Previous Military Experience: Veteran of World War 1 From 1915 to 1919.

Born 30/09/1894 at Islington, Greater London, England; son of William Francis Ortelli (1862-1896) and Rose (nee Macey 1865-1896). Reuben married Beatrice Mary (nee Holmes 1902-1976) at Cedar Springs, Raleigh Twsp., Kent Co., ON. 12/04/1922. They had two children Audrey Louise (Caughy 1924 – 2004) and Lloyd Murray (1930-1992).

N of K: Mrs. W. Dean of 65 London Rd. Eastham, London, England. For reasons unknown, Ruben became a ward of the Barnardo Society and on 3 August, 1905 (listed as 9 years old) rather than 11 if his birthdate at enlistment is correct. He was shipped to to Canada one of 433 ‘Bernardo Children’ aboard the S. S. Dominion, arriving in Quebec City on 12 August, destended for the Bernardo Home in Peterborough, ON. LAC ref.: RG 76 C1a.

A single farmer living in Blenheim, ON. Member of 24th Kent Regt. Attestation: 24/11/1915 at St. Thomas, ON. to 91st Bn. transferred to 186th Bn. Found on Nominal Roll of 186th Bn. 28/03/1917.

After the war Reuben returned to Kent County and it was reported that he along with a Pte. Brown and Pelkey were presented with a community medal from Kent Bridge, ON. and a pass book from the Merchant’s Bank with a credit of $25.00. CDP 31/05/1919.

It is reported that he married Beatrice Mary (nee Holmes) of Blenheim, ON. 12/04/1921.

The following was received from Brenda Wiltenburg concerning her grandfather and with her permission is posted here:

12/11/2013 Reuben’s granddaughter writes:
I can add a little bit of information regarding my Grandfather. Several years ago I contacted the Barnados Home in England requesting information about my Grandfather and a lot of the following is what they provided me with.

He was the youngest of 6 children having 4 sisters (Nellie, Rose, Nancy and Jemima) and 1 brother (Frank). His birth date is recorded as being September 30, 1895 at Clerkenwell, England. He was baptised and brought up as a Protestant.
Their father, William Francis, died on June 5, 1896 at the age of 34 from consumption (tuberculosis) and their mother, Rose (Macey), died on November 12, 1896 at the age of 31 also of consumption. Both parents were labourers and the family was very poor.
Grampa went into the care of Barnados on November 3, 1896. The three younger girls were admitted to Mr. Groome’s Home, Clacton on the Sea while Nellie who was 13 years old at the time remained at home until their mother died then also went to Mr. Groome’s Home. His brother went to Miss MacPherson’s Home in Spitalfields, East London.

A maternal uncle, James Macey, was contacted but could not look after any of the children as he already had eight children of his own. Paternal relatives were too poor to help out.

Grampa went to the Barnados Receiving House at Stepney Causeway, Stepney, East London and on December 2, 1896 was placed in a foster home in Broxted near Dunmow, Essex. His foster mother, Mrs. Saville, wanted to keep Grampa but it had been decided that he, like many other Barnado youngsters, should be given the chance to go to Canada.

In preparation for his journey, he returned on July 24, 1905 to Barnados Leopold House on Burdett Road, East London. As you have already noted he sailed for Canada on August 3, 1905 aboard the S.S. Dominion arriving in Quebec on August 12, 1905. He would have been 9 years old, almost 10.

On arrival in Canada, Grampa stayed at the Barnado Home in Toronto for a few weeks and on October 5, 1905 was placed with Mr. John Campbell in Peterborough. He did well there and attended school. However Mr. Campbell indicated that although they liked him very much, it cost as much to board him as a man but he wasn’t able to do a man’s work, so they felt they must return him to the Home.

He returned to the Home and on November 17, 1908 was placed with Mr. John D. Depencier in Norwich. By July 1910 Mr. Depencier and his family and Grampa had moved to Kent Bridge.

By December 1912 Grampa had left the Depenciers and was working for James Riseborough in Kent Bridge.

By May of 1915 he was working on a farm in the Blenheim area.

In December of 1915 Grampa wrote to Barnardos saying that he had enlisted and was quartered in St. Thomas with the 91st Battalion. I have a copy of his Attestation Papers which were signed on November 23, 1915. Interestingly, Grampa indicated his birth date to be September 30, 1894 but other records indicate 1895.

In January 1917, one of the Barnado visitors reported that Grampa was training in Chatham where his Battalion was quartered for the winter and was a member of D Company, 186th Battalion No. 189438 holding the rank of Corporal.

Grampa married my Grandmother, Beatrice Mary Holmes on April 12, 1922 at Cedar Springs and worked on his father-in-law’s farm. They had 2 children: Audrey Louise who married Burton Caughy (my parents) and Lloyd Murray Ortelli.

The last news that Barnados received about my grandfather was in April, 1926 when he was working for Mr. Harold J. Huffman in tbe Blenheim area.

Two of his sisters, Nancy and Jemima died in childhood, I believe from pneumonia.

His brother Frank eventually moved to Canada but never married. He lived in the Hamilton area having died in 1952 and is buried in England.

Grampa maintained contact with Nellie and Rose through letters and pictures but never saw them again in person. Nellie and Rose’s children exchanged letters and pictures with my grandparents over the years and my parents and I travelled to England about 30 years ago to meet many of them and their families. Before his death Grampa was able to meet a nephew and his family and a niece and her family when they visited from England.

Grampa died on February 19, 1977 and is buried at Pardoville Union Cemetary.

I know that Grampa was wounded, having received shrapnel wounds to his head and leg and spent time in hospital in England. We have records of this as well as some pictures which I would be glad to share with you as soon as I locate them. Hopefully my brother and I will have time to look these up within the next few weeks. He served at Ypres and Vimy Ridge. I think he was also at the Battle of the Somme but will have to find more records to verify that.

During WWII Grampa was a Sergeant and trained soldiers at Camp Borden.

BHC – Registry. Additional information is available at Blenheim Historical Society. N. Barnett 21/08/13

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	2KRMR
Supplemental Information	Regimental number: 189438 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7490 - 49 Appears on the ‘Muster Roll’ of the 2nd Bn., Kent Regiment (MG), N.P.A.N. (date unknown).

Age	born 1895
Birthplace	Blenheim, Ont.
Religion	Baptist
Marital Status	Married
When Enlisted	August 26th 1940
Next of Kin	Beatrice Ortelli (Wife)

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