John Aldworth West was born in 1881. Beginning a life as a patriotic citizen, he signed up to join the army in 1896 at age 15. His father bought him out, but as soon as he was of age he joined up again. He fought in the Boer War in 1900 where as a scout he was wounded. Returning to his regiment to report a Boer position, he enabled another British victory. For this heroism, he received a gold watch, personally presented by Edward VII. In 1901 he went to Canada to the Klondike Goldrush, but while waiting for a ship to Alaska, he was shanghaied out of Tacoma, sailed around the Horn and wound up six months later back in Dublin (see following story). He ran Venn Mill from 1902, married Emma in 1904 and in 1907 he left England with Emma and two children, Jack and Elsie, to go to Alberta. He fought again with the Canadian Army in the First World War and was seriously injured by mustard gas. On his return, he overcame the serious damage to his lungs by rehabilitating himself through regular exercise, working as a carpenter in Vancouver until his retirement. Although reportedly very reluctant to return to England, but always the loyal British subject, he returned with Grandma for a visit in 1937 which included the coronation of George VI. William and Sarah’s home in Heathfield, Sussex still has a maple tree which he brought during that visit. After Grandma’s death in 1941, he lived with various of the children, vacationing every year in the Caribbean or Hawaii until he died in 1971.
Grandma & Grandpa’s marriage certificate
Passenger List - with Emma’s name - Hallifax - 1908
Emma Long was born in 1882 to Philip and Harriet Long at the East Hanney Bakery. She had beautiful long hair as a girl. Percy and Grandpa John both tried to sit by Emma at school. Grandpa “won” her! She married Grandpa in 1904 and lived at Venn Mill, where Jack (1905) and Elsie (1907) were born. In 1907, they emigrated to Kitscoty, Alberta, where Phil was born (Namao) in 1908. In 1910, Edna was born in Lloydminster, in 1912 Harold was born at Earlie and Fred at Edmonton in 1914. During the war (1914-1918), she had to run the family with six children by herself, Communication with Grandpa was sporadic at best and at one point during the disastrous Edmonton flood of 1915 their house had to be evacuated. She was so distraught at this point that she told of taking her wedding ring off and throwing it into the river. In 1916, Grandpa returned home on compassionate leave, later going back to the war for a time. Ken was born in 1917. When Grandpa returned after being gassed, Grandma hardly knew him. He was completely emaciated and his hair was white. In 1919, the family moved to Calgary and at the suggestion of physicians, they moved later that year to Vancouver to , where Ruth was born. In 1920 they moved to the to Stone House near Elliot St. & 56th Ave and in 1922 to 161 62nd Ave. E where they lived for six years. During that time, in 1924, Grandma returned for a few months to England to visit the family. The West home was frequented on Sundays by a number of close friends, and relatives, notably Charlie and Vera Baker (whom they had met in Edmonton) and of course Heber and on occasion Asher and Mary. On those occasions, the house was filled with song, the voices of Phil and Fred being particularly remembered. In 1928 they lived for short periods of time on 71st Ave. in Marpole and later on #18 Rd. on Lulu Island. From 1929 until 1937, they lived at 2415 Dunbar St. In 1937, both Grandma and Grandpa travelled to England for the Coronation and in that same year, they moved to 3040 7th Ave, near Balaclava & Bayswater St. The family being grown, they then moved to live with Jack and Margaret on Brighouse Rd., Lulu Island in 1940. In 1941, after a lengthy illness, Grandma died and was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
