One of George Carmen Brock's attestation papers
Conscription
Like many soldiers in the later years of world war one, George Carmen Brock was conscripted.
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Originally conscription was not supposed to happen. Canadian prime minister Robert Borden had promised that no soldiers were going to be conscripted, but had also promised 500,00 soldiers by the end of 1916. Not many men were volunteering so Borden decided that conscription would help him fill the latter promise. In 1917 he announced that the military service act would be put in action in August 1917.
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When the decision was made it split Canada. Not everyone was excited to go to war, many completely objected to the idea. French speaking Canadians especially disliked the idea of conscription, again splitting English and French speaking Canadians.
Life before and during the war
George Carmen Brock grew up in Felon Falls. Before George was conscripted he was single and worked as a mechanic. In 1917 he was conscripted and became a gunner for the 75th battalion once he was cleared for work in May 1918.
During his time in the war George suffered from a pneumonia and pleuriay. He thought he might have had T.B. like his brother, but when tested for it he did not have it.
On October 13, 1918 George's pneumonia caused a toxin to form in his lungs. He died at 11:50 pm.
Map of little lake cemetery in Peterborough
One of the songs popular in 1918
George Carmen Brock
May 7,1897 - October 13, 1918
Service number: 3058290
George Carmen Brock was a gunner in world war one. Born in Felon Falls Ontario, May 7,1897, he was the son of Edwin and Elizabeth Brock and considered Edwin his next of kin. George worked as a mechanic before he was conscripted into the war as a gunner for the 75th battalion. George died October 13, 1918. You can find him burred at Little lake cemetery in Peterborough, range 7, section 0.3, lot 2.
George enlisted in October 1917 at the age of 20 and was cleared for service on May 6,1918. When he was examined to see if he was fit to be a solider George's appearance was written down. He was described as being six feet tall, about 20 years old with fair skin, light brown hair and brown eyes. George had no distinctive marks that could be useful for identifying him in the future. At the end of his exam George was deemed fit to work in the war.
On October 13, 1918 George died of a pneumonia in both lungs. He was burred in Peterborough, little lake cemetery and his name was displayed in the memorial chamber of peace tower on August 15.
Biography
Page 374 in the memorial chamber of peace tower