Theme: Sporting | Images: Click on many to enlarge
Canadians love their hockey; it’s a matter of national pride. So I was quite excited to learn that Austin CRESWELL, one of my ancestral cousins, had been the captain of an amateur hockey team prior to WWI. In fact the Regina Victorias Hockey Club were inducted into the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame in 1967 because of their remarkable achievements in 1914. They were the 1914 World’s Amateur Champions, and holders of the Allan Cup (1914), the Patton Cup, and the Van Naikenberg Cup. During the process the Regina Vics had won 21 of 25 games, and scored 166 goals while only allowing 70 goals against. And Austin was goal keeper for at least some of these games.
1914 Regina Victorias Hockey Club - Team Inductee, Saskatchewan Hockey (SHA) Hall of Fame
World’s Amateur Champions 1914 ~ Allan Cup Holders ~ Patton Cup Holders ~ Van Naikenberg Cup Champions
Front Row: J. Kain, J.Tait, Fred Wilson, J. Brown (physical instructor), Lyman Abbott, J. Potts, C. Young
2nd Row: Frank Mastel, Austin Creswell (captain), Charlie Otton, Alvin Hammond, Walter Molisky, Fred McCulloch
3rd Row: A. Urquhart, G. Woolside, C.A. Wood, J.A. Westman, G.B. Reid (manager), F. Ritter
http://www.saskhockeyhalloffame.com/images/2013_inductees/Bios/1914_Regina_Victorias_-_Team_Bio.pdf
World’s Amateur Champions 1914 ~ Allan Cup Holders ~ Patton Cup Holders ~ Van Naikenberg Cup Champions
Front Row: J. Kain, J.Tait, Fred Wilson, J. Brown (physical instructor), Lyman Abbott, J. Potts, C. Young
2nd Row: Frank Mastel, Austin Creswell (captain), Charlie Otton, Alvin Hammond, Walter Molisky, Fred McCulloch
3rd Row: A. Urquhart, G. Woolside, C.A. Wood, J.A. Westman, G.B. Reid (manager), F. Ritter
http://www.saskhockeyhalloffame.com/images/2013_inductees/Bios/1914_Regina_Victorias_-_Team_Bio.pdf
Unfortunately the war intervened and their magic disbursed when many of the team members enlisted to fight for Canada; they were among 42,000 Saskatchewan residents who joined up. Their teammates were devastated when their right wing sharpshooter Lyman (Hick) Abbott was killed by a sniper in the Battle of Amiens on 14 Aug 1918, having previously earned a Military Cross and Bar for his bravery and leadership. Austin is mentioned twice in the published story of Hick Abbott:
Naturally, Abbott heard the call [to war], as did many of his teammates from that 1913-14 team, including goaltender Fred McCulloch, defencemen Charlie Otton and Austin Creswell, who was the team captain, and rover Freddy Wilson. ...
Late in 1918, [teammate] Joe Potts started a fund-raising drive, the result of which would be the Abbott Memorial Cup, which for years would go annually to the champion of western Canadian junior hockey. When the subscription drive started, the first name on the list was Lyman Potts ($10). The second name was that of Lieut. Austin Creswell, the captain of the 1914 Victorias.”
Arthur Austin CRESWELL in hockey jersey, c1910perhaps when he played amateur hockey
for the Shamrocks Hockey Team in Regina Saskatchewan
Photo courtesy of Stordy Family Tree by CollectiveRoots, ancestry.com
Arthur Austin CRESWELL, known as Austin, was my maternal second cousin, three generations removed (2C3R). There is disagreement about his birthdate, although all agree he was born in June. Austin's military file lists both 21 Jun 1893 and 23 Jun 1892. His baptism record says 21 Jun 1891 (followed by his baptism on 29 Jan 1892), and his death registration says he was born 21 Jul 1892. Only one of these can be right! As to location, almost everyone says he was born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, although his baptism records says he was born at home in St Eleanors PEI, which has since been incorporated into nearby Summerside.
Austin only had two brothers although he was the ninth of ten children born to Harry Compton CRESWELL and Margery Ann BELL. Both his parents were also born in Prince Edward Island. His grandparents Robert CRESWELL and Catherine COMPTON were married there after immigrating from Hampshire England. The family name has also been spelled CRASWELL, especially in previous generations.
Austin spent most of his childhood in Prince Edward Island, and likely learned how to play hockey on outdoor rinks as a child. By 1905 his family had moved to the prairie province of Saskatchewan, in or near Regina. He joined the Regina Shamrocks Hockey Team who earned the title of Amateur Champions of Saskatchewan for the 1910-11 season. By the time of the 1911 census he was living with his parents and younger brother Fred in Assiniboia, quite a distance to the south west. This location must have been short-lived because by 1912 Austin was back in Regina playing cover for the Regina Bees.
