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757374 Sapper
ALEXANDER MYKE
Canadian Engineers
(later 7126 Lance Bombardier and C-9367 Corporal, Royal Canadian Artillery,
Private, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and Sapper, Royal Canadian Engineers)

by
Ó Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis, 2001

1. INTRODUCTION

The military service of Alexander Myke is a complex story. It involves four enlistments in the Canadian Army. His service spans the years from 1915 to 1947 with breaks in service of varying lengths. He served in the Infantry and the Canadian Engineers (C.E.) during the Great War of 1914-1918, in the Royal Canadian Artillery (R.C.A.) between the wars, in the Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (R.C.A.S.C.) during World War 2, and in the Royal Canadian Engineers (R.C.E.) following the Second World War. Unless otherwise noted, the details supplied in this narrative were obtained from the soldier’s service papers. Please note that numbers in brackets [ ] designate endnotes.

2. EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION

Alexander Myke [1] was born on the 22^nd of January 1900 in Hagersville, Ontario, a town located south-southeast of the city of Hamilton, Ontario [2]. Alexander was the son of Andrew and Jane Myke of Aldershot, Ontario [3]. The members of the Myke family were Methodists.

Alexander completed grade VIII in a village school in Ontario in 1914. There is no indication in his military records that he ever attended high school or college. After completing grade school, Alexander became a fruit farm hand in Ontario.

Myke was recruited for service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F.) at the Hamilton Recruiting Depot in November of 1915. He was recruited at age 15 years and hence, was underage for service. He apparently lied about his age and was able to fool the Recruiting Sergeant or Recruiting Officer, not a difficult thing to do in those days. At the time of his recruitment, he was not married, had not served in the Active Militia of Canada and had no prior military service of any kind.

3. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

This section of the narrative provides a description of Alexander Myke at various points in his life. As a description of the soldier was normally given when a man enlisted or was discharged, the physical descriptions provided here cover the periods 1915, 1919, 1923, 1924, 1929, and 1947.

Alexander Myke was given a medical examination at Hamilton, Ontario on the 30^th of November 1915 at the time he first enlisted in the Army. The following is a description of Myke at the time of his enlistment:

Based on the results of this medical examination, Myke was found fit for overseas service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

The following is a description of Alexander Myke at the time he was discharged from the Army in 1919:

Alexander Myke as he appeared after his discharge from the Canadian
Expeditionary Force following the Great War of 1914-1918 and prior to the start of World War 2.  He is wearing the Canadian 1938
Pattern battledress uniform (provisional specification No. E/1037, 28 October 1938).
[Uniform information courtesy of Dan Mowat]

Alexander Myke was given a medical examination on the 3^rd of July 1923 at the time of his enlistment in the Permanent Force of the Royal Canadian Artillery. Based on this examination he was placed in Category "A" [5]. The following is a description of Myke on that date:

Lance Bombardier Myke was discharged on the 31^st of July 1924 at the termination of his period of service in the Canadian Army. His description on discharge is shown in the following table:

Note: This physical description given of Myke at the time of his discharge in 1924 contains far less information than previous physical descriptions given of him.

Alexander Myke rejoined the Royal Canadian Artillery about one month after his discharge in 1924. His description on rejoining is given in the table below:

Myke was discharged from the Army a third time on the 30^th of April 1929 at the termination of his period of service in the Royal Canadian Artillery. His description on discharge is shown in the following table:

The following is the description of Alexander Myke at the time of his final discharge from the Canadian Army in 1947 [12]:

NOTE: (*) While Myke may have had black hair, he did not have much of it in 1947. A 1947 photograph taken of him while he was the coach of a Canadian Legion softball team shows him as being bald, with hair only on the sides and back of his head. Other photographs taken when he was younger show that he had an oval-shaped face with a high forehead, a wide mouth, sunken cheeks and wide nose such as one might see on a professional boxer.

4. INITIAL ENLISTMENT AND TRAINING

Alexander Myke enlisted as a Private in the 120^th (City of Hamilton) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F.) at Hamilton, Ontario on the 1^st of December 1915 [14]. At the time of his enlistment he indicated his willingness to serve overseas in the C.E.F. In order to cover his underage status, he enlisted under the name Alexandrew Mike and gave his birth date as the 22^nd of January 1897. This of course would have made him three years older than he really was. At the time of his enlistment he indicated that he was residing in Aldershot, Ontario, probably at the home of his parents.

