Thanks. As an X.mil person I would suggest that something developed after his intake medical which precluded him from continuing his training, like pneumonia of some other dibilitating disease which was not found initially. Any indication in his later years if he had a medical disability? As for the army teaching him to write, I would suggest not at that time and in those years. As for my McLeod/Ferguson query; there were many problems like name changes throughout the whole family that caused me no end of fits but thanks to a few good people they were found in the 1901 census of Gabarus with one child, Alexander B in household 168. The head is listed as Alexander M. with wife Margaret. In looking at the 1911 census they cannot be found at all for some strange reason. I have searched both Cape Breton North and South with no luck. I did find some interesting info in the Gabarus Cem listing on the CBGHA site as follows: Alex A. MacLeod (note it is now Mac vs Mc) 1865-1935 wife Margaret A. Ferguson 1876-1956 Alex B. 1900-1973 Malcolm 1902-1955 Effie 1905-1960 Ronnie Dan 1917-1966 None of the above are in the 1911 census (or I can't seem to find them under any variation of their surname) Also found a delayed birth registration for Flora Ann McLeod in NSARM vitals as follows: 1907 Book 1907 Page 99100807 (standard format for delayed birth registration) Flora Ann McLeod DoB Nov 20 1907 Parents: Alex. A. McLeod Maggie Ferguson Applicant was her daughter, Myrtle MacDougall on Jan 12 1968. It was supported by a baptismal certification and a marriage record. Marriage record shows Flora Ann married Neil MacDougall in Gabarus March 17, 1926 (hard to read but think it is correct). Record shows her parents to be: Father: A.A. MacLeod Mother: Peggie Ann Ferguson (think they mis-spelled Maggie) Alexander B. was born Jan 3, 1900 and baptised Feb 25, 1900. This is another application for delayed birth registration and was supported by a baptismal record from the church in Gabarus listing his parents as Alex MacLeod and Maggie Ann Ferguson. A note of interest to the above is a quote on the application as follows: "In the census records of 1921 takes as of date June 1st, the following entry appears: Alex B. McLeod, 21 years of age, born in the province of Nova Scotia and living at the date of enumeration in the Polling District of Gabarus Lake with Alex and Margaret McLeod". This would seem to me to indicate that they should have been in the 1911 Census for Gabarus but for some reason, aren't. Alexander A. died Apr 26, 1935 (NSARM Year 1935, Book 162, Pg 905). Cause was cancer of the face and the informant was Malcolm (son). That is where I am now and have hit another "block" as I can't find them in 1911 or the birth of any of their other children in the NSARM that are listed on the headstone in Gabarus other than Alex B. Tried the MacDougall link but came up blank even knowing their marriage date of 1926 from the application for delayed birth registration. Thought if I could find Myrtle or any of her family I might be able to contact them and see if they could provide any family "history". So, that is the update for all. Would love to hear from anyone with a connection to any of these people. Thanks again. Thom ----- Original Message ----- From: "wsnicholson" <wsnicholson@omineca.com> To: <thommccabe@syd.eastlink.ca>; <NS-CAPE-BRETON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008 4:11 PM Subject: Re: [NS-CB] McLeod/Ferguson and a question Delighted that others on the list have been as helpful as you yourself have been, but it seems that no one on the list these days is hitting the 'reply to all' button so that information can be shared. While tracking down some WW1 military records I encountered a relative that entered the army in Dec. 1915 and was discharged as medically unfit for further service, in Feb. 1916. The attestation paper was signed with 'x' (his mark) but the discharge was signed with his signature. Did the army teach him to write or is this just an oddity? Also what would constitute 'medically unfit' two months after the initial medical cerified him fit? The medical information only has 'sick in quarters'. Curious....