Austin only had two brothers although he was the ninth of ten children born to Harry Compton CRESWELL and Margery Ann BELL. Both his parents were also born in Prince Edward Island. His grandparents Robert CRESWELL and Catherine COMPTON were married there after immigrating from Hampshire England. The family name has also been spelled CRASWELL, especially in previous generations.
Austin spent most of his childhood in Prince Edward Island, and likely learned how to play hockey on outdoor rinks as a child. By 1905 his family had moved to the prairie province of Saskatchewan, in or near Regina. He joined the Regina Shamrocks Hockey Team who earned the title of Amateur Champions of Saskatchewan for the 1910-11 season. By the time of the 1911 census he was living with his parents and younger brother Fred in Assiniboia, quite a distance to the south west. This location must have been short-lived because by 1912 Austin was back in Regina playing cover for the Regina Bees.
In 1914 at the start of WWI, Austin was an athletic young man of about 22 who was team captain and one of the founding members of the Regina Victorias Hockey Club in 1913-14. Hockey was not well funded as it is today, so other employment was also necessary. By 11 Sep 1915, when Austin enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in Regina, he was listed as a surveyor (it's interesting that this date was another "911"). Austin was assigned to the Canadian 68th Battalion Regina detachment as a Lieutenant. He shipped out of Halifax on 28 Apr 1916, arriving in Liverpool on 7 May. By 1 Jul 1916 he was in France with the 5th Battalion undergoing field training, including grenade and anti-gas courses, ending on 12 Aug 1916 when he was returned to field duty.
Late that September and only about 6 weeks after his stint in the trenches began, Austin was wounded when a rifle bullet shattered a bone in his right forearm. He was evacuated to England on 29 Sep 1916, then granted leave on 29 Nov 1916 due to his disability. He arrived back in Canada on December 8th, taking up residence in Regina. It is noteworthy that the 1916 Canada census lists Arthur Austin living with his sister Winifred and family in Regina in June of that year, although he was obviously in Europe at that time. Once back in Canada his wound continued to be monitored and he received massage therapy for his injury. On 5 May 1917 he was listed with the 9th Saskatchewan Rifles, part of the Canadian Defense Force (CDF). His medical exam on 13 Aug 1917 in Regina declared him fit for duty but he didn't leave Canada again until 17 Nov 1917 with the Regina Divisional Cyclist Platoon. Early in 1918 he was posted to the 15th Reserve Battalion, and then to the Saskatchewan Regimental Depot on 15 Feb 1918. Two days later he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, and assigned to the 24th Squadron from 5 Oct 1918 to 26 Jan 1919 as a flying officer in their "B" Flight.
Of course the war officially ended in Nov 1918, but there was still so much work that needed doing in the aftermath. But again Austin was sidelined, becoming "dangerously ill" with the influenza and pneumonia in Feb and March 1919. Fortunately he recovered in time to undergo three operations in May, in part to reset the bone in his injured arm, recovering in the Red Cross hospital in London until 7 June 1919. Finally he set sail for Canada on 11 Jul 1919 aboard the SS Cedric and was demobilized on 25 Jul 1919. Austin was now about 27 years old and single.
Late that September and only about 6 weeks after his stint in the trenches began, Austin was wounded when a rifle bullet shattered a bone in his right forearm. He was evacuated to England on 29 Sep 1916, then granted leave on 29 Nov 1916 due to his disability. He arrived back in Canada on December 8th, taking up residence in Regina. It is noteworthy that the 1916 Canada census lists Arthur Austin living with his sister Winifred and family in Regina in June of that year, although he was obviously in Europe at that time. Once back in Canada his wound continued to be monitored and he received massage therapy for his injury. On 5 May 1917 he was listed with the 9th Saskatchewan Rifles, part of the Canadian Defense Force (CDF). His medical exam on 13 Aug 1917 in Regina declared him fit for duty but he didn't leave Canada again until 17 Nov 1917 with the Regina Divisional Cyclist Platoon. Early in 1918 he was posted to the 15th Reserve Battalion, and then to the Saskatchewan Regimental Depot on 15 Feb 1918. Two days later he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, and assigned to the 24th Squadron from 5 Oct 1918 to 26 Jan 1919 as a flying officer in their "B" Flight.
Of course the war officially ended in Nov 1918, but there was still so much work that needed doing in the aftermath. But again Austin was sidelined, becoming "dangerously ill" with the influenza and pneumonia in Feb and March 1919. Fortunately he recovered in time to undergo three operations in May, in part to reset the bone in his injured arm, recovering in the Red Cross hospital in London until 7 June 1919. Finally he set sail for Canada on 11 Jul 1919 aboard the SS Cedric and was demobilized on 25 Jul 1919. Austin was now about 27 years old and single.
According to a family member:
"After the war [Austin] returned to his hockey career--was signed to play for Los Angeles on the first artificial ice there. Remained in the U.S. Had a laundry business in Redding and other places."
