Sapper Cephas Hector Abbott

Sapper (Army).

Son of Edward James Abbott and Charlotte Ann Abbott, of Mission City, British Columbia.

Cephas Abbott was born in Lakefield Ontario and lived at 33046, 3rd Avenue in Mission City, British Columbia. This house was built in 1912 in “Ontario style”. He lived next door to his father Edward James Abbott who was a fruit-grower, inventor and businessman. His mother was Charlotte Anne Abbott. The house is still there and is now named “Cephas Abbott House” Cephas was a Methodist and a keen musician – he played several instruments and was particularly interested in liturgical music.

He studied at the University of Toronto. In the early years of the war he worked as a plumber and as this was a reserved occupation. However Cephas joined the Canadian Expeditionary force in Vancouver, British Columbia on 27th March 1918. His occupation was shown on his attestation papers as a Plumber, Tinsmith and Vulcanizer. Cephas made the long journey to Seaford Camp departing Canada on June 29, 1918 and arriving at Seaford Camp on July 26, 2918. At this time Seaford Camp was suffering from a huge outbreak of influenza. The draughty wooden huts must have been uncomfortable and many soldier died of fever. The peak was in October 1918 when over 50 soldiers died within a month.

On arrival at Seaford Camp, Cephas joined the camp band and it is sad to note that one of his first duties was to attend military funerals at Seaford Cemetery on the Alfriston Road. On January 31, 1919, Cephus married Ellen Mary Squires [a local English girl]. He was originally scheduled to return to Canada on February 21, 1919.

He remained in Seaford until after the war had formally ended and his family believe that he stayed on in order to remain in the band aftyer he could have returned home. He succumbed to the flu himself and died on March 18, 1919. Source: Kevin Gordon, Seaford, Sussex