Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Eaton, Jaffray |
Othernames |
Major Jaffray Eaton / Lieutenant Jaffray Eaton "Jaff" to friends |
Born |
June 6, 1886 |
Places of residence |
Owen Sound, Grey County Toronto Hamilton area Returned to Owen Sound Overseas, England, France, Belgium 1916-1917 |
Father |
Christopher Eaton |
Mother |
Annie Jaffray Eaton |
Nationality |
Canadian |
Notes |
Jaffray Eaton was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Eaton of Owen Sound, Ontario. His father, who had conducted a brewery, died in February, 1914, and his mother became very active in patriotic warwork when the First World War ensued later that year. Jaffray returned home after his father's death in order to help continue the family brewery business. He had been previously working at the Toronto Globe as a military reporter. After the war began, he served for a while with a machine gun unit that was located in the Hamilton area. However, as he had previous militia experience with the 31st Grey Regiment, Jaffray came back to Owen Sound and joined the 147th Grey (Overseas) Battalion in 1915. He was Major Eaton, and was the second-in-command of the unit (as well as Quartermaster). He overseas with the 147th in 1916, but the unit was broken up and placed in the 8th Canadian Reserve Battalion and used as drafts for other units. He allowed his rank to revert to Lieutenant, so that he could join the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles (where quite a few other former 147th men and officers were serving). He was killed in action, possibly due to "friendly fire" at the Battle of Passchendaele (Oct. 26, 1917). See the UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE GREY & SIMCOE FORESTERS. There is also a biography of his mother in EMINENT WOMEN OF GREY COUNTY. A baby photograph of Jaffray Eaton, taken in Owen Sound by William Craig (Photographer), was found in England in 2017 and is now at the Grey County Archives. Perhaps it had been sent to one of the Eaton family's English relatives? |
Occupation |
31st Grey Regiment Eaton Brewing Co. Ltd. (family brewery) Toronto Globe employee / reporter 147th Grey (Overseas) Battalion Officer (later with 4th C.M.R.) Casualty of the First World War |
Publications |
See images of Jaffray Eaton in an AN UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE GREY AND SIMCOE FORESTERS REGIMENT (1973). |
Relationships |
One of his friends from the 147th, Tom Rutherford, was greatly affected by Jaffray's death and later searched out where he had died, so that he could photograph the locale and pay a farmer to bury his bones, and those of his runner. Nephew: Robert Jaffray Niece: Mary Jaffray Grandmother: Sarah Jaffray (nee Bugg) Grandfather: Senator Robert Jaffray of Toronto |
Role |
Military/Soldie |
Spouse |
n/a |
Children |
n/a |
