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from the Veteran's section of www.ramarahistoryonline.web:
McCORKELL James Ignatius: he enlisted October 13, 1915, as a Lieutenant of the 116th (Ontario County) Infantry Battalion. He was a school teacher in Atherley, Mara S.S. #5, from 1913 to 1915. While training in Canada, he served as a recruiter for the 116th, his name appears on the Attestation papers of several Mara & Rama recruits. Born in Mara, in 1895, a son of Patrick Joseph McCorkell & Mary O'Donnell. Just prior to his departure overseas, Lieutenant McCorkell, was married to Cecilia Proctor, in December 1916. He had obtained a Captaincy, but in order to get into action quicker, he reverted to the rank of Lieutenant. He was killed in action, August 12, 1918, at the age of 23, and is buried in Bouchoir New British Cemetery, Somme, France. grave II.B.57. The stone reads, 'Lieut. J. I. J. McCorkell, 116th Battalion Canadian Infantry/12th August 1918 Age 23/Greater love than this no man hath/that he lay down his life for his friends'. His name also appears in the 'Roll of Honour of the Ontario Teachers who served in the Great War 1914-1918' published by Ryerson Press: 1922. His name is listed on the Mara Cenotaph, located in front of the Brechin Legion, 4th Concession, Brechin. (photo in WW1 album)
Aug. 22. 1918- Orillia Packet & Times--Lieut. I. J. McCorkell Killed
The first death reported among the Orillia soldiers, as the result of the British offensive, was that of Lieut. Ignatius J. McCorkell, who was killed in action on August 12th. Though not a resident of the town, Lieut. McCorkell had spent so much of his time here, for three years as a student at the Collegiate Institute, and for two years while teaching at Atherley, that he was widely known and very popular. He tried to enlist in the University company which went to reinforce the Princess Pats in the early days of the war, but was rejected on account of his eyes. However, he succeeded in getting into the Ontario County Battalion in October, 1915, and took an active part in recruiting both it and the second battalion. He did not succeed in getting overseas till April, 1917. Four months previously, in December, 1916, he was married to Miss Cecelia Proctor of Beaverton, a niece of Mrs. A. G. Cavana, Orillia. Besides his parents, Lieut. McCorkell is survived by four brothers and four sisters--Peter McCorkell of Superior, Wisconsin; Vincent McCorkell, St. Paul, Minnesota; John McCorkell of Udney; the Rev. E. J. McCorkell, of St. Michael's College, Toronto; Mrs. D. O'Donnell, Mrs. R. Gettings, and Mrs. H. McLaughlin, of Udney, and Mrs. J. O'Leary of Seattle, Washington. Lieut. McCorkell, who was just 23 years of age, was just at the opening of what promised to be a bright career. Had he returned it was his intention to enter the profession of law, and to that end he became articled at Osgoode Hall. He has given his life in a great cause, and his memory will long remain green.
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