The Breton Brothers Adventures in Canada
By Allan Goddard
The Breton Brothers Adventures in Canada: Part 1
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Many Breton Booster readers will be aware that the Village was named for Douglas Breton, for his efforts in lobbying for a railway through the area. Douglas was also elected as a MLA, from 1926-1930, in the United Farmers of Alberta government. I thought it would be interesting to delve into greater detail about Douglas Breton, and the Breton family.
Douglas’s father, Inspector General W.E Breton, was a surgeon in the Royal British Navy. His career in the Navy took the Breton family to many ports throughout the world. Douglas (1883) and his younger brother Laurence (1885) were born near Cape Town South Africa. In 1903, Inspector General Breton and family was |
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transferred from England to a posting in Bermuda. Enroute to Bermuda, they stopped in Halifax to drop off Douglas age 19 and Laurence age 17 to seek adventure and fortune in Canada
The brothers travelled to Ontario where they found employment as farm laborers, gaining farming skills. Laurence had previously taken agricultural courses, with the goal to obtain a homestead of his own. By Christmas they had saved enough to travel to Bermuda to visit their parents and youngest brother Basil. The brothers returned in the New Year, continuing to work as farm laborers for the next year.
In April 1905, the brothers travelled to Edmonton, North West Territories ... Alberta would not become a Province until later that year… to file on homesteads near Telfordville. The next few years were spent establishing their homesteads. It was one thing to file claim on a homestead, it was another to acquire title to it. A certain amount of land had to cleared and put into production, a dwelling had to be erected, and the homesteader had to reside on it for a period of time each year. All of this required money, so at times Douglas and Laurence had to seek employment. In the winter they worked in the logging camps and sawmills, along with road work in the summer. Laurence often worked on surveying crews.
The brothers returned to England in 1910 for a short visit, and when they returned their youngest brother Basil came with them. They were soon joined by their cousin, Billy Breton.
The Breton brothers, in 1912, acquired an acre of land from Jim Van Alstyne and proceeded to build the Telfordville Store. Laurence using his carpentry skills, with Douglas and Basil contributing their wages to establish the store. Basil became the store keeper and postmaster.
Great excitement came in the spring of 1913 when word was received that Inspector General Breton and Mrs. Breton would spend the summer with their sons, bringing with them Basil’s girlfriend Nest Bowen. Great haste pursued to prepare for their visit. On August 28 Basil and Nest were married at the St. John’s Mission Hall. That fall, Douglas accompanied his parents’ home as Inspector General Breton was in poor health.
Darkening shadows were starting to form on the horizon for the Breton brothers that would see them separated for several years.
The brothers travelled to Ontario where they found employment as farm laborers, gaining farming skills. Laurence had previously taken agricultural courses, with the goal to obtain a homestead of his own. By Christmas they had saved enough to travel to Bermuda to visit their parents and youngest brother Basil. The brothers returned in the New Year, continuing to work as farm laborers for the next year.
In April 1905, the brothers travelled to Edmonton, North West Territories ... Alberta would not become a Province until later that year… to file on homesteads near Telfordville. The next few years were spent establishing their homesteads. It was one thing to file claim on a homestead, it was another to acquire title to it. A certain amount of land had to cleared and put into production, a dwelling had to be erected, and the homesteader had to reside on it for a period of time each year. All of this required money, so at times Douglas and Laurence had to seek employment. In the winter they worked in the logging camps and sawmills, along with road work in the summer. Laurence often worked on surveying crews.
The brothers returned to England in 1910 for a short visit, and when they returned their youngest brother Basil came with them. They were soon joined by their cousin, Billy Breton.
The Breton brothers, in 1912, acquired an acre of land from Jim Van Alstyne and proceeded to build the Telfordville Store. Laurence using his carpentry skills, with Douglas and Basil contributing their wages to establish the store. Basil became the store keeper and postmaster.
