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CROZIER, ALBERT ANDREW HORNSBY
GRO Reference: 1900 D Quarter in HACKNEY Volume 01B Page 521

Biography from the book "Innisfil Veterans: Their Lives and Memories" (2013) p. 128-129

"Albert Crozier was born on September 22, 1900 in Hackney Wick, East London, son of Emma Jane (Hornsby) Martin and Frederick Crozier, a journeyman gun maker. In 1901, the family was living in the borough of West Ham, East London. Also in the family at that time were Emma's son Joseph, age 10, by her former husband Joseph Martin, and a daughter, Nellie, age 5. It is not known what became of Frederick Crozier. However, by 1911 Emma, Nellie and Albert all appear to be in the West Ham Union Workhouse. Albert also had a half-sister Emma Martin, who was living and working at the time in Dorset.

In the fall of 1914, Albert was admitted to the charitable Fegan Homes. (In 1870, James Fegan established homes for poverty-stricken boys, and in 1884, he began assisting them to emigrate from England to Canada. To better prepare the boys for life and work in Canada, soon after 1910 he established a farm in Goudhurst, Kent, that used Canadian farming methods and equipment.)

Albert's admission record showed hat he had been in the West Ham Union workhouse since 1907, was in good health and had been attending a local school.

In the spring of 1915, after apprenticing at the "Canada Farm" for six months, Albert was sent to Canada, along with a large group of boys. He was 14 years old at the time.

~'It is difficult to convey what a boon the Training Farm will be to those who do not understand from personal experience how unprepared London boys often are physically for the immediate stress and strain of farm life in Canada on their arrival there in the rush of spring work.' --Alfred Tiffin, Loving and Serving, An Account of the life and work of J.W.C. Fegan.

~'Facing this difficulty, the great idea, which was almost an inspiration, came to Mr. Fegan. Why not reproduce Canadian conditions in England? Have a Canada Farm! Get Canadian Machinery and tackle and do things in the Colonial way?' -- W.Y. Fullerton, J.W.C. Fegan, a Tribute.

Albert initially worked on the Bethesda area farm of Charles Hindle, R.R. #1 Cookstown (L8, C 4, Innisfil), and two reports from visits by the Fegan representative in Toronto show that the placement was successful.

Six months after Albert arrived, the visitor wrote: 'I received a splendid report of this fine boy. They say Albert is the best one they have ever had & is thoroughly satisfactory in every way. Albert himself says he likes working here & that everybody is good to him. First class home.'

A second report in March of 1917 indicates that Albert was 'still doing A.1. Bright, cheerful, happy lad always busy, full of life & go. Mr. Hindle praised him highly. Albert likes Canada & his place fine & is appreciative for all Mr. Fegan has done for him. Real nice people & home fine for him.'

After working on Charles Hindle's farm, Albert moved to the neighbouring farm (L9, C4) owned by Lorne L. Davidson, a native of the area. Mr. Davidson went to Toronto about 1917, but kept the farm, where he raised Percheron and race horses. Albert, showing responsibility and usually working with another man, ran the farm in Lorne Davidson's absence. Lorne's son Douglas remembers that as a teenager he and his sister Ruth enjoyed going to the farm to visit and that Albert was very good to them. Sometimes Albert would take Douglas into Barrie to see Douglas' friends.

On June 3, 1940, after having working in the Innisfil area for 25 years, Albert enlisted as a Private in the Grey and Simcoe Foresters (Service Number B49318). He was first at Debert, Nova Scotia.

When Albert enlisted, his friends in the Bethesda community gave him a watch. While he was based in Nova Scotia, his watch disappeared. In the fall of 1943, under the headline 'Regains Wrist Watch,' the Barrie Examiner reported receiving surprising news from Albert: 'Tpr. Albert Crozier, R.R. 1 Cookstown, now overseas, would like his friends of Bethesda to know that the present of a watch from them that came up missing while at Debert, N.S., was located in a pawn shop in England.'

The Grey & Simcoe Foresters became a tank battalion and went overseas in June 1943. In England, the Foresters were broken up, with members going to other units. Albert was transferred to the 6th Armoured Regiment, 1st Hussars on August 13, 1943. 

He was able to make a brief visit to see his sister Emma Hansford and family in Wyemouth, Dorset. His nephew John Hansford remembers Albert telling him about working with all kinds of animals on the Ontario farm.

From England, Albert went with his unit to Normandy and continued up into Holland.

From 1946, Albert worked as a kitchen assistant in various messes at Camp Borden, living in the civilian barracks. When he retired in 1965, he moved to a rooming house at 16 Mary Street in Barrie. He was living there when he died at the Royal Victoria Hospital on October 1, 1967. He was interred in Barrie Union Cemtery." 

-By Diana Gendron with Harry Squibb, John Hansford Jr., and Douglas Davidson (Information about Fegans and Albert's care with them was received from David Waller, Fegan Child and Family Care, England, and from Irene Fry, caretaker of the Canadian Fegans records.

Obituary: The Barrie Examiner, 4 Oct 1967, p. 16.