Myke swore the Oath of Attestation on the 1^st of December 1915 and became 757374 Private Alexandrew Mike. His Oath of Attestation was certified at Hamilton by a Magistrate of Wentworth County on the 2^nd of December. It was not until the 3^rd of January 1916 that his attestation was approved by his commanding officer.

5. ASSIGNMENTS AND CAMPAIGN SERVICE

Home Service (1916)

A period of training followed the approval of his attestation. His initial period of service was rather rocky, as he was twice punished for being absent without leave between May and July of 1916. These infractions most likely can be attributed to the actions of a 15 year old juvenile suddenly subjected to the rigors of military discipline.

Service in England (1916-1917)

After eight months of service in Canada, Private Myke boarded SS Empress of Britain at Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 14^th of August 1916 and sailed for England on the same day. He arrived off the coast of England on the 23^rd of August and disembarked at Liverpool on the 24^th.

Private Myke continued to serve with the 120^th Battalion, C.E.F. until the 1^st of January 1917 when he was transferred to the 124^th Canadian Infantry Battalion, C.E.F. at Witley Camp [15]. This battalion was subsequently redesignated the 124^th Canadian Pioneer Battalion on the 1^st of February 1917 and became part of the divisional engineers of the 4^th Canadian Division. The 124^th Canadian Pioneer Battalion left Witley Camp for the port of embarkation on the 9^th of March and on the 11^th of March the battalion disembarked at Boulogne, France.

Service in France and Flanders (1917-1919)

The 124^th Canadian Pioneer Battalion went into action immediately upon its arrival in France in the Arras sector. Private Myke next saw action during the Battle of Vimy Ridge from the 9^th to the 14^th of April 1917. Between May and late August of 1917 things were rather quiet for the battalion. Myke spent a few days in hospital in May with a sprained foot and on the 29^th of July he was granted 10 day’s leave in Marseilles. He returned from leave and rejoined his unit in the field on the 13^th of August. The battalion was then preparing for operations at Hill 70, a battle that commenced on the 15^th of August and lasted until the 25^th. Private Myke’s last major battle with the 124^th Pioneer Battalion was at Passchendaele between the 26^th of October and the 10^th of November 1917.

Sapper Myke was granted 14 days leave in Paris on the 21^st of March 1918. On the 31^st of March he was taken on the strength of the 4^th Canadian Base Depot (C.B.D.) in preparation for his return from leave. He subsequently rejoined his unit in the field on the 5^th of April.

On the 28^th of May 1918 Myke was struck off the strength of the 124^th Battalion, C.E.F., and on the following day he was picked up by the 11^th Battalion, Canadian Engineers. While serving with his new unit he took part in the battles at Amiens (8-11 August), the Scarpe (26-30 August) and Drocourt-Quèant (2-3 September). He was again granted 14 days leave in Paris on the 11^th of September 1918 and rejoined his unit in the field on the 27^th of September. He continued to serve in France in operations in France until the Armistice on the 11^th of November 1918.

Sapper Myke remained with the 11^th Battalion, Canadian Engineers until the 5^th of May 1919 when he was struck off the strength of that unit and was admitted to hospital at Le Havre for treatment of scabies [16]. On the 9^th of May he proceeded to the embarkation camp of the Canadian Engineers Reinforcement Unit (C.E.R.U.) at Le Havre. He remained on the sick list at Le Havre until the 17^th of May when he was invalided to England aboard SS Panama and posted to the Canadian Engineers Reinforcement Depot (C.E.R.D.) at Seaford in East Sussex.

Service in Canada (1919)

Sapper Myke remained in England until the 12^th of June 1919 when he embarked for Canada. While aboard ship, he was taken on the strength of No. 2 District Depot in Toronto on the 3^rd of July 1919. His ship arrived at Quebec on the 10^th of July 1919. He was subsequently discharged from the Army on the 12^th of July 1919.

