Relationship to Me:
1. Belden Treen & Elizabeth Teed (daughter of Jerusha Peers & Daniel Teed)
2. Belden Treen & Hannah Seaman
3. Belden Treen & Mary Dobson
4. Howard Wells Treen & Elizabeth Philips
5. A bunch of cousins
6. Me
Belden and Burton Treen were the eldest sons of a family of 10 who grew up in Malagash, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.
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Sgt. Belden Treen
back row: 2nd from left. |
Belden was born on March 26, 1892 to Howard Treen and Elizabeth Phillips and their younger brothers and sisters were: Arthur, Helen, Rosina, Ira, Henry, Hazel, Lillian and Wilfred Laurier Treen. Their father, Howard travelled west to Saskatchewan each year to work on a harvesting crew and in 1914, at the age of 17, Belden went along. As war in Europe heated up, Belden travelled to Saskatoon, where he joined the First Canadian Mounted Rifles, Saskatchewan Regiment #1.. His life, as history tells us was one of muddy trenches, vermin, poor food and death as a constant companion. For three years he battled the enemy and then on the 9th of April 1917, he was killed in action at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. He was one of the fortunate to have his remains found that day and he is buried in the Canadian Cemetery #2 at Neuville - St. Vaast. He was a Sargent and only 20 years old.
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Attestation Papers
Belden Treen |
On the back of his attestation papers, he is described as 5'9" with fair hair and complexion and hazel eyes. He was a Presbyterian.
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| Burton Treen |
Burton Alonzo Treen, was born on the 25th of April 1898 to Howard Treen and Elizabeth Phillips. He was the second son in a family of 10. Following his older brother's example, he signed up to fight the Hun as a Lance Corporal in the 103 Battalion of the Nova Scotia Rifles. After losing his brother, Burton went on with his Regiment to fight the Battle of Hill 70 - less than 4 months later. During the attack, he was hit by the full force of a mustard gas canister. Losing his sight, he was sent to London and then back to Malagash where he died less than 2 years later from the effects of the gas. He is buried in the Malagash United Church Cemetery. He was 21.
His attestation papers described him as 5'10", medium pale complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. He was a Methodist.
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Attestation Papers
Burton Treen |
The devastation of losing her eldest sons must have been wrenching to Elizabeth and it was compounded by the death of her husband, Howard, in a farming accident in Saskatchewan in October 1918.
Lest We Forget
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| Book of Remembrance - Belden Treen |
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Book of Remembrance - Burton Treen
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| Cenotaph at Malagash |
I came across your post while researching my own relatives in the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles. In the course of my research, I came across a mention of Beldon Treen in a diary I'm researching and thought you may be interested.
ReplyDeleteThe diary belonged to Herbert Burrell of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles and the original is in the Canadian War Museum. On April 23, 1917, Burrell recorded, "On the way back, winding my way in and out the shell holes, I came across a little wooden cross, marking the grave of Corporal (recently promoted to Sergt) Tree who was killed on Vimy Day. He was a fine specimen of a man physically & I found him always courteous & good natured. His home is in British Columbia & we often used to exchange stories of our hunting trips in Canada."
Unfortunately that is all he mentions, but I hope it is of some interest to you!
Michael
Marilyn Symons, I am a Treen and loved this information. I'm a great granddaughter of Beldons brother Wilfred. Thank you for posting
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was Lillian Treen the youngest child of Howard and Elizabeth. You did make one mistake in listing Beldon and Burton as the eldest children. There were two children older, Mabel was born out of wedlock ti Elizabeth. She was adopted by a family in Bayhead when sheas around 3. Arthur is the eldest son. He had planned to enlist but didn't. At that time they paid a supplement if by enlisting a son left his mother without visible support. As he had other brothers at home, even though they were all still in school, the government refused to pay the suppliment. So Arthur stayed home and worked the farm.