Roy Morton Fells

Name: Roy Morton Fells Regimental Number: 67166 Rank: Sergeant Battalion: 25th Battalion Award: Military Medal Date of Birth: March 8, 1895 (actual year of birth 1896) Place of Birth: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: November 12, 1914 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, Nova Scotia Address at Enlistment: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Age at Enlistment: 19 (Actual Age 18) Height: 5 Feet 11¾ Inches Complexion: Dark Eye Colour: Blue Hair Colour: Black Trade: Labourer Marital Status: Single Religion: Church of England Next of Kin: William Fells (Father) Yarmouth, NS Discharge: May 25, 1919; (Service in World War I, Halifax) Enlistment WWII: February 4, 1941 Discharged December 16, 1942 (Medical Discharge) Date of Death: December 2, 1943 Age: 48 Cemetery: Yarmouth Mountain Cemetery Grave Reference: Lot 36. Sec. T Commemorated on Page 158 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 2 Roy Morton Fells was the son of William Fells (1869-1953) and Selina (Gurney) Fells (1865-1945) of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. He served in both World War I and World War II. World War I: Enlisting on November 12, 1914 at Halifax with the 25th Battalion, Roy Fells served in Canada until May 20, 1916. He sailed on the SS Saxonia disembarking in England on May 29, 1915. He embarked for France with the 25th Battalion on September 15, 1915 disembarking at Boulogne. In November of 1915 he suffered frozen feet in the trenches and was hospitalized in England. Recovering, he served in England and returned to France with the 25th Battalion on May 10, 1916. He was wounded on August 4, 1917, a gun shot to the right knee, and was hospitalized returning again to the 25th Battalion in the field. He was promoted to Corporal on October 27, 1918 and to Sergeant on November 13, 1918. On March 24, 1919 he returned to England and on May 10, 1919 he was struck off strength to Canada. He was discharged at Halifax on demobilization on May 25, 1919. Military Medal The Military Medal was awarded to Roy Fells for acts of bravery in the field. Conferment of the medal was announced in the London Gazette and Roy Fells earned the right to add the letters M.M. to his name. Gazette Information: London Gazette No. 31430. Military Medal. His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Military Medal for bravery in the field. Gazette Date: 01/07/1919; Gazette Page: 8341 World War II: Roy Morton, aged forty-four years, enlisted on February 4, 1941 at Dartmouth with the 1st A. A. Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery. (Service Number: F/20509). He was married to Elizabeth (Muise) Fells (1892-1965) and was the father of eight children; Roy Joseph (1920-1977), Mildred (1922-2013), Nora (1924-2007), Violet (1923-2012), Clara Desire (1924-2007), Morand Charles (1929-1985), Loran Cusimer (1933-2009) and Seretha Elizabeth (1935- 2019). Roy Joseph Fells also served during WWII and Seretha Elizabeth Fells (Rogg) served in the Royal Canadian Air Force between 1952 and 1954. At the time of his enlistment, Roy Morton was employed as a shipping clerk with William Allen Ltd., a grocery wholesaler in Yarmouth and had been employed with the company for twenty years. On enlistment he served with the 1st A. A. Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, in Dartmouth, NS. In January 1942 he was attached to the 5th Coast Regiment on Vancouver Island, BC, and with 9th A. A. Battery in Sidney BC, on May 1, 1942 and was promoted to Acting lance Sergeant. He then was transferred to Esquimalt, BC on September 3, 1942 and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on September 17, 1942. Vancouver Island. He was admitted to the Nanaimo Military Hospital on October 28, 1942. Diagnosed with cancer, and unable to meet the required military physical standards, he was medically discharged from service at Vancouver, BC on December 16, 1942. He returned to Yarmouth where he died on December 2, 1943.

Sources: Commonwealth War Graves Commission Canadian Virtual War Memorial Library and Archives Canada Photos: Courtesy Seretha MacIsaac