Jul 12, 1889

Born in Southampton, England to Henry S. and Lillian Emma Lanning

Nov 5, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario 

Ø      Number 59565 (temporary number 651)

Ø      Next of kin given as Henry Lanning, father, Croydon, London, England

Ø      Previous occupation given as Teamster

Ø      Previous military experience given as 3 years in the Army Service  Corps and 2 years in the 45^th Regiment, Canadian Militia

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to “F” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “C” Company 

Private Lanning was later assigned to the Machine Gun Section 

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Nov 27, 1915

Less than 24 hours after the battalion moved into the front line trench near St. Eloi, Private Lanning was severely wounded and he died from his wounds shortly after while being treated in the aid station.  He was buried in the Ridgewood Cemetery, Voormezeele, Belgium.

There are 2 first hand accounts of his death stating that a sniper wounded him. 

Following the war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Henry Lanning, 9 Manor Gardens, Clapham, London, England 

A Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. Lillian Emma Lanning, at the same address 

There is a note in the file that the Memorial Cross was returned as being “Undelivered” with no reason attached.  It was placed “in stock room”