For his service during the Great War, Sapper Myke was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal [17]. He was also awarded the War Service Badge, Class "A", No. 228098 [18].

Service in the Royal Canadian Artillery (1923-1929)

Job opportunities were not good for a soldier returning to Canada from the war. This was probably especially true for someone like Alexander Myke who had joined the Army under age and no marketable skills to offer a prospective employer. With this situation facing him after his return home, it is not hard to understand why he might have felt that the Army offered him an opportunity that he could not find elsewhere.

Alexander Myke joined the Canadian Army Permanent Force (C.A.P.F.) on the 3^rd of July 1923 at Petawawa, Ontario. His Attestation Paper for this enlistment contained a good deal of information that differed from the information previously recorded when he joined the C.E. F. in 1915. For his attestation in 1923 he gave his name as Alexander Myke and his home address as the Hamilton Post Office. He claimed that his date of birth was the 22^nd of January 1900 in an attempt to appear three years younger than when he joined the C.E.F. His Attestation Paper indicates that he spoke no foreign language and that he was not married. His occupation is listed as concrete block maker. His religion for this enlistment is listed as Church of England, a change from Methodist when he joined the C.E.F. in 1915. Myke also claimed that he attested for the C.E.F. on the 1^st of September 1915. This was not accurate, as his actual date of enlistment was the 1^st of December 1915. He also stated that he was discharged from the C.E.F. on the 5^th of July 1919 when the actual date was the 12^th of July. These errors can probably be accounted for by the fact that Myke had a bad memory, as indicated by a doctor who examined him during his service in the C.E.F.

After successfully passing his medical examination and swearing the Oath of Attestation, Alexander Myke rejoined the forces. His attestation was certified on the 5^th of July 1923 by a Magistrate and the Attesting Officer at Petawawa, Ontario. Myke was now 7126 Gunner Alexander Myke, Royal Canadian Artillery. He was assigned to the 3^rd Medium Battery, R.C.A. at Kingston Garrison, Kingston, Ontario. His attestation received final certification by the Officer Commanding 3^rd Medium Battery, R.C.A. on the 13^th of November 1923 [19].

Myke served at Kingston for a little over a year and was promoted to the rank of Lance Bombardier. He was discharged on the 31^st of July 1924 for refusing to serve under a revised rate of pay.

After trying his hand at being a civilian for a little over a month, Myke decided to return to the Army [20]. Apparently earning a living in the civilian world had not become any easier and he was willing to serve in the Army even at the revised rates of pay.

He was given a medical examination at Kingston, Ontario and was placed in Category "A" as fit for general service. He rejoined the Royal Canadian Artillery at Kingston, Ontario on the 3^rd of September 1924. Myke rejoined the ranks as a Gunner and retained his old regimental number of 7126. He was posted back to the 3^rd Medium Battery, R.C.A. The Officer Commanding his battery certified his attestation on the 22^nd of December 1924. Again, a period of over three months had passed this time before the attestation was finally certified. During this period he was promoted to the rank of Lance Bombardier, probably on the basis of his prior service.

During the latter part of 1924 and the first half of 1925 Lance Bombardier Myke appeared to have performed his duties well. He was very active in the battery’s sports program and played softball for the unit. He was a member of the winning team of the Kingston Garrison Indoor Baseball League for the 1924-1925 season [21]. In addition to softball, Myke was also active with the unit’s football (soccer) team. He won a sterling silver and gilt sports football medal in the Kingston District Football League, R.C.A. in 1924 and a silver and gilt football medal from the Kingston District Football Association, R.C.A. in 1925 [22].

After some minor disciplinary problems in 1925, Myke settled down to soldiering in the 3^rd Medium Battery. On the 3^rd of September 1927 he re-engaged to serve a further period of three years with the Colours. He did not complete the additional three years of service, but took his discharge at Kingston, Ontario on the 30^th of April 1929.

Service in the Royal Canadian Artillery (1939-1944)

Within a week after the outbreak of war in Europe, Alexander Myke joined the Canadian Army for the fourth time. He took the Oath of Attestation at Kingston, Ontario on the 10^th of September 1939 and joined the Royal Canadian Artillery again, this time as C-9367 Gunner Alexander Myke.

