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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Freeman Talbot Kelley

In memory of:

Lance Serjeant John Freeman Talbot Kelley

September 28, 1918

Military Service

Service Number:

487440

Age:

20

Force:

Army

Unit:

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regt.)

Honours and Awards:

Military Medal

Additional Information

Born:

November 16, 1897

Commemorated on Page 440 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

CANADA CEMETERY (Tilloy-les-Cambrai)
Nord, France

Grave Reference:

I. B. 1.

Location:

Tilloy-les-Cambrai is a village on the north-western outskirts of the town of Cambrai and a little east of the road to Douai. Follow the N30 (Cambrai Ring Road) from Cambrai to its junction with the Tilloy-les-Cambrai road, the D49, just after the junction of the N30 and the N43 (Douai road). Follow the D49 for approximately 2.2 kilometres, crossing the bridge over the motorway, to a side road on the west-south-west (left) side. The Canada Cemetery lies 200 metres away at the end of the side road. Tilloy was captured by the Canadian Corps about the 1st October, 1918, in the face of strong opposition, and the cemetery was made by their Burial Officer on the 13th October. It is enclosed by a brick wall, and sheltered from the road by a row of willows; and a maple tree is planted at the South-East corner.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Grave Marker

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker
  • Group Photo– Freeman (left) and his friend Thomas Golden camping near Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Thomas Golden married Freeman's sister, Florence Kelley after the war.

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Freeman (left) and his friend Thomas Golden camping near Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Thomas Golden married Freeman's sister, Florence Kelley after the war.
  • Group Photo– Freeman (closest) driving with his friend in Edmonton, Alberta

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Freeman (closest) driving with his friend in Edmonton, Alberta
  • Grave Marker– The temporary marker of his grave. His friends took this photo and sent it back home to his family.

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – The temporary marker of his grave. His friends took this photo and sent it back home to his family.
  • Family photo– At home in Wetaskiwin, Alberta before Freeman signed on to the war. Left to Right: Freeman, his mother Elizabeth, his father Freeman Sr., his sister Violet, and his good friend Ollie.

    Details

    Family photo
    Family photo – At home in Wetaskiwin, Alberta before Freeman signed on to the war. Left to Right: Freeman, his mother Elizabeth, his father Freeman Sr., his sister Violet, and his good friend Ollie.
  • Group Photo– Freeman and his friend Ollie hanging out on the porch of the family home in Wetaskiwin, Alberta shortly before Freeman signed on.

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Freeman and his friend Ollie hanging out on the porch of the family home in Wetaskiwin, Alberta shortly before Freeman signed on.
  • Group Photo– Freeman with his sister Violet (my grandmother) shortly before he left to sign on for the war.

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Freeman with his sister Violet (my grandmother) shortly before he left to sign on for the war.
  • Memorial Plaque– This was sent to Freeman's parents after the war. It was always reviled, but kept safe and locked away along with his favorite books and some of his clothes.

    Details

    Memorial Plaque
    Memorial Plaque – This was sent to Freeman's parents after the war. It was always reviled, but kept safe and locked away along with his favorite books and some of his clothes.
  • Memorabilia– This little box arrived at the family home. It contained one item that Freeman had on his person when he was killed....his watch.

    Details

    Memorabilia
    Memorabilia – This little box arrived at the family home. It contained one item that Freeman had on his person when he was killed....his watch.
  • Watch– This is the watch that Freeman was wearing when he was killed. It still has mud wedged between the strap and the back of the watch. There is also some mud that got under the glass face (just around the edge). This watch was returned to his family in Wetaskiwin by post in a small white box.

    Details

    Watch
    Watch – This is the watch that Freeman was wearing when he was killed. It still has mud wedged between the strap and the back of the watch. There is also some mud that got under the glass face (just around the edge). This watch was returned to his family in Wetaskiwin by post in a small white box.
  • Locket– The locket was given by Freeman to Patsy Carlson of Wetaskiwin, Alberta. She kept it for the rest of her life. After her death, her family returned it to Freeman's family. The family is seeking permission to place the locket in a shallow hole on his grave site.

