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Kenneth Campbell Tyrie (1894-1960)


Gateshead man served with Canadian Army


At the time of the 1911 census Kenneth was still living with his mother and grandmother along with brothers; John, Colin and Wallace. The following May 18-year-old Kenneth sailed for Canada on the SS Virginian seeking work as a labourer.

By 1914 he was living and working in Ontario, but on 22 September he joined hundreds of men and youths at the newly built camp at Valcartier and enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), becoming Private 6616 of the 1st Battalion. The battalion set off for England on board the SS Laurentic from Quebec and arrived in England on 14 October 1914 with strength of 45 officers and 1121 men. February 1915 saw the battalion land in France becoming part of the 1st Canadian Division, 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade.

In June 1915 Private Tyrie suffered a crushed knee and the following month was in hospital in Etaples with synovitis (joint pain). In December he was also treated for toothache. January 1916 saw him attached to the 1st Canadian Divisional Headquarters employed by the Camp Commandant, a post he remained in for over two years, apart from a two month attachment to the 1st Canadian Divisional Train in July 1917 as a loader.

May 1918 saw Private Tyrie transferred to England with a view to accepting a commission in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and he was posted to the Western Ontario Regimental Depot (WORD). Cadet Tyrie returned from Cadet School to WORD on 17 December 1918 and was transferred back to the CEF for demobilisation.

Kenneth arrived back in Canada in January 1919 on board the SS Olympic and was demobilised from the CEF in London, Ontario on 6 February.
Nine months later, in November, he crossed the border into the USA and then having found lodgings crossed back into Canada where he married Edith Edna Scruby in Wentworth, Ontario on 17 December. They both settled in the US becoming naturalised citizens.

Kenneth Tyrie died age 66 in Youngstown, Ohio on 23 August 1960.

Civil Parish: Gateshead

Birth date: 05-Aug-1894

Death date: 23-Aug-1960

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 117 Catherine Street, Stratford, Ontario (marriage certificate)
Linwood Avenue, Detroit, Michigan (1920 US census)
427 Nesharnock Street, Newcastle, Pennyslvania (wife’s border crossing papers, 1920)
1252 Glenwood Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio (1930 US census)
1223 Glenwood Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio (1940 US census)

Employment: fireman (enlistment papers)
Locomotive brakeman (marriage certificate 1920)

Family: Wife: Edith Edna Tyrie nee Scruby
Children: Stuart K. O’Connell Tyrie

Military service:

Private 6616
1st Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force
Western Ontario Regimental Depot

Medal(s): 1914/15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by Jean Longstaff, Durham

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