Talk:Canadian Aviation Corps

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Harry Arthur Farr - Historical records[edit]

What is not stated in the Wikipedia entry, but is a DOCUMENTED FACT is that Janney swindled his way into Col. Hughes" forces assembling in Quebec with 2 other people he had "recruited" when he had no legal authority to do so as he was not a military officer and held no rank. Lieutenant W. F. Sharpe - born of a well to do family and raised near Ottawa was enticed into accompanying Janney as a "Pilot", however he could not fly and neither could Janney. Sharpe is famous for 1) having been killed during training in 1915 with the RFC since the CAC had no machines of its' own after the voyage to the UK and 2) being the 1st documented military aviation accident investigation case involving a Canadian. Staff Sergeant H. A. Farr (Harry Arthur Farr) who was born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, UK and had been working in the logging industry as an "Engineer" in the area of Qualicum Beach, BC and who DID have prior military service was enticed into the CAC as "Mechanic".Harry A. Farr was most likely a British educated and apprenticed "Engineer" of the day. His military record reflects that he received engine type training at Rolls-Royce in London, England during 1914-1915 after the CAC arrived at the RFC's training camp at Salisbury Plain. After the death of Sharpe, Janney disappeared back to Canada and was later arrested for on fraud charges in the USA. He was also involved in the debacle to send a company of men and aircraft up the east coast in the early 1920's. Janney, a fraudster, thief and con-artist was given a place of military honour in Winnipeg after his death. The ending of the CAC at Salisbury Plain also saw Staff Sgt. Harry A Farr discharged after spending some time with the RFC - most likely because it was found that Janney had illegally recruited him. Harry A. Farr returned to Canada in March / April 1916 from London, England. He passed through US Immigration in New York on his way back to BC. On his US immigration paperwork he is identified as being an "Aeronautical Engineer". A term which was unknown (and more than likely not understood) in Canada or the USA at the time.

Harry A. Farr survived his service WW1 and returned to Canada. He died in Canada in 1937. He is documented as owning an automotive business in Vancouver BC at the time of his death. Outbound immigration records from Montreal in 1936 reveal he had returned to his family home at Stoke-on-Trent for what was to be his last visit with his family there. Harry Farr died in BC in 1937 at age 49 leaving behind a widow, Sarah. Harry Arthur Farr B. 1888 D.1937 aged 49. Canada's first military Air Engineer, documented "Aeronautical Engineer" (which was a lot more than the "Designers" of today's university programs) and most likely a Canadian Air Board licensed "Air Engineer" in the 1920's.

2001:56A:7005:3200:34BD:3B16:BBDB:D269 (talk) 17:29, 11 April 2020 (UTC)Air Researcher2001:56A:7005:3200:34BD:3B16:BBDB:D269 (talk) 17:29, 11 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the details. Unfortunately, the ancestry.ca source cannot be used in Wikipedia per WP:USERG.-- BC  talk to me 18:45, 12 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]
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