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Wartime Heritage
ASSOCIATION
Remembering World War I
Yarmouth Connections
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.
Cousins: John Fletcher (left) and Roy Fells (right)