"After the war [Austin] returned to his hockey career--was signed to play for Los Angeles on the first artificial ice there. Remained in the U.S. Had a laundry business in Redding and other places."
While I cannot find any official records to support his involvement in hockey in Los Angeles, I have found a note about a "Creswell" who played for the Milestone team in Saskatchewan about 1921 when Austin was living and working there as a carpenter. He was a lodger in the Reyes family boarding house.
Austin moved to the States about 1925, and by 1930 he was working as a service station salesman in Kelso, Washington. He was still single and renting a room on Pacific Avenue from a coworker. But by 1935 he had married Lorena and they were living in Tacoma WA where he was a service station manager. I do not yet know her maiden name. They moved to Eugene Oregon for a brief time, and by the 1940 census had moved again to Spokane WA, having landed a job as a "promotional man" for an oil company. By 1841 they were living in Seattle, and his job with Richfield Oil Company (based in Los Angeles) had him crossing the border into Canada on at least a couple of occasions. Austin's 1942 WWII draft card says they were living then at 316 East Harrison in Seattle. In 1944 Austin petitioned to become a naturalized US citizen, and in 1945 they were back living in Tacoma.
Austin moved to the States about 1925, and by 1930 he was working as a service station salesman in Kelso, Washington. He was still single and renting a room on Pacific Avenue from a coworker. But by 1935 he had married Lorena and they were living in Tacoma WA where he was a service station manager. I do not yet know her maiden name. They moved to Eugene Oregon for a brief time, and by the 1940 census had moved again to Spokane WA, having landed a job as a "promotional man" for an oil company. By 1841 they were living in Seattle, and his job with Richfield Oil Company (based in Los Angeles) had him crossing the border into Canada on at least a couple of occasions. Austin's 1942 WWII draft card says they were living then at 316 East Harrison in Seattle. In 1944 Austin petitioned to become a naturalized US citizen, and in 1945 they were back living in Tacoma.
Gravestone of Arthur Austin CRESWELLRoyal Oak Burial Park,Victoria BC
Austin and Lorena don't appear to have had any children. They were living in Redding California in the 1960s, and Austin cared for his wife when she became an invalid. Lorena Marguerite died there in 1967 at the age of 73, and Austin brought her ashes up to Victoria BC to bury them with her parents. While in Canada he took the time to visit and reunite with his relatives in BC and Saskatchewan, and in 1968 ended up marrying Cora (Elliot) CRESWELL, his younger brother Fred's widow and his sister-in-law. His nieces and nephews were supportive of their loving uncle, now step-father. Austin and Cora lived in Redding for a year, and then moved up to Victoria British Columbia.
Austin died at the age of 90 on 18 Sep 1982 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. His first wife's ashes were moved to a shady corner at the Royal Oak Burial Park where there was room for Austin's ashes to be buried beside her. The gravestones for cremation vaults are small and there is no room to mention his sporting achievements nor his service in the great war. I'm sure the poppy I left stuck in the ground at the corner of his gravestone will not last long. While this story is not etched in stone either, it hopefully provides a fitting memorial to this lovely man and his life.
Austin died at the age of 90 on 18 Sep 1982 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. His first wife's ashes were moved to a shady corner at the Royal Oak Burial Park where there was room for Austin's ashes to be buried beside her. The gravestones for cremation vaults are small and there is no room to mention his sporting achievements nor his service in the great war. I'm sure the poppy I left stuck in the ground at the corner of his gravestone will not last long. While this story is not etched in stone either, it hopefully provides a fitting memorial to this lovely man and his life.
Location of graves of Arthur Austin CRESWELL and Lorena M CRESWELL, Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria BC
REFERENCES and FURTHER READING
Regina Shamrock Hockey Team, Amateur Champions of Saskatchewan 1910-11 - “Hockey heritage: 88 Years of puck chasing in Saskatchewan” - book shared on our roots site
Regina Victoria Hockey Club - Saskatchewan Sports Hall Of Fame site
Hick Abbot, The Story of a War Hero - Austin's teammate
Arthur Austin CRESWELL, WWI Military File - Library and Archives Canada (LAC) site
Regina Shamrock Hockey Team, Amateur Champions of Saskatchewan 1910-11 - “Hockey heritage: 88 Years of puck chasing in Saskatchewan” - book shared on our roots site
Regina Victoria Hockey Club - Saskatchewan Sports Hall Of Fame site
Hick Abbot, The Story of a War Hero - Austin's teammate
Arthur Austin CRESWELL, WWI Military File - Library and Archives Canada (LAC) site
I have posted additional information on my COMPTON families elsewhere on this website.
"52 Ancestors" is a reference to the "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge I am participating in.
Reference the No Story Too Small blog by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow for more details.
It is giving me the much needed incentive to write and publish my family stories.
"52 Ancestors" is a reference to the "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge I am participating in.
Reference the No Story Too Small blog by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow for more details.
It is giving me the much needed incentive to write and publish my family stories.
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