Jul 13, 1894

Born in Newcastle, Ontario to Joseph and Annie Maude Elizabeth (nee Brown) Coulson

Feb 21, 1915

Attested into the 136^th Battalion in Port Hope, Ontario 

Ø      Number 805373

Ø      Next of kin given as Joseph Coulson, father, Newcastle, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Telephone Clerk

o       Later noted as employed by the Royal Bank in Port Hope prior to enlistment

Ø      Previous military experience given as 4 years in the 46^th Durham Regiment, Canadian Militia

Ø      Religion given as Church of England 

The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area

Apr 29, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant

Sep 25, 1916

Embarked the SS Corsican in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Oct 1, 1916

Promoted to the provisional rank of Corporal

Oct 6, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to West Sandling.  On arrival at West Sandling, the entire battalion was absorbed into the 39^th Reserve Battalion to continue training.  On being taken on the strength of the reserve battalion he was reduced to the rank of Private

Nov 14, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion at East Sandling

Jan 11, 1917

Reverted to the rank of Private at his own request

Feb 1, 1917

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Feb 2, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 20 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Feb 24, 1917

Joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion in Hersin as part of a draft of 68 reinforcements destined to join the 21^st Battalion

Mar 6, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion in Bois Des Alleux as part of a draft of 68 reinforcements

Aug 15, 1917

While part of a machine gun crew, during the attack on Hill 70, Private Coulson and the entire machine gun crew were killed by a single artillery shell that landed in their midst.  He was buried in a nearby cemetery. 

When the war had ended and the Imperial War Graves Commission was consolidating the wartime burials into more organized cemeteries, his body could not be located.  Most likely the result of continuous shelling in the area causing the graves to be uprooted and destroyed. 

As a result, Private Coulson is honoured on the Canadian National Vimy Ridge Memorial

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. Annie Maud Coulson, Box 77, Newcastle, Ontario 

The Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Joseph Coulson, at the same address