Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Bedell, Wilson |
Othernames |
Private W. Bedell |
Born |
May 1, 1897/8 |
Birthplace |
Kawkawlin, Michigan, U.S.A. |
Places of residence |
Kemble area, Keppel Township, Grey County, Lot 10, Concession 9 (1905-1915) England Toronto Owen Sound, Ontario (1923+) |
Father |
Morris Bedell (d. 1950) |
Mother |
Bessie Bedell (nee Brown) |
Nationality |
Canadian |
Education |
Kemble Public School Owen Sound Collegiate Insitute (O.S.C.I.) 1915 graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeons (graduated in Dentistry May, 1923) |
Notes |
James Mobbs of Kemble enlisted in 1915 at Owen Sound along with Wilson Bedell, Jesse West, Herman West, and George Taylor. The 147th Grey Battalion was recruiting at Owen Sound. After training and travel overseas as a unit, the 147th was broken up in England, and its men placed in the 8th Canadian Reserve Battalion to provide drafts for other units already at the Front. Private Herman West of Kemble, Grey County died on May 5, 1917, of cerebro-meningitis, after serving only one tour in the line with the 4th C.M.R.. Jesse West and James Mobbs were both wounded, but survived the war. George Taylor was wounded at Passchendaele. Wilson Bedell also was wounded, at __________[Boulogne? Wood], but survived the war, and eventually became an Owen Sound dentist. Wilson Bedell had owned a pocket New Testament issued by the Canadian Bible Society to Canadian soldiers. 286 pages, printed in England by the Oxford University Press. He inscribed it with "Pte. Wilson Bedell / 147th Batt. C.E.F. / B Co. 8th __" (Private Wilson Bedell of the 147th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force B Company 8th Canadian Reserve Battalion). It was later kept by his friend, James Mobbs. Found inside the testament was a form-printed "The Greys / 147th Battalion Association of Toronto membership card, signed by "Jas. Mobbs". This is a post-war item. It is not known what year Mobbs obtained Bedell's testament. Wilson had attested (enlisted) on December 18, 1915 at Owen Sound, and his regimental number was 838243. His next-of-kin was recorded as his mother, Mrs. B. Bedell of Kemble. The address of Bay City, Michigan, was also recorded on the form. He was a "Student" at the time of his enlistment. Wilson's parents were Morris Bedell (born in the Lockport, N.Y. area) and Bessie Bedell (nee Brown), who was a daughter of William Brown of Sarawak Township. The Bedells lived for a while in Michigan, and then moved to Keppel Township in 1905, to Lot 10, Concession 19. There is are a couple pages about Private Bedell's war memories in the local history book, CHRONICLES OF KEMBLE. Wilson recorded some of his war experiences in a war diary. He was transferred from the 147th Battalion and the 8th Canadian Reserves battalion to the 22nd eserves on March 8, 1917, and left for France March 19th. He took a bombing and grenade course in April. He next joined the 42nd Royal Canadian Highlanders (Black Watch) on April 23, 1917. His Scottish uniform included a kilt, and one of his memories was stepping into a mud-filled hole and having his kilt float around his waist! On Nov. 30, 1917, his unit were given red heckles (feathers) for their balmorals . He had met up with his friend James Mobbs in April, 1917, and met up with another Kemble friend, Harold Danard. Bedell's unit experienced a gas attack on their lines April 14, 1917, and it sounds like he and his comrades were temporarily blinded by the effects of the gas. "On Wednesday morning of August 7 he met Harold Danard for the last time, as Wilson was wounded a few days later, and Harold was killed shortly after that. Dr. Bedell was wounded near Boulon [Boulogne?] Wood on September 29 as he started to jump down ino the trench with the shrapnel spinning around him. He was put on the train for Rouen to a hospital to repair the damage to his left leg. On the 30th of October he underwent an operation on the leg, and lay on a stretcher throughout the day and night as all the beds were full." He was evacuated to England, and was there when the Armistice occurred. He returned to Canada in January, 1919, and was met at the Owen Sound train station by his sister Luella and Isabel and May McWhirter. The road to Kemble was almost impassable. However, they got there, and he was honoured at a reception at Kemble, held in the hall. On the 12th (Feb) he returned to Toronto and registered at the university. He graduated in dentistry in May, 1923. He started his practice along 2nd Ave. East, Owen Sound, in an office located over the Woolworth's store that summer, as soon as his equipment arrived. Dr. Bedell belonged to the Oddfellows lodge, and was an elder at Knox United Church for over 40 years. He was a member of the Rotary Club since 1929, and served as secretary for five years, and President for one (he also filled in for part terms for two presidents who had enlisted in the Second World War). He served for twelve years on the Board of Education, and eight years in the Ontario Urban and Rural School Trustees Association. He also started school dentistry in Owen Sound, and spent eleven years at this work, giving the mornings of every school day to help young people. He also was on the Board of Governors for the Ontario Dental Association, and a Board of Director for the Coloured Photographic Association of Canada (c. 1969). On December 10, 1924, Dr. Bedell had maried Lily Helen McDonald, and they had five children. Four of them became involved in dental professions (two dental nurses, one dentist, and one dental lab technician). |
Occupation |
First World War veteran 147th Grey (Overseas) Battalion 42nd Royal Canadian Highlanders (Black Watch) Dentist Knox United Church (member) Rotary Club Oddfellows Board of Education |
Publications |
CHRONICLES OF KEMBLE, 1969 (military section has an image of Dr. Wilson Bedell in his WW#1 uniform) BEAUTIFUL STONEY KEPPEL, 1986, p. 298 (Bedell family history) Auer, George, SOLDIERS OF THE SOIL: GREY COUNTY GOES TO WAR 1914-1918, listed at page ___. |
Relationships |
Sister: Mary Bedell (died age 7) Sister: Margaret Bedell (m. Leslie Hurlbut) Sister: Luella Bedell (m. Wilfred Pike) Sister: Elizabeth Bedell (b. 1904-d. 1920) |
Role |
Military/Soldie |
Spouse |
Lily Helen McDonald, m. Dec. 10, 1924 |
Children |
Five children (see CHRONICLES OF KEMBLE) |