Great excitement came in the spring of 1913 when word was received that Inspector General Breton and Mrs. Breton would spend the summer with their sons, bringing with them Basil’s girlfriend Nest Bowen. Great haste pursued to prepare for their visit. On August 28 Basil and Nest were married at the St. John’s Mission Hall. That fall, Douglas accompanied his parents’ home as Inspector General Breton was in poor health.
Darkening shadows were starting to form on the horizon for the Breton brothers that would see them separated for several years.
The Breton Brothers Adventures in Canada: Part 2
I had left off with Douglas Breton accompanying his parents back to England due to the poor health of his father. Inspector General Breton would pass away within a few months of their return to England. Basil Breton and his wife continued to run the Telfordville store, while Laurence and Billie Breton often worked on surveying crews. I also mentioned, there were darkening clouds starting to brew on the world’s horizon that would further separate the Breton’s. In August 1914, England declared war against Germany and for the next four years WWI would embroil much of the world.
Douglas, still in England, received a commission in the 6th Hampshire Regiment and served in India and Afghanistan during the war. In the fall of 1915, on returning from their time on a survey crew in the Peace River region, both Laurence and Billie Breton enlisted in the 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion. Within a month Basil would enlist in the CEF 138th Battalion. At some point Basil was transferred to the Indian Army and received a commission. Basil would serve in a Camel Corp in Persia, now modern-day Iran, for the remainder of the war.
Laurence was wounded in France and sent to a military hospital in England. While in hospital he would meet his future wife Marie, a nurse in the hospital. Later the army would transfer him to Halifax, where he served until the end of the war.
The Breton brothers, and their cousin Billie, returned to Telfordville in about 1920. By this time both Douglas and Laurence had married. Basil and his family returned, but only for a short period of time. They would soon move to Vancouver Island where they ran a hotel until 1939. Basil then moved to the West Indies and started the first tourist hotel on the island of Antigua.
The three remaining Breton’s joined forces in running the Telfordville store for a period of time. Eventually, Billie would take over operation of the store, Laurence would move back to the farm, and Douglas was starting to become involved in local politics.
During the previous decade the need for a railroad, through the area, had become a priority to the settlers of the area. Douglas and his involvement with the United Farmers of Alberta organization, was one of the major orators in lobbying for the railway for the next several years. In 1921, the United Farmers of Alberta, formed the provincial government and the lobbying intensified for the extension of the railroad.
A group of individual farmers from Lacombe had started a railroad circa 1909, and by 1917 it had reached Bentley. However, by this time they were in financial trouble and the Alberta government became involved, extending the line to Rimbey, taking over the operation of the railroad and renaming it the Lacombe North Western.
That bring me to the close of the second part of the Breton Brother’s story.
Douglas, still in England, received a commission in the 6th Hampshire Regiment and served in India and Afghanistan during the war. In the fall of 1915, on returning from their time on a survey crew in the Peace River region, both Laurence and Billie Breton enlisted in the 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion. Within a month Basil would enlist in the CEF 138th Battalion. At some point Basil was transferred to the Indian Army and received a commission. Basil would serve in a Camel Corp in Persia, now modern-day Iran, for the remainder of the war.
Laurence was wounded in France and sent to a military hospital in England. While in hospital he would meet his future wife Marie, a nurse in the hospital. Later the army would transfer him to Halifax, where he served until the end of the war.
The Breton brothers, and their cousin Billie, returned to Telfordville in about 1920. By this time both Douglas and Laurence had married. Basil and his family returned, but only for a short period of time. They would soon move to Vancouver Island where they ran a hotel until 1939. Basil then moved to the West Indies and started the first tourist hotel on the island of Antigua.
The three remaining Breton’s joined forces in running the Telfordville store for a period of time. Eventually, Billie would take over operation of the store, Laurence would move back to the farm, and Douglas was starting to become involved in local politics.
During the previous decade the need for a railroad, through the area, had become a priority to the settlers of the area. Douglas and his involvement with the United Farmers of Alberta organization, was one of the major orators in lobbying for the railway for the next several years. In 1921, the United Farmers of Alberta, formed the provincial government and the lobbying intensified for the extension of the railroad.
