Theodore George Young was born on 12th March 1884 in Toronto.
Theodore’s parents Samuel and Catherine Louisa Einboden married on 1st January 1852 in York, Ontario. There is an image lower down of their marriage. (Permission granted to publish this image by the owner of a Public Family Tree on Ancestry.co.uk)
The 1901 census for Canada on Ancestry.co.uk shows that the Young family was living at 41, Hazelton Ave, Toronto, Canada. Head of the household was Samuel Young aged 54 who had beenborn in 1869 in Newfoundland. H e was a Builder. His wife was Catherine Louise aged 49 who was born 1851 in Ontario. They had six children listed at home. They were, Alfred aged 24 who was born in 1876 He was a Dry Goods Clerk. Susannah aged 19 was born in1881. She was a Milliner. Thomas 18 was born 1882 and was a Plumber. Theodore 17 who was born 1884 was a Watchmaker. Jennie 15 was born in 1885. Ethel 14 was born in 1887. All the children were born in Toronto. There was also a relative (niece) living at this address, she was Mary Martin aged 28 and was born in 1872 in Ontario. She was a Proof Reader.
I cannot locate Theodore on the 1911 census but his family was still living at the same address with three children at home. Alfred age 34, Frances 28 and Ethel 22.
Theodore’s army records tell us that he was drafted into the Canadian Army on 22nd June 1918 at Edmonton, Alberta. He gave his address as Box X Camrose, Alberta he named as his next of kin, Mr. Samuel Young (Father) of 41, Hazelton Ave. Toronto Ontario. His religion was Methodist and he was a single man. He was a Watchmaker.
After basic training in Canada, Theodore embarked from Quebec on 26th September 1918 aboard the S.S. Huntsend, arriving in England on 12th October 1918 when he was posted to Bramshott Army Camp to complete training. When it became obvious that hostilities were coming to an end, Theodore was transferred to Kinmel Army Camp in North Wales.
Sadly Theodore contracted Influenza and Acute Toxemia which resulted in Acute Heart Failure causing his death at 9.40 am on 23rd November 1918.
It should be noted however that upon reporting sick on parade on 22nd November 1918 Theodore was not admitted to hospital but ordered to report to Hut 34 to await the Medical Officer who took his temperature and advised him that it was normal, but to stay in the hut for a few days. By early evening his condition deteriorated and L/Corpl 2622072 Lilleston who was in charge of the hut sat with him until his condition again deteriorated. At 0200 hrs when he went to advise the Medical Officer. The Officer declined to attend Theodore as he stated that he could do no more for him. Theodore died at 9.40 the next morning.
Theodore left all his possessions to his father Samuel.
(From Library of Canada Archives)
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 at Bodelwyddan, North Wales.
Theodore is commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
You can read the transcript of the Court of Inquiry lower down the page. (Not easy to read)
