battle of loos Posted 19 November Share Posted 19 November Good evening, Is it possible to find information about this soldier who wrote his name on a canadian Jack Knif? W. CALESS Thank you in advance. Kind regards michel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tawhiri Posted 19 November Share Posted 19 November No Caless's in the Canadian WW1 service records, and the only medal index card I can find for that surname is a John Henry Caless serving firstly with the 9th Lancers and then the Labour Corps. There are several Chelsea pensioner files for a William Caless, but that suggests service well before WW1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battle of loos Posted 19 November Author Share Posted 19 November thank's for your answer. where is possible to see the archive to : "There are several Chelsea pensioner files for a William Caless, but that suggests service well before WW1." regards michel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tankengine888 Posted 19 November Share Posted 19 November Hello Michel Ancestry lists alot of Chelsea Pensioner files [and Fold3, which is apart of Ancestry or something..] Taking a brief look myself, there are none that fit a WW1 veteran, except maybe 3254 William Cales, 13th Hussars who enlisted in 1892 and discharged in June 1904 after serving in the South African War however it's a very slim chance that it's the same man. The other 'William Caless's are well before WW1 as Tawhiri has stated. I wonder if it belonged to a civilian, or Militiaman even. I'm not sure if the Canadians did this, but I see no broad arrow marking. Zidane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battle of loos Posted 20 November Author Share Posted 20 November good evening, thank's for your answer. regards michel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith_history_buff Posted 20 November Share Posted 20 November https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_pensioner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock1418 Posted 20 November Share Posted 20 November (edited) On 19/11/2023 at 21:29, battle of loos said: Is it possible to find information about this soldier who wrote his name on a canadian Jack Knif? W. CALESS Without wanting to appear negative, but realistic ... How do we know it was a soldier's knife? And the name stamped might not be contemporary with 1915 date/WW1 period, but possibly later Sorry! M Edited 20 November by Matlock1418 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Davies Posted 20 November Share Posted 20 November (edited) 14 minutes ago, Matlock1418 said: Without wanting to appear negative, but realistic ... How do we know it was a soldier's knife? And the name stamped might not be contemporary with 1915 date/WW1 period, but possibly later Sorry! M I am drawing a blank on ancestry for the name 'W Caless' EDIT HERE. There are a few named Caless from America, hold on... The 1915 date stamped on the nickel or other material scales seems a bit odd. What may give us more is the manufacturers name stamped on the blade, near the handle/grip @battle of loos From this we may be able to find where it was made and by who. Edited 20 November by Bob Davies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisonmallen62 Posted 20 November Share Posted 20 November 39 minutes ago, Matlock1418 said: Without wanting to appear negative, but realistic ... How do we know it was a soldier's knife? And the name stamped might not be contemporary with 1915 date/WW1 period, but possibly later Sorry! M M&D I believe made knives which were issued to Canadian military such as navy for rope cutting etc, perhaps was part of a sailor’s kit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Davies Posted 20 November Share Posted 20 November Thinking on this, the 'M&D Canada 1915' has been stamped in by one punch. When it was made, more than likely. Whereas the name W.CALESS. has been stamped in using individual punches, that is why they are not in line. Therefore, the name may have been stamped by someone of that name who has nothing to do with the knife in WW1 context, other than who owned it in later years. I am playing the devils advocate here. Nothing is showing up on my Ancestry searches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisonmallen62 Posted 20 November Share Posted 20 November There are quite a few for sale on various sites so that is a distinct possibility Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battle of loos Posted 21 November Author Share Posted 21 November Good evening Thank you for your feedback. michel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Davies Posted 21 November Share Posted 21 November 20 hours ago, Alisonmallen62 said: M&D I believe made knives which were issued to Canadian military such as navy for rope cutting etc, perhaps was part of a sailor’s kit? and all, by the look of it the '1915' date is probably genuine. See this post from 2016. I will have another look for 'W.Caless.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battle of loos Posted 21 November Author Share Posted 21 November here is one same item find by my wife in one canadian camp near Vimy Ridge. michel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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