On January 9, 1921, at St. John’s Church, a credence table was dedicated to the memory of Captain John Egerton Ryerson, youngest brother of the Vicar, and Lieutenant Bertram Tschudi Nevitt, youngest brother of Mrs. Ryerson. Both were members of the congregation and lost their lives in the First World War.
John Egerton Ryerson was born June 7, 1887, to Charles Egerton Ryerson and Emily Ryerson in Toronto, Ontario. He was the grandson of well-known Ontario politician and educator, Egerton Ryerson; his cousin, Dr. George Ansel Sterling Ryerson was surgeon general. John was educated at the Upper Canada College, a member of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada for ten years and was working as a banker at the Wychwood branch of the Canadian Bank of Commerce when he enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on January 3, 1915. Upon enlisting, he received a commission to command the 58th Battalion as captain. On September 19, while engaged at the Somme, he was killed in action.
Bertram Tschudi Nevitt was born on August 25,1895, in Toronto, Ontario; the son of Richard B. and Elizabeth E. Nevitt. He was a student and a member of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada when he enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on September 22, 1914. He was a lieutenant in the 1st Battalion. While at the Somme, he was reported missing on September 22, 1916, later presumed to have been killed in action.