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     Alfred Edward Babbage was born 28 Aug 1874 in Mountfield, Sussex, England. As a young man he enlisted in the 1st Royal Dragoons in England and fought in South Africa. He married Louisa Dixon December Quarter 1898 in Bentford, Middlesex, England. In 1901 they were living at Shorncliffe Camp in Kent, England. This camp had been in existance from the mid 1200's and was a training ground for many military regiments including the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War 1.
    Sometime between the end of his military service in South Africa and the beginning of World War 1, Alfred came to Canada. There is a record of an Alfred Edward Babbage arriving at Portland, Maine, on the 14 Apr 1911, age 36, on board the " Tortona " from Southampton, England. It has yet to be proven that he is our Alfred. Ellen Collins has provided a copy of Alfred's attestation papers when he joined the army again in Canada.
    He head been living in Calgary, Alberta and had joined the CEF 4th Jan 1915 , Regimental # 117117 S.Q.M.S. 12th Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles. This regiment saw action at Vimy Ridge in France. The son of Alfred Edward Babbage, Edward Ralph Babbage, also joined the CEF in Calgary 25 Sept 1915 with the 12th Regiment as a trooper giving his address as London, England. Alfred states on his attestation papers that he is a widower.
    Ellen Collins and her sister remember how our Great Aunt Catherine loved to spoil Alfred and refered to him as the " Old Gentleman " He claimed that he had outlived 5 wives.

     Edward Ralph Babbage was born 28 Oct 1898 in Brentwood, Chiswick, Middlesex, England, he was born at 48 Holly Road, Chiswick. ( Birth Certificate # BCAZ 204652. listing his father Alfred Edward Babbage as a Private in the 1st Royal Dragoons and mother Louisa Babbage formerly Dixon. Edward Ralph had a younger brother Alfred Roydon who was born Sept Quarter 1903 in Elham, Kent, England. I can find no record showing when Ralph and Roydon came to Canada. Edward Ralph married Catherine MacIntosh in Detroit, Michigan