Myke was assigned to 1 Medium Regiment, R.C.A. and embarked with this unit from Halifax, Nova Scotia bound for England on the 27^th of January 1940. He arrived at Southampton on the 30^th of January and then sailed for Scotland where he disembarked on the 8^th of February 1940. He was subsequently assigned to 1 Artillery Holding Unit at Bordon.

Myke served all of his overseas time during the war in the United Kingdom. On the 13^th of February 1941 he was taken on the strength of 2 Canadian Artillery Holding Unit and on the 11^th of March he qualified for the award of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal [23]. He was entitled to wear the Maple Leaf device on the ribbon designating overseas service.

On the 4^th of December 1941 Myke proceeded on command to 1 Prisoner of War Escort Detachment where he was assigned to escort duty. He remained in this temporary assignment until the 12^th of December 1941 when his overseas service was terminated as a result of his medical condition. He received orders on this date to report to the port of embarkation to return to Canada. On the 22^nd of December he was struck off the strength of 2 Canadian Artillery Holding Unit and embarked for Canada.

Myke arrived in Canada on the 1^st of January 1942 and was taken on the strength of No. 3 District Depot in Kingston, Ontario. On the 18^th of February he was struck off the strength of No. 3 District Depot and was assigned to the Canadian Army Training Center (C.A.T.C.) at Petawawa, Ontario. His stay in Petawawa was a short one. On the 2^nd of March 1943 he was taken on the strength of No. 3 Vocational Training School (V.T.S.) at Artillery Park Barracks in Kingston, Ontario. He remained with No. 3 V.T.S. until the 4^th of October 1944 when he was reassigned to No. 3 District Company, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps at Kingston.

Service in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (1944-1945)

With the R.C.A.S.C, Myke’s primary duty station was at Kingston; however, beginning on the 30^th of June 1945 he began to make many temporary trips to Point Petre, Lindsay and Aurora, Ontario, always returning to his home base at Kingston. These temporary duty assignments continued almost monthly until November of 1945. During this period he was awarded the Defence Medal on the 24^th of August 1945 [24].

Service in the Royal Canadian Engineers (1945-1947)

On the 29^th of November 1945 Alexander Myke was transferred to No. 3 E.S. & W. Company, Royal Canadian Engineers. After a period of 30 years he had returned to the Corps of his original service during the Great War of 1914-1918. On the 1^st of September 1946 he was authorized the War Medal 1939-1945 for his service in the Second World War [25]. He was also issued the War Service Badge, General Service Class No. 1080453 [26].

Myke served with the Royal Canadian Engineers until the 6^th of January 1947 when he was taken on the strength of No. 3 District Depot at Kingston in preparation for discharge.

6. PROMOTIONS AND CONDUCT

a. Promotions:

Alexander Myke’s promotion record during the various times he served in the Army is rather complicated owing to the number of times he was discharged and his transfers between different regiments and corps. His promotions (and demotions) are presented below for each period in which he served.

Great War Period (1915-1919)

Alexander Myke received no promotions while serving during the Great War. The ranks he held during this period are shown in the table below.

Between the Wars (1923-1929)

Alexander Myke received the promotions shown in the table below during his period of service with the Royal Canadian Artillery between the world wars.

World War 2 and After (1939-1947)

Alexander Myke received the promotions shown in the table below during his period of service with the R.C.A., R.C.A.S.C., and R.C.E. during the Second World War and during his service in Canada following the war.

b. Conduct:

Myke was subject to the disciplinary actions shown in the table below during his time in service:

Myke received the following Good Conduct Badges during his time in service:

At the time of his second discharge from the Army in 1924, Lance Bombardier Myke’s conduct was rated as "Good." When discharged from the Army for the third time in 1929, his conduct was rated as "Very Good."

7. EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Alexander Myke received the following training and qualifications during his periods of military service:

8. MEDICAL INFORMATION

The following medical information was taken from Alexander Myke’s service records during his time in service under all enlistments:

NOTE: (*) During his medical evaluation on the 2^nd of June 1919, the doctor made the following comments on Myke's Medical Case Sheet:

Well developed. Looks perfectly well. Lips are slightly bluish but not markedly so. This man has a very poor memory for some things – mentally sluggish. Remembers all the important things in his life except a few, e.g. date of going to France – how he got there. He doesn’t seem to make any effort to make his memory act.

