Whatever happened to Peter and James Gallant?

C Company Project – Newspaper series seeking final resting places of soldiers

EDITOR’S NOTE: MacNaught History Centre & Archives is close to completing the profiles of the men of C Company, 105th Battalion. The 2016 project has extended into 2017 and there are only a few of the soldiers on the C Company list who have eluded the research efforts of staff and key volunteer, Louise Morris. Anyone who might have information on the date and place of death of the men featured in this series is urged to contact the MacNaught History Centre at 75 Spring St., Summerside.

Peter Gallant and James Gallant

Peter Gallant and his son James Gallant, both born in Tignish, enlisted in the 105th Battalion in the spring of 1916, each using Grigg as a middle name, presumably to differentiate themselves as son and grandson of Gregory (or Gregoire) Gallant.

Peter (born in 1869) was married to Mary Arsenault and together they had five children in this order: James (born in 1895), Joseph Andrew, Mary Catherine, Mary Eliza, and Edward (born in 1907).

He would have been one of the oldest men to enlist in the 105th Battalion and was found medically unfit to remain in service, being discharged June 21, 1916. The 1921 Census indicates that he and his wife, and youngest son Edward, moved to Nelson, N.B.

His son, James Gallant, served overseas until Aug. 17, 1919. A note in his military service file states he was “illegally absent” on that date. He was officially struck off strength on Dec. 31, 1919.

An online record shows a man of his name marrying a woman named Pollie Stevens in London in 1936. It is possible he spent the rest of his life in England.

The death dates and places of burial for these men are being sought for the completion of their profiles.