Joseph is commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Andre Cote Joseph’sbrother is shown on the 1921 Census for Canada as still living at the same address shown on Joseph’s Attestation Papers, 338, Orleans, Mercier-Maisonneuve, Montreal. He was 38 years of age and was a Merchant by trade. His wife was called Olivine, age 32 and they had four children, Jacques age 6, Denis age 1 Clara age 9 and Aline age 3.
