1905 Ross MkII w/MkIII sight

[smle addict]

I did hear back from the IODE/Ontario. They have an excellent records-keeping department, and filled in the back story of Mr. Palmer and this Ross rifle. Very interesting reading:

"I understand that IODE Canada has been contacted by a gentleman asking for information about a Canadian manufactured rifle that he purchased at an estate sale in California.
An inscription on the butt-plate reads, “Presented by the Alexandra Chapter, Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, To Upper Canada College, Won by CDP Palmer, 1908”.

Our student publication, College Times, includes the following reference in its Christmas 1908 issue page 6: Ross Rifle—Presented by the Alexandra Chapter of the Daughters of the Empire—C. D. B. Palmer.
I can see in The Roll of Pupils of Upper Canada College, Toronto: January 1830 to June 1916 that Charles Douglas Brydon Palmer attended the College as a boarder from 1907 to 1911. More details can be seen here: The roll of pupils of Upper Canada College, Toronto : January 1830 to June 1916 : Young, A. H. (Archibald Hope), 1863-1936 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

I can see from the Tenth Annual Report of the national chapter of Canada and its allied Associations that the Alexandra Chapter decided to present a rifle to Upper Canada College to encourage rifle shooting among the boys. More information can be seen here: Tenth Annual Report of the national chapter of Canada and its allied Associations : Imperial order of the daughters of the empire and the children of the empire : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. H. W. Auden, Principal of Upper Canada College at this time is also listed as a member of the Advisory Board here: Tenth Annual Report of the national chapter of Canada and its allied Associations : Imperial order of the daughters of the empire and the children of the empire : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

(As a general FYI, further IODE publications can be seen here: Internet Archive Search: )

Other references to the Alexandra Chapter in College Times may provide more information in relation to the award of the rifles.

Easter issue 1908 page 7
The Rifle Company is more than keeping up the standard which was set last year. This term, as last, the right half company drilled on Tuesday and the left half on Thursday, and a good deal of hard work was done. The new equipment which was expected at the beginning of the term did not arrive until some weeks later, and some of the time while waiting was utilized by Sergeant Major Utton, for lectures on the different formations. These lectures were very interesting, illustrated as they were by scenes from the experiences of Sergeant Major Utton in the South African War. On the arrival of the new rifles the Company commenced hard drill in the gymnasium but for the last week or two, the corps has been drilling outside and put in some splendid work, showing well the results of their hard work during the winter.

The Company has entered a Physical Drill Squad in the coming Military Tournament. The squad will do the bayonet exercises, and although as yet there has not been much practice in this department they will no doubt be in very good shape. A range has been fitted up in the western basement, and we now have shooting with reduced ammunition without going down to the Armouries.
During the coming session, the Ross Rifle presented by the Alexandra Chapter will be contested for. The competition will take place as soon after the inspection as possible."

I did a simple genealogy check and found the family tree of Mr. Palmer. Interesting, in that family surname "Brydon" became "Bryson." Probably a spelling error...

Sometime after his school attendance, he emigrated to Culver City (Los Angeles County) California.

It seems Mr Palmer went by Douglas (with Bryson listed as a middle name), and I was able to find two Los Angeles, CA census records, listing "Douglas B. Palmer" as a Los Angeles resident. Both census' (1930 and 1940) list his place of birth as Ontario, Canada.

I also found the death certificate of Mr Palmer, b. 1890 Ont. CA, d.1968 Los Angeles County. He lived to 77 years of age. His descendants still reside in Culver City today.

A very gratifying investigation!