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Joseph Gagnon - An Algonquin World War 1 Veteran . . .Joseph Gagnon was an Algonquin First World War veteran. Although service papers list his birth year as 1890, his baptismal and marriage documents both record it as 1888. Joseph died in 1939. His regimental number was 246266. He was a Private of the 207th battalion. He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on May 12, 1916. . . .
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This webpage has 7 sections. Take your time to read the text, look at the photographs and the grave marker installation process, and examine the documents I have provided. It is also suggested that you follow the links to the short article and to Joseph's attestation papers.
If you are viewing this webpage on your cellphone it is suggested that you move to a laptop or a desktop. If either of these options are not available to you ask a family member or friend to help you, or go to the nearest library. Kindly, do not email me asking to resolve your cellphone limitations.
It is important to understand that this effort emerges from decades of family oral, archival, and academic research and a 30 year effort in Gehl v Canada. In this effort I had to prove that both Joseph and his wife Annie Jane Meness were entitled to Indian status registration in their own rights so the registration could flow to their grandchildren and great grandchildren. After this, and more recently, this process required additional efforts curating and administrating several interconnecting parts such as: discussions with Wendy Jocko, discussions with Veterans Affairs, federal archival research in the city of Ottawa aided by an ally helper Pamela Schreiner, confirmation from the cemetery administration secretary Christine regarding Joseph's burial, administration through the Last Post Fund, collaboration with Joseph's descendants such as Earl Gagnon - designing the inscription of the grave marker stone, and co-ordinating the physical installation with the monument company.
This effort was also inclusive of communicating with the Garrison Petawawa Military Museum offering several items for its upcoming exhibit on Algonquin veterans, and ensuring Joseph is remembered in the Ontario Provincial Command Military Service Recognition Book (Legion Branch 72) where I wrote and submitted a 200 word biography. The latter will be published in the fall of 2025.
Lastly, I wrote a 2,000 word article about Joseph, his war effort, his family, and about how it was that after WW1 he was escorted out of the Golden Lake reserve presumably because he was now deemed civilized, yet his denial of veterans' benefits because he was Algonquin. I have pitched this for publication and remuneration. Hopefully it will be published. I will send a link around if and when this happens.
Some people have suggested they would like to support my work on this project. This is much appreciated. People can send funds through etransfer at: l[email protected]
If you are viewing this webpage on your cellphone it is suggested that you move to a laptop or a desktop. If either of these options are not available to you ask a family member or friend to help you, or go to the nearest library. Kindly, do not email me asking to resolve your cellphone limitations.
It is important to understand that this effort emerges from decades of family oral, archival, and academic research and a 30 year effort in Gehl v Canada. In this effort I had to prove that both Joseph and his wife Annie Jane Meness were entitled to Indian status registration in their own rights so the registration could flow to their grandchildren and great grandchildren. After this, and more recently, this process required additional efforts curating and administrating several interconnecting parts such as: discussions with Wendy Jocko, discussions with Veterans Affairs, federal archival research in the city of Ottawa aided by an ally helper Pamela Schreiner, confirmation from the cemetery administration secretary Christine regarding Joseph's burial, administration through the Last Post Fund, collaboration with Joseph's descendants such as Earl Gagnon - designing the inscription of the grave marker stone, and co-ordinating the physical installation with the monument company.
This effort was also inclusive of communicating with the Garrison Petawawa Military Museum offering several items for its upcoming exhibit on Algonquin veterans, and ensuring Joseph is remembered in the Ontario Provincial Command Military Service Recognition Book (Legion Branch 72) where I wrote and submitted a 200 word biography. The latter will be published in the fall of 2025.
Lastly, I wrote a 2,000 word article about Joseph, his war effort, his family, and about how it was that after WW1 he was escorted out of the Golden Lake reserve presumably because he was now deemed civilized, yet his denial of veterans' benefits because he was Algonquin. I have pitched this for publication and remuneration. Hopefully it will be published. I will send a link around if and when this happens.
Some people have suggested they would like to support my work on this project. This is much appreciated. People can send funds through etransfer at: l[email protected]
1. Introduction:
Joseph Gagnon was an Algonquin First World War veteran. Although service papers list his birth year as 1890, his baptismal and marriage documents both record it as 1888. Joseph died in 1939. His regimental number was 246266. He was a Private of the 207th battalion. He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on May 12, 1916. His date and port of embarkation was May 28, 1917 at Halifax, travelling on the RMS Olympic. His date and port of disembarkation was June 10, 1917 at Liverpool, England. Joseph arrived in France on January 19, 1918 where a few days later, on the 21st, his feet landed on the battlefield. On September 6, 1918 he became a casualty of war, with gunshot wounds to his right arm and left leg. He returned to Canada on December 30, 1918 travelling on the RMS Carmania. He was discharged on January 24, 1919. Joseph’s parents were Joseph Gagnon and Angeline Jocko of Calabogie, Ontario. His mother was Algonquin; his father French. He was married to Ann (Annie) Jane Meness, and they were members of the Golden Lake Reserve, now called Pikwàkanagàn First Nation. Joseph and Annie had five children: Viola, Cecelia, Gordon, Kenneth, and Stephen.
2. A Short Storyboard:
3. The Cemetery: St. Columba's Pembroke, Ontario at 23 TV Tower Road
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After his death in 1939 Joseph Gagnon was buried in St Columba’s Cemetery, located in Pembroke, Ontario. Sadly, although he fought in Canada’s First World War, he was buried unceremoniously in a pauper’s grave without a marker where, as a result, his exact resting place within the cemetery is now unknown to his descendants. Regardless, what is known is that he is buried in group plot 216, in section B1, with his parents buried nearby in group plot 654, in section A2.
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Given that Joseph's exact resting location is unknown, a grave marker stone was recently installed in a designated location within the cemetery. This designated location is near TV Tower Road, and across from A1. See map above.
4. The Physical Installation of the Grave Marker Stone:
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This video has sound.
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5. Learn more here:
A short article about Joseph click here
Joseph's attestation papers click here
Learn more about Algonquin WW1 veterans click here
Joseph's attestation papers click here
Learn more about Algonquin WW1 veterans click here
6. Photographs of Interest:
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7. Joseph's death document and the 1921 and 1931 census records placing him in the Golden Lake Reserve where he and his wife Annie Meness and their children were living. Note: in 1931 Frank Meness was living with them.
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Many components of this webpage remain the intellectual property of Dr. Lynn Gehl. While people are welcome to print contents for their personal use, my personal work is not for public posting. That said, sharing and posting the entire link to this page is much appreciated.