Wilbert Mearl Lyle
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Aug 15, 1897
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Born in the township of Verulam, Ontario
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Jan 11, 1916
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Attested into the 109th Battalion
at Bobcaygeon Ontario
Ø Number 725587
Ø Next of kin given as William Lyle (father) of Bobcaygeon Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Laborer
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Ø Assigned to “C” Company
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Jul 23, 1916
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Embarked the SS Olympic at Halifax Nova Scotia
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Jul 31, 1916
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Disembarked at Liverpool England
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Aug 25, 1916
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Will made out leaving estate to his mother,
Mrs Wm Lyle of Bobcaygeon Ontario
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Oct 5, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st Battalion
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Oct 6, 1916
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Arrived at CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in France
and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
It is worthy to
note that his younger brother, David, not only signed up with him, and was transferred to
the 21st Battalion at the same time. David
was discovered at the CBD to be underage and was sent back to England.
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Oct 20, 1916
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Left CBD to join unit
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Oct 22, 1916
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Joined the 21st Battalion in the
field
The battalion was in Divisional
Reserve in the Bully Grenay area and conducting training exercises
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Dec 18, 1916
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Attached to the 4th Field Company,
Canadian Engineers, for duty
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Jan 11, 1917
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Will made out leaving estate to his mother,
Mrs Wm Lyle of Bobcaygeon Ontario
It is
interesting to note that one witness was a member of the 19th Battalion, while
the second was Pte Oren Switzer of the 21st Battalion
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Jan 17, 1917
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Ceases to be attached and returned to the 21st
Battalion
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Aug 24, 1917
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Form signed by L/Col EW Jones, OC 21st
Bttn, giving approval for a transfer to the 22nd Howitzer Battery, Canadian
Field Artillery. The reason for transfer
given was “for the purpose of serving with older brother”.
The OC 22nd Battery gave his
approval on September 16, 1917, and the Adjutant General’s office gave it’s
approval on September 26th
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Sep 30, 1917
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SOS (Struck Off Strength) the 21st
Battalion on transfer (at own request) to the 22nd Howitzer Battery, 6th
Brigade, CFA (Canadian Field Artillery)
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Oct 1, 1917
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TOS 6th Brigade CFA with the rank
of Gunner.
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Nov 4, 1917
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Admitted to No 1 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) then transferred to #44 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with SW (Shrapnel
Wounds) to back and left buttock
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Nov 6, 1917
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Transferred via No 14 AT (Ambulance Transport)
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Nov 7, 1917
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Transferred to No 3 Stationary Hospital at
Rouen
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Dec 5, 1917
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Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship
St George
Posted to Canadian Artillery Regimental
Depot while in hospital
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Dec 7, 1917
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Admitted to 2nd Southern General
Hospital at Bristol
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Dec 14, 1917
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Reported to be dangerously ill
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Dec 20, 1917
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Patient reported to have been delirious for
the past 3 days, high temperature and “troublesome diarrhea”
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Dec 22, 1917
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Died of wounds
Bristol (Arno’s Vale) Cemetery
Gloucestershire, England
Soldiers were buried in the area in front of
the wall with their names listed on the panels
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Jan 24, 1922
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British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to
Mrs Wm Lyle (mother) at Bobcaygeon Ontario
There is no medals card to indicate
when the Memorial Cross, Plaque and Scroll were sent to the family.
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It should be noted that his middle name has a
few different spellings recorded. On the
Attestation Papers, it is spelled as Mearl. Later
in his file, on his 2 wills, it is spelled as Merrill.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has it spelled as Mesyl, but on the
Memorial, it is spelled Meal.
Also of note, he transferred to the
artillery to serve with his older brother but a month after his arrival he was wounded and
subsequently died. His older brother, William
John Lyle, survived the war.
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