Aug 4, 1880

Born in Montreal, Quebec to Thomas and Eliza (nee Black) Maher

Aug 16, 1915

Attested into the 77^th Battalion in Smiths Falls, Ontario

Ø      Number 144821

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs. E. Maher, mother, Brockville, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Toolmaker

o       Later noted as Fireman

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion not stated on attestation, but later noted as Roman Catholic

Oct 23, 1915

Embarked the SS California in Quebec as part of the 77^th Battalion’s 1^st Draft

Oct 31, 1915

Disembarked in Plymouth, England and the draft proceeded to Shorncliffe where it was absorbed into the 12^th Reserve Battalion for further training.

Nov 28, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital, Shorncliffe with a slight hip injury

Nov 29, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Mar 15, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Mar 16, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Mar 18, 1916

Left the CBD to join his battalion.  The CBD war diary notes that 1,605 reinforcements left the camp for the front line battalions

Mar 21, 1916

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the N & O front line trenches

Sep 15, 1916

During the battalion’s advance on a German strong point in a sugar refinery at Courcelette, Private Maher was killed in action.  He was initially buried by his comrades in a field behind the lines and in 1921 the Graves Registration Commission exhumed his remains and reburied him in the