BLAIR, PTE J.A. Reg # 813
John Auguste Blair was born December 8, 1892 to Charles Blair and Amanda Sperberg.
At the time of the 1911 census, John was identified as living with his parents and siblings in Sprucedale.
At the time of Attestation, John identified that he was a blacksmith
John took his oath of attestation on September 19, 1914 , with the formal oath September 24, 1916 in Valcartier.
John Angus Blair was discharged on May 21, 1919 after a 5 year service. He was identified as having enlisted with the 1st Battalion, but having transferred to the Royal Canadian Dragoons by January of 1916. He is identified as having served in France with the Dragoons.
While hospitalized on various occasions for illness or infection, John Blair appears to have escaped serious injury.
In February of 1916 he was promoted to Corporal.
He returned to Canada in 1919, disembarking from the S.S. Scandinavian on May 20, 1919.
After returning to Canada, John married Charlotte Blair and was identified as living with her in Sprucedale, McMurrich Township at the time of the 1921 census.
John and Charlotte were identified as living in Magnetawan in the 1945 Voters List. John was identified as a carpenter.
John died May 19, 1971 in Sprucedale.
John served with the Royal Canadian Dragoons from February of 1916 to war’s end. The Royal Canadian Dragoons served as infantry with the 1st Canadian Division during 1915, then as cavalry from 1916-18 with the Canadian Cavalry Brigade. Their battle honours during the time that John was with them include: Somme, 1916 (July 1 – Nov. 18, 1916); Bezantin Ridge July 14-17, 1916; Pozieres Ridge, July 23-September 3, 1916; Flers-Courcelette, September 15-22, 1916; Cambrai, November 20-Dec. 3, 1917; St Quentin March 21, - 23, 1918; Amiens Aug 8-11, 1918; Hindenburg Line Sept. 12- Oct. 9, 1918; St Quentin Canal Sept. 29-October 2, 1918; Beaurevoir October 3-5, 1918; Pursuit to Mons Nov. 11, 1918.
The Royal Dragoons at Bezantin 1916
