Oct 6, 1897

Born in Martintown, Ontario to John Charles and Mary Lafave

Dec 27. 1915

Attested into the 154^th Battalion CEF in Cornwall, Ontario

Ø  Number 633029

Ø  Next of kin given as Mr. John C. Lafave, father, Martintown, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

 
The battalion trained in the Barriefield Camp, Kingston, Ontario

In the service file the name is sometimes spelled Lefave but his signature sometimes reads Lefave and sometimes Lafave.

Oct 25, 1916

Embarked the SS Mauretania in Halifax, Nova Scotia

 He is shown on the ship’s manifest as Lefevre

Oct 31, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Bramshott to continue training

Jan 25, 1917

Transferred to the 156^th Battalion in Witley to continue training

May 23, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

May 24, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion.  While here, the base depot was reorganized and renamed the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) and moved to Etaples

Jun 11, 1917

After leaving the base depot, Private Lafave joined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Coupigny, France

Aug 15, 1917

During the battalion’s advance on and capture of Hill 70, Private Lafave was killed in action.  His body was never recovered from the battlefield, or if so, was not identified.  He is subsequently honoured on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France.  Note that the name is spelled incorrectly by the CWGC.  The spelling in Canada’s WW1 Book of Remembrance on page 270 is spelled Lafave.

 Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, John C. Lafave, Martintown, Ontario

No Memorial Cross Was Issued