S.S. Montcalm

Medal Index Card

Alfred Frederick Jardine, known affectionately as Fred, was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1896, one of 13 children of whom only 11 survived, he was the 7th born of 8 sons and 3 daughters. His father John Jardine was born in Scotland and brought to England by his family at the age of 5, settling firstly in Cumberland before moving to the north east to Gateshead where John married, April 9th 1876, Barbara Bell of Hetton, County Durham born in 1856. They were living at Cooper Street, Gateshead in 1881 with their daughter Mary (5) and son Henry (1), also Henry Bell, Barbara’s widowed father. John Jardine was employed as a chemical labourer, his father-in-law as a miner. Ten years later they had moved to Parkinson Street, Heworth where he was now employed as an engineman, however by 1901 he was the bar manager of a public house, son Henry (21) was a bar man, David (19) a stone mason, John George (18) a plumber, Matthew (15) a coal miner, William (13) a general labourer, the remainder of the older children were scholars, the younger ones at home with their mother, including Fred now 4 years old.

Fred’s father died aged 49 in 1905, his widowed mother moved into 3 rooms at 34, Parkinson Street, High Felling and although listed as living by her own means was also supported by Robert (16) a labourer and Fred (14) working as a screener at Heworth colliery, daughter Margaret (21) assisted her mother with the domestic chores, Thomas Andrew (13) attended school.

As Albert Frederick Jardine he enlisted with his elder brother Robert, December 18th 1914 assigned as Private 3195 and 3916, they were posted to Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment, 4th Battalion, a Territorial Force. When war was declared August 4th 1914 the battalion was at its annual camp and immediately ordered to return to base at Northallerton. Fred departed for the Western Front with the main body of men, April 18th 1915, landing at Boulogne before moving to the Ypres salient in Belgium where they were subjected during the defence of Ypres to gas attacks. They remained on the salient during the Second Battle of Ypres until May 14th 1915 when the York and Durham Brigade, Northumbrian Division were renamed the 150th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. In 1916 they moved to the Somme and saw action during the Battles of the Somme in 1916 before transferring to the Arras sector taking part in the Battle of Arras, April 9th 1917-May 16th 1917, returning to Belgium, participating at the Third Battle of Ypres, July 31st-November 10th 1917. When the Germans attached on the Somme front, March 1918 they were rushed to France where they suffered heavy casualties at the Battles of Lys and Aisne. At the conclusion of the battles the battalion was reorganised as the men were suffering from exhaustion and after further losses the battalion was reduced by July 1918 to cadre strength and sent to the Lines of Communication. August 16th 1918 the 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment transferred to the 116th Brigade, 39th Division assigned to train the newly arrived American 77th Division and remained a training unit until they were demobilised, November 6th 1918.

Private Albert Frederick Jardine during 1917 was renumbered as Private 200854 and discharged, February 10th 1919, recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His brotherPrivate Robert Jardine also survived the conflict.

Fred was married in 1920 at Guisborough, Yorkshire to Ada Florence Jane Platt, settling by 1921 at 40, Belmangate, Guisborough, and with whom he had a son, John, born 1923. They had moved to 11, Dane Street, Thurncoe East by 1924 and in 1926 were living at 32, Stuart Street.

The Jardine family were due to emigrate to Canada aboard the S.S. Montrose, from Liverpool, June 19th 1926 but managed to find a place aboard the S.S. Montcalm, of the Canadian Pacific Line, owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, June 18th 1926. Their departure came just after the general strike [May 3rd-12th 1926] which may have influenced their decision as wages and working conditions had gradually worsened post war. Fred was sponsored by his friend Mr. E. Taylor, R.R. 3, Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, and declared he [Fred] was a farmer by trade and intended to continue with the same, giving his mother, Mrs. B. Jardine of 2, Split Crow Lane, Felling/Tyne as his next of kin. They disembarked at Quebec, June 29th 1926 and made their way to Stouffville, in the Greater Toronto area, Ontario, that since the building of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway completed in 1871 had a growing agricultural prosperity.

Further details, unknown.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.