    Details

    Locket
    Locket – The locket was given by Freeman to Patsy Carlson of Wetaskiwin, Alberta. She kept it for the rest of her life. After her death, her family returned it to Freeman's family. The family is seeking permission to place the locket in a shallow hole on his grave site.
  • Group Photo– Freeman liked to have fun. We have many photos of him goofing around like this. In this photo are his aunt and uncle (remaining dignified), Freeman is sitting on his pal Ollie (who is crouched down), his sister Violet is under his arm, and their pal George is embracing them from behind. This photo was taken in Wetaskiwin shortly before the boys signed on.

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Freeman liked to have fun. We have many photos of him goofing around like this. In this photo are his aunt and uncle (remaining dignified), Freeman is sitting on his pal Ollie (who is crouched down), his sister Violet is under his arm, and their pal George is embracing them from behind. This photo was taken in Wetaskiwin shortly before the boys signed on.
  • Cemetery– Temporary grave markers, including Freeman's

    Details

    Cemetery
    Cemetery – Temporary grave markers, including Freeman's
  • Cemetery– This photo was taken in the 1920s. The back reads: "Tilloy les Cambrai Cemetary. George has his hand on Freeman's stone."

    Details

    Cemetery
    Cemetery – This photo was taken in the 1920s. The back reads: "Tilloy les Cambrai Cemetary. George has his hand on Freeman's stone."
  • Photo of John Freeman Talbot Kelley– Freeman enjoying a summer watermelon. Wetaskiwin, Alberta.

    Details

    Photo of John Freeman Talbot Kelley
    Photo of John Freeman Talbot Kelley – Freeman enjoying a summer watermelon. Wetaskiwin, Alberta.
  • Photo of John Freeman Talbot Kelley– J. Freeman T. Kelley

    Details

    Photo of John Freeman Talbot Kelley
    Photo of John Freeman Talbot Kelley – J. Freeman T. Kelley
  • Group Photo– J. Freeman T. Kelley at right with Natalia (Patsy) Carlson, Lucas Grove, AB

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – J. Freeman T. Kelley at right with Natalia (Patsy) Carlson, Lucas Grove, AB
  • Photo of John Freeman Talbot Kelley– J. Freeman T. Kelley in uniform

    Details

    Photo of John Freeman Talbot Kelley
    Photo of John Freeman Talbot Kelley – J. Freeman T. Kelley in uniform
  • Medals– J. Freeman T. Kelley's medals

    Details

    Medals
    Medals – J. Freeman T. Kelley's medals
  • Letter– Letter sent to Natalia (Patsy) Carlson inWetaskiwin, AB from BRANKSMERE AUXILIARY HOSPITAL, PORTSMOUTH, England November 15,1916 page 1

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – Letter sent to Natalia (Patsy) Carlson inWetaskiwin, AB from BRANKSMERE AUXILIARY HOSPITAL, PORTSMOUTH, England November 15,1916 page 1
  • Letter– Letter sent to Natalia (Patsy) Carlson inWetaskiwin, AB from BRANKSMERE AUXILIARY HOSPITAL, PORTSMOUTH, England November 15,1916 page 2

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – Letter sent to Natalia (Patsy) Carlson inWetaskiwin, AB from BRANKSMERE AUXILIARY HOSPITAL, PORTSMOUTH, England November 15,1916 page 2
  • Map Wheel– This map wheel was amoung the items found of Freeman's body. It, and his watch were returned to Wetaskiwin, Alberta in a small box.

    Details

    Map Wheel
    Map Wheel – This map wheel was amoung the items found of Freeman's body. It, and his watch were returned to Wetaskiwin, Alberta in a small box.
  • Photo of JOHN FREEMAN TALBOT KELLEY– Freeman sent this photo home. On the back he wrote 'East Sandling near Folkestone'. This was a training camp in Kent, England.

    Details

    Photo of JOHN FREEMAN TALBOT KELLEY
    Photo of JOHN FREEMAN TALBOT KELLEY – Freeman sent this photo home. On the back he wrote 'East Sandling near Folkestone'. This was a training camp in Kent, England.

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