Loren Stanton O’Hara was born in New Harbour, Guysborough County, on November 16, 1903, to George Washington and Sarah Jane (Humber) O’Hara. Loren’s birth year is a matter of debate. A later military document gives the year as 1902, while the 1911 Canadian census lists the date as 1904. While his service files record his first name as “Loren,” the 1911 and 1921 Canadian censuses refer to him as “Lorne.”
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| Loren Stanton O'Hara |
Loren’s father George was the son of Edward O’Hara and Marjorie Henderson, New Harbour, while his mother Sarah was born in Bellburns, Newfoundland, the daughter of Jesse Abe Humber (1845 - 1927) and Ipsey House (1848 - 1905). George earned a living at sea and likely met Sarah through his work. The couple were married in Bartletts Harbour, Newfoundland, on September 6, 1893. According to the marriage register, 23-year-old George was working as a ship’s steward in Bartlett’s Harbour, while 16-year-old Sarah was living in nearby Daniel’s Harbour.
At an unknown date, George and Sarah relocated to New Harbour, where their first child, George Vincent, was born on October 10, 1899. A second child, Marjorie Emma May, arrived on July 1, 1900. Over the next 10 years, another five children joined the O’Hara household—Loren Stanton; Ernest Reginald (DOB June 26, 1906); Oliver Gordon (DOB December 26, 1908); Spencer Cecil (DOB October 30, 1911); and Rufus Milford (DOB December 9, 1914). One son, Marshall, died in infancy at an unknown date. A daughter Martha, born around 1920, also died at a young age.
Loren attended public school from age eight to 14, leaving after completing Grade VI “to earn [a] living as [a] fisherman.” In the spring of 1917, he left home and made his way to Halifax, where he underwent a medical examination on McNab’s Island on May 25, 1917, and joined the ranks of the 63rd Regiment, Halifax Rifles, a local militia unit. Loren was no older than 15—quite likely younger—at the time of his enlistment. He stood five feet, four inches and weighed 134 pounds.
Over the next 12 months, Loren was “absent without leave” (AWL) on several occasions. On May 23, 1918, he was transferred to the 6th Battalion, Canadian Garrison Regiment, which was stationed in Wellington Barracks, Halifax. In early July, Loren was admitted to hospital with a case of the measles. He remained under medical care until August 30, when he was discharged “with a recommendation for light duty.”
On November 6, 1918, Loren formally attested for military service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Before month’s end, he returned to the ranks of the 6th Battalion, but appears to have once again left the barracks without permission, On July 31, 1919, he was “struck off strength” as a “deserter,” only to be “apprehended” in mid-November. After a brief period of detention, he was formally discharged from military service on December 24, 1919, and returned to his parent’s residence in Sherbrooke, Guysborough County.
At the time of the 1921 census, 18-year-old Loren was living in Sherbrooke with his father George, occupation “ship’s cook,” and Sarah. While his 22-year-old brother George was working as a “labourer,” Loren was not employed at the time. Also in the home were siblings May, age 20; Reginald, age 14, Gordon, age 10, Cecil, age eight, Milford, age six, and Martha, age one.
Sometime after 1921, Loren left home a second time and headed west. A later note in his Second World War service file summarized his pre-service employment: “For 22 years he has been a transient labourer. Generally a cook in a lumber camp or on railroads. Averaged three months to a job.” Loren had done “kitchen work” for the 10 years prior to his military enlistment and identified his last regular employer as Madison Brock Lumber Company, Kenora, ON.
On June 6, 1941, Loren enlisted with the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF) at Regina, SK. He was living in the city at the time and identified his mother Sarah. Sherbrooke, NS, as his next of kin. According to a note in his service file, Loren had not been in touch with family since 1924. He was likely unaware that his father George had passed away in Sherbrooke on September 22, 1927.
