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Note: Extract from the Methodist Church at Granby, District of Bedford, Province of Quebec:
Ernest Alfred, son of Ernest Raymond Allnutt and his wife Harriet May Hazel, of the village of Granby, county of Shefford, Province of Quebec, was born on the nineteenth day of February one thousand nine hundred and eight and was baptized by me on the twentirth day of April of the same year, in the presence of subscribing witnesses. Signed John D. Ellis
Witnesses: Ernest Raymond Allnutt, Harriet May Hazell
Note: Rev Ellis entered Bert's names incorrectly. They should have been Albert Ernest.
The Granby Methodist Church was a large building with a spire and in 1899 and 1912 it was standing on Drummond between City and Elgin. In 1950, it was a vacant United Church. See insurance maps of Granby. In 2016 there are only small apartment buildings in that location.
Bert spent his first 12 years or so in Granby and Abbottsford, QC and then moved with his family to L'Orignal, Ontario near Vankleek Hill. The family lived on the Steel farm (2013 Cassburn Road today) where Bert's father worked for Mr. Howard Steele. The youngest Steele daughter Jean remembered in 2007 that the house the Allnutts were living in burned down one night. Was that when the Allnutts moved into a large Victorian house?
While in Ontario Bert tried starting a poultry farm during the Depression. In about 1935, he went to Montreal where he was hired and trained as a cabinet maker by RCA Victor.
His address in the fall of 1939 was 4720 Queen Mary Road, Apt 12, Montreal, QC. This was probably Ray and Betty's address and Bert was boarding with them.
This is a copy of Bert's Discharge Certificate from the Canadian Army (Active):
This is to certify that No. D-10556 Gunner Albert Ernest Allnutt enlisted in the "Royal Canadian Artillery" of the Canadian Army (Active) on the 14th day of September 1939. He served in Canada, United Kingdom, Central Mediterranean Area, Continental Europe and is now discharged from the service under Routine Order 1029 Para 5 by reason of Return to Civil Life (On demobilization).
The Description of this soldier on the date below is as follows: age - 37 years 4 months, height - 5'7", complexion - dark, eyes - blue, hair - brown. Marks or scars - Vacc - left arm, scar on right arm, scar on left knee. Date of discharge - July 12, 1945 at No. 4 District Depot, Montreal South, P.Q. Signed by Lt. Marcel Dufresne for Colonel S. Echenberg commanding No.4 District Depot.
On the same day and issued by the same person is a paper titled Tradesmen's Qualifications. It states that Gunner Albert Ernest Allnutt was qualified in the Trade of Carpenter B and was employed at this trade in the R.C.A. Corps for a period of 32 months. The approximate civilian trade equivalent would be Carpenter Foreman.
Bert also received 10 monthly instalments of a War Service Gratuity amounting to $1259.69.
After WWII, back at RCA, he worked with the crew that did renovations in the huge building on Lenoir. He enjoyed helping to build the first sound studio there for recording records. He was then put in charge of the Reproduction Department (before automatic copiers!) in 1962 and finished his career as the head of the night maintenance department in 1971.
At home he enjoyed building furniture out of fine wood and loved growing plants. In later years he grew and sold wonderful African Violets.
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