A group of individual farmers from Lacombe had started a railroad circa 1909, and by 1917 it had reached Bentley. However, by this time they were in financial trouble and the Alberta government became involved, extending the line to Rimbey, taking over the operation of the railroad and renaming it the Lacombe North Western.
That bring me to the close of the second part of the Breton Brother’s story.
The Breton Brothers Adventures in Canada: Part 3
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I left off the second instalment about the Breton’s after their return from serving in WW1. Basil Breton moved to Vancouver Island to manage a hotel. Douglas, Laurence and Billie Breton joined forces in operating the Telfordville store, post office and cream station. Billie and Laurence ran the store, with Laurence being the chief cream tester. Billie would continue to operate the store for the next 20 years. Douglas looked after the post office, bookkeeping and hauling freight from Leduc. Also, Douglas was becoming involved in local politics, lobbying for the extension of the railroad through the area.
In 1922, the Alberta Government announced the Lacombe & North Western Railway would be extended from Rimbey to Hoadley. Lobbying continued through the UFA Local 1053, with Douglas acting as spokesperson: meetings were held, petitions circulated and delegations to Provincial ministers arranged, but with little success from 1922-1924. A break came in February 1925 when it was announced the railway would be extended 22 miles north from Hoadley, establishing a new rail terminal, and a yet to be named hamlet. It would be December 1926 before the line was put into service. The new hamlet was named “Breton” in appreciation of the work carried out by Douglas Breton. In June 1926, Douglas Breton was elected as MLA for the Leduc constituency. While the extension of the railway to Breton was gratifying to Douglas, there was still work to be done to link the railway to Leduc. Douglas could now press for the extension of the railway from within the government. |
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Once the location of the new terminal and hamlet was determined, businesses started to establish. One of the first was the Laurence Breton family, who moved from Telfordville in April 1926 to open a grocery store. For the next ten years Laurence would operate the Red and White grocery store. The Depression of the 1930’s took a toll on many businesses, and in 1936 Laurence sold the grocery store. Laurence and family would leave Breton moving to Campbell River, BC, where he was employed in a department store. Laurence passed away in 1965 at the age of 80.
In 1927 Douglas again tried to get the railway extended without success. It is interesting to note that the UFA Government of Alberta was in serious financial trouble at the time … sound a little bit familiar. However, in 1928 the government announced they had accepted the offer from the CPR to purchase the Lacombe & North Western, and by 1932 the railway reached Leduc.
Douglas would run for re-election in 1930, but lost his seat to Liberal Arthur Mitchell. He returned to Telfordville to farm, and as secretary - treasurer for the MD of Pioneer. In 1934 the decision was made to return to England, where he took up farming again. During WWII Douglas served as a training officer with the Royal Air Force and after the war worked for Army Records, as well as farming. Douglas Breton passed away in 1953 at the age 70. His daughter wrote of his death … “He died in 1953 with so much of his heart and dreams still in the Canadian west”.
While Douglas Breton would not return to Canada his name does live on in the name of our Village.
In 1927 Douglas again tried to get the railway extended without success. It is interesting to note that the UFA Government of Alberta was in serious financial trouble at the time … sound a little bit familiar. However, in 1928 the government announced they had accepted the offer from the CPR to purchase the Lacombe & North Western, and by 1932 the railway reached Leduc.
Douglas would run for re-election in 1930, but lost his seat to Liberal Arthur Mitchell. He returned to Telfordville to farm, and as secretary - treasurer for the MD of Pioneer. In 1934 the decision was made to return to England, where he took up farming again. During WWII Douglas served as a training officer with the Royal Air Force and after the war worked for Army Records, as well as farming. Douglas Breton passed away in 1953 at the age 70. His daughter wrote of his death … “He died in 1953 with so much of his heart and dreams still in the Canadian west”.
While Douglas Breton would not return to Canada his name does live on in the name of our Village.
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Address: 4711-51 Street Breton, AB T0C 0P0
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