Before month’s end, Loren was posted to No. 120 (Basic) Training Centre, Regina. On July 7, 1941, he was awarded one week’s pre-embarkation leave. Four days later, he was assigned to the Regina Rifles Regiment, which was encamped at Debert, NS, at the time, awaiting orders to proceed overseas. When Loren failed to report for duty, he was “struck off strength” as an “illegal absentee” on August 9. Five days later, the unit departed for overseas.
Military authorities “apprehended” Loren in Regina on September 24. He departed for overseas in mid-November and arrived in the United Kingdom on November 23, 1941. Five days later, he reported for duty with the Regina Rifles. Approximately 38 years of age at the time, Loren was considerably older than the majority of his comrades. It is thus not surprising that the demands of military training soon led to health issues.
On January 8, 1942, Loren was admitted to No. 5 General Hospital for treatment of “rheumatism.” Discharged from medical care in late February 1942, “having been re-boarded [re-examined by a Medical Board,” he was placed in Category E—unfit for service for at least six months. Soldiers in this category were not fit for active military duties and likely required lengthy medical treatment or recuperation.
Loren was re-admitted to hospital on March 13, 1942. “Re-boarded” as Category C—free of serious illness but only fit for “sedentary work” or “home-based garrison duties”—Loren was assigned to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU) several days after he entered hospital. Discharged on March 19, he joined No. 3 CIRU’s ranks.
During the late spring and summer of 1942, Loren received two seven-day leaves. On October 21, 1942, he was “granted permission to marry” on or after that date. As there is no record of a change in his next of kin nor any further mention of marriage in his service file, it appears that he never married. Loren remained with No. 3 CIRU until July 3, 1943, when a disciplinary infraction during the previous month resulted in his removal from the Canadian Army’s Permanent Establishment.
On December 20, 1943, Loren was posted to No. 1 Non-Effective Transit Depot as “surplus.” Five weeks later—January 27, 1944—he departed for Canada. Upon arriving in Regina, SK, on February 17, 1944, he was posted to No. 8 Platoon, No. 2 Dispersal Company, and granted one month’s leave. Upon returning to duty. Loren indicated that he was “anxious to continue in the service as a general duty man.” A note in his service file suggested that “he can be employed as a caretaker, fireman, rough painter, etc. He has a friendly manner and may be a handy general duty man, if required.”
Loren was assigned to the Canadian Army’s Base Post Office, Canadian Postal Corps, Ottawa, on May 1, 1944. Over the next six weeks, he was “AWL” on four occasions. A June 19, 1944 assessment of his situation stated that he was “of sturdy build but suffers from rheumatoid arthritis.” While his performance as a”fatigue man” in the United Kingdom had been “satisfactory.” he appeared to have “adopted a non-cooperative attitude” since returning to Canada. While “naturally good-humoured and fairly industrious,” he had become “thoroughly ‘fed up’ and determined to get dismissed from the Army.”
The report recommended that Loren be returned to No. 12 District Depot, Regina, “for disposal.” On August 5, Loren was “struck off the strength” of Base Post Office, Canadian Postal Corps, and returned to Regina. He was deemed “unable to meet the required military physical standards” on August 25, 1944, and officially discharged from military service.
While Loren appears to have remained in Regina over the next 12 months, details of his circumstances during that time are unavailable. Admitted to General Hospital in late summer 1945, he passed away on September 18, 1945. Medical staff identified the cause of death as “generalized oedema of lungs” and “cardio-renal disease.” Three days later, a “semi-military” funeral took place in Regina Cemetery, where Loren was laid to rest in Soldiers Plot 5, Lot 15, Block C. An official military stone later marked his final resting place.
Military authorities subsequently determined that Loren’s death was “due to service.” On April 11, 1946. a Memorial Bar was sent to his mother Sarah, who was still living in Sherbrooke at that time. Sometime afterward, Sarah married Robert Clooney. On March 9, 1950, Loren’s service medals were dispatched to Mrs. Sarah Clooney, Berwick, Kings County, NS. Sarah (Humber O’Hara) Clooney passed away in Berwick on May 6, 1962.
Photograph of Loren Stanton O'Hara courtesy of William Joby Bond, Toronto, ON.
