Feb 11, 1897
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Born in Point Edward, Ontario
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Jan 18, 1915
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Attested into the 34th Battalion in
Sarnia, Ontario
Ø Number 402725
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs. Rachel Douglas, foster mother, Petrolia, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Labourer
Ø Previous military experience given as 27th Regiment,
Canadian Militia for 4 months
Ø Religion given as Church of England
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Aug 17, 1915
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Embarked the SS Hesperian in Montreal, Quebec as
part of the battalion’s 2nd Reinforcing Draft
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Aug 28, 1915
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Disembarked in Liverpool, England
Private Douglas continued his training in
England with the 9th Reserve Battalion
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Feb 3, 1916
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Posted to the 21st Battalion
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Feb 5, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion.
As short time later he joined the 21st
Battalion at the front
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Feb 17, 1916 |
Joined the 21st Battalion in the N & O trenches near Voormezeele, Belgium
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Sep 15, 1916
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During the fighting on the Somme, the 21st
Battalion was given the task of taking a German strong point in a sugar refinery near
Courcelette. This was the first time the
battalion had made an attack with tanks and they encountered severe German resistance. Private Douglas was killed in this action. He was first reported as Missing in Action, but it
was later determined that he had been killed.
His body was never recovered from the
battlefield and as a result, he is honoured on the walls of the Canadian National Vimy
Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France.
Following
the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man's Penny)
and Scroll were sent to his foster mother, Mrs. Rachel Douglas, Kirby
St., Petrolia, Ontario. There was no Memoiral Cross issued. His 2 medals are shown below with the permission
of the owner.
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