9. MARRIAGE AND PERSONAL INFORMATION

There is no indication in his military records that Alexander Myke was married during the period from 1915 to 1929. When he initially enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1915, he listed his next of kin as his father and mother. When he reenlisted in 1924, he listed his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. Jane Myke, of 110 McNabe Street, North Hamilton, Ontario. At the time of Myke’s fourth enlistment in the Army in 1939, he listed his next of kin as his wife, Mrs. Edith ("Nettie") Myke. Mrs. Myke’s maiden name was Morley. Presumably she was living at the 39 Ordnance Street address in Kingston when Myke enlisted to serve in World War 2.

The Mykes had at least one child, as his obituary published in 1972 lists that he was survived by two grandchildren; Robert and Heather.

10. DISCHARGE

Alexander Myke was discharged from the Army after the Great War at Toronto on the 12^th of July 1919. The Proceedings on Discharge (Short Form) in his service records show his rank as Private. This is incorrect, as he was a Sapper during his period of service in the Canadian Engineers and in fact his British War Medal and Victory Medal are named to him as a Sapper. The document also shows his name as Alexander Myke and not Alexandrew Mike as shown on the rest of his service papers. Generally speaking, the discharge document appears to have been prepared with very little care or thought of accuracy in mind. Upon his discharge from the C.E.F. in 1919, his total service was reckoned as shown in the tables below:

Myke enlisted in the Army again in 1923, this time in the Royal Canadian Artillery. He served for one year and 28 days at Kingston, Ontario and then was discharged for refusing to serve under a revised rate of pay for his rank. His discharge papers were approved by a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. This fact, coupled with the comment in his discharge papers that Myke was "a good horseman" may indicate that he was actually serving with the R.C.H.A. from 1923 to 1924. Photographs in the author’s possession also show Myke on horseback.

His character at the time of his discharge was described as "sober, steady and reliable." Upon leaving the service in 1924, Myke indicated that his address would be General Delivery, Hamilton, Ontario.

Myke reenlisted in the Army in 1924, again in the Royal Canadian Artillery. He served for 4 years and 240 days at Kingston, Ontario and then was discharged again. His discharge papers were approved by a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. His character at the time of his discharge was described as "sober and clean." His commander indicated that his qualifications for civil employment were that he was "used to care of horses" and that he "can drive a motor car." Upon leaving the service in 1929, Myke indicated that his address would be 39 Ordnance Street, Kingston, Ontario and that he planned to work as a concrete block maker again.

Alexander Myke served again between 1939 and 1947 during the Second World War and beyond. He was demobilized from this final period of service at No. 3 District Depot in Kingston, Ontario after serving for 7 years and 101 days on his final enlistment, of which 1 year and 339 days were spent overseas in the United Kingdom. Myke listed his address on discharge as 39 Ordnance Street, Kingston, Ontario.

At the time of Myke’s discharge, his Department of Veterans Affairs counselor had this to say about him:

This 46 year old man of average height, good physique and purposeful manner impresses as responsible and willing. He now has employment arranged as a city bus driver. He is also suitable for employment as a painter and decorator.

11. POST SERVICE LIFE

Following his discharge from the Canadian Expeditionary Force after the Great War, Alexander Myke lived at 67 Princess Street in Kingston, Ontario for a period of time [31]. He got a job as a concrete block maker with the Department of National Defence. He was working at this job in 1923 when he decided to reenlist in the Army and apparently returned to this work when he was discharged a little over a year later.

Myke again joined the Army and served for almost five years. When he left the Army for the third time he took up residence at 39 Ordnance Street in Kingston, Ontario and worked primarily as a truck driver from 1929 to 1939. His military records indicate that during this period he also worked for one year as an assistant tinsmith and plumber.

Following his demobilization in 1947 after World War 2 it is likely that Alexander Myke became a city bus driver in Kingston, Ontario. On the 28^th of January 1947 he received a War Service Gratuity of C$967.22. He apparently remained active in sports as he had done while in the Army. A 1947 photograph of him indicates that he was the coach of the Canadian Legion Kingston Area Softball Association championship team for that year.

Myke appears to have lived out the remainder of his life in Kingston. He died on the 19^th of December 1972 at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston [32]. He was laid to rest on the following day at the Funeral Residences of Gordon F. Tomkins, 49 Colborne Street in Kingston and was buried on the 21^st of December after a service in the Chapel at Cataraqui Cemetery, Kingston Township, Frontenac County, Ontario.

ADDENDUM NO. 1.

Source: Mr. Keith Phibbs, a relative of Alexander Myke.

Alexander Myke's father, Andrew Myke, was born on the New Credit Indian Reserve near Hagersville, Ontario and was the son of a mixed Chippewa/African man and a Mohawk woman from the Bay of Quinte on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Alexander's mother's name was Sara Jane Crysler, although he gives her name as Jane in his military service papers.

The surname Myke actually comes from a slave named John Mike who married a Chippewa woman named Catherine. On some of his service documents Alexander does indicate that his surname is Mike and not Myke.

Alexander Myke married Edith (Nellie or Nettie) Morley, the daughter of one John Morley, on the 4^th of May 1928.

REFERENCES

1. Military Service Papers consisting of the following documents:

a. Attestation Paper, 1 December 1915.

(1) Declaration to be Made by Man on Attestation.
(2) Oath to be Taken by Man on Attestation.
(3) Description on Enlistment.
(4) Certificate of Medical Examination.
(5) Certificate of Officer Commanding Unit.

b. Casualty Form – Active Service (M.F.W. 54)

c. Service and Casualty Form, Part II (Army Form B.103-II)

d. Medical Forms D.M.S. 1300, R.149 and D.M.S. 1401.

e. Medical Case Sheet (Army Form I. 1237)

f. Particulars of Family of an Officer or Man Enlisted in C.E.F.

g. Canadian Expeditionary Force Discharge Certificate (Original Document)

h. Short Form Proceedings on Discharge

(1) Certificate to be Signed by Soldier
(2) Confirmation

i. Permanent Force of Canada Attestation Paper (5 July 1923).

(1) Questions to be Put Before Attestation
(2) Declaration to be Made by Man on Attestation
(3) Oath to be Taken by Man on Attestation
(4) Certificate of Magistrate, Justice of the Peace or Attesting Officer.
(5) Description on Enlistment
(6) Particulars of Next-of-Kin.
(7) Certificate of Officer Commanding Unit.
(8) Statement of Services
(9) Military and Family History Sheet

j. Proceedings on Discharge (31 July 1924)

k. Permanent Force Parchment Certificate of Discharge (Original Document) (M.F.B. 241).

l. Permanent Force of Canada Attestation Paper (3 September 1924).

(1) Questions to be Put Before Attestation
(2) Declaration to be Made by Man on Attestation
(3) Oath to be Taken by Man on Attestation
(4) Certificate of Magistrate, Justice of the Peace or Attesting Officer.
(5) Description on Enlistment
(6) Particulars of Next-of-Kin.
(7) Certificate of Officer Commanding Unit
(8) Statement of Services
(9) Military and Family History Sheet
(10) Regimental Conduct Sheet
(11) Squadron, Battery, and Company Conduct Sheet

m. Proceedings on Discharge (M.F.B. 218) (30 April 1929)

(1) Description at Time of Discharge.
(2) Certificate to be Signed by Soldier on Discharge.
(3) Additional Certificate in the Case of a Soldier who takes his Discharge on his own Request.
(4) Statement of Service.
(5) Confirmation of Discharge.

n. Permanent Force Parchment Certificate of Discharge (Original document)(M.F.B. 241)(30 April 1929)

o. Canadian Active Service force Attestation Paper (M.F.M. 2)

(1) Declaration to be Made by Man on Attestation.
(2) Oath to be Taken by Man on Attestation.
(3) Certificate of Magistrate, Justice of the Peace or Attesting Officer.
(4) Record of Service.

p. War Services Grants Act, 1944. Certificate of Overseas Service (M.F.M. 491) (Original Document)

q. Canadian Army Particulars of Active Service (M.F.M. 7) (Original Document)

r. Department of Veterans Affairs (W.D. 12) Confidential Discharge Report.

s. Department of National Defence Statement of War Service Gratuity (Original Document)

t. Department of Veterans Affairs War Service Records (Awards)

2. Obituary. Kingston Whig-Standard, 20 September 1972.

3. STEWART, C.H. The Concise Lineages of the Canadian Army, 1855 to Date. National Museums of Canada, 1972.

ENDNOTES

[1] The origin of the surname Myke (or Mike as it is sometimes written) appears to be German.

[2] The town is spelled Haggersville in Myke’s service records. The only town with a similar name in Ontario is spelled with only one "g".

[3] It is believed that the Mykes had another son whose initials were C.R. A 1925 photograph in the possession of the author shows a battery baseball team including Gunner A. Myke and a Lance Sergeant C.R. Myke. Since Myke is not a very common name in Canada, it seems likely that the two men were related and were probably brothers. Unlike Alexander, C.R. Myke seems to have progressed to the non-commissioned officer ranks much more rapidly than his brother. Alexander Myke may have also had a younger sister. Another photograph in the author’s possession shows Myke in uniform as a Lance Bombardier with his arm around the shoulder of a young teenage girl. The photograph was taken after the Great War as he is seen wearing the ribbons of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

[4] Myke’s discharge certificate from the C.E.F., dated July 1919, indicates that he was 22 years old when he was discharged.

[5] A Category "A" medical classification indicates that the soldier is fit for general service.

[6] It should be noted that he grew an inch and a half in height between the time of his discharge in 1919 and his enlistment in 1923.

[7] This would make his year of birth 1900, a difference from the information provided on his 1919 discharge papers.

[8] An obvious error as his eyes were always listed as brown up to this point.

[9] This is the only physical description given of Myke indicating that he had dark brown hair. All other descriptions indicate that his hair was black.

[10] It should be noted that he had not aged at all in the year between his two enlistments.

[11] The age of 29 years coincides with a birth year of 1900.

[12] It is of interest to note that there was no physical description given of Myke when he enlisted for war service in 1939. On can only assume that physical examinations were cursory given the exigencies of mobilization.

[13] The trochanter is a rough eminence on the thighbone for insertion of muscles.

[14] The 120^th Battalion, C.E.F. was raised by the 13^th Royal Regiment. The 13^th Royal Regiment was raised as the 13^th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry) at Hamilton, Ontario. It was redesignated the 13^th Regiment on the 8^th of May 1900 and the 13^th Royal Regiment on the 3^rd of January 1910.

[15] The original 124^th Battalion, C.E.F. was made up of volunteers from the 10^th Regiment Royal Grenadiers (later The Royal Regiment of Canada).

[16] Scabies is a contagious skin disease cause by a parasitic mite. The disease was quite common for men serving in the trenches of the First World War.

[17] These medals are in the author’s collection.

[18] The whereabouts of this badge is unknown.

[19] There is no explanation given in his service papers for this long time between enlistment and certification of his attestation by the Officer Commanding his unit unless Myke was serving a probation period of some type.

[20] He had been employed during this time as a concrete block maker for the Department of National Defence, Ottawa. Although he continued to list this department as his employer, with an Ottawa address, it is most probable that his actual place of employment was in the Hamilton area since this is where he was residing when he reenlisted.

[21] He appears in a team photograph with the battery’s team. On the photograph his rank is listed as Gunner.

[22] Both of these sports medals are in the author’s collection.

[23] This medal is in the author’s collection.

[24] This medal is in the author’s collection.

[25] This medal is in the author’s collection.

[26] The whereabouts of this badge are unknown.

[27] Rejoined as a Gunner after taking his discharge in July of 1924 and then rejoining in September of the same year.

[28] As a result of punishment awarded for being absent without leave.

[29] This award of the Good Conduct Badge may have been a duplication of the award made to him during his time in the C.E.F. or it may have been a second award based on his total time in service.

[30] This medical category was awarded to men who were permanently unfit for general service or temporarily unfit for home service.

[31] This was his address on the 28^th of December 1921.

[32] Despite the many false statements he made on his military records, Myke was probably born in 1900. He was, therefore, 72 years old when he died.