Notes Grandfather, George Abel, was born in Russia c. 1825, and was a dentist in Cheetham, Lancashire, England, and Cardiff, Wales. Georges' wife was Ann Jones. Ann Jones Abel died between 1862 and 1871.
Father, Moses Abel, was born 1862. He was a dentist in 1901 in Cardiff, Wales. Both Moses and George were Jewish, and both married in the Manchester synagogue. Burial places are unknown for Moses and George, but probably in the Cardiff area. Moses' first wife was Julia Matilda Hart, of Merthyr Tdyfil, Wales. Addresses for Moses are various in the Manchester area before 1890 then various in Wales. However, his last known address was 47 Tudor Road, Cardiff, Wales in 1901.
Mother: Julia Matilda Hart. Most of her family in Merthyr Tydfil were listed on the 1871 census as pupil teachers. Her father David was a pawnbroker.
In April, 1908, Abraham Abel, 15, carpenter, arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, via Portland, Maine, with another 15 year old boy, Mark Laversohn, tailor, both intending to become farm labourers and en route to Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
He was with the 30th BC Horse Regiment from 1912-1916. On February 7, 1916, Abraham Abel, 23, joined 102nd Comox-Atlin CEF at Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. His commanding officer was J. W. Warden. On his attestation paper, he declared that he was a resident of Lumby; that he was a labourer by trade; that his next of kin was his mother, Julia Matilda Abel, who resided at 41 London Street, Mindee, Newport, Wales. He was described as 5 foot 10-1/2 inches in height; medium complexion; brown hair; brown eyes. He was a member of the Presbyterian faith.
The curator of the Lumby BC Museum had this information from the Vernon News Archives:
February 10, 1916 "Frank Page and A. Abel went to Vernon on Monday and signed on with 102nd Comox Overseas Regiment."
February 17, 1916 "A most enjoyable farewell party and dance was given in Morand's Hall on Wednesday last week by A. Abel and Frank Page who left the next morning to join their regiment, the 102nd Comox-Atlin. The main feature of the evening was dancing, a few card games being indulged in, in another room. An excellent supper was served, and after a long evening's pleasure, farewell's were said to the two boys, the guests returning to their homes in the early hours of the morning."
He sailed from Halifax on the Empress of Britain arriving in England June 1916. After training at Bramshott camp, he embarked for France in August 1916.
After some months in the front line, Abraham was hospitalised in Rouen in 1917 with trench fever, recovered and returned to frontline duty.
In August 1918 he was wounded by gunshot at Amiens and returned to England. After discharge in 1919, he remained in Berkshire, England where he married and became a greengrocer.
Abraham Abel died in 1973, aged 81. A death registration was found for Abraham Abel: Date of Birth: June 20, 1892; Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep; Year of Registration: 1973; Place: Reading; Volume: 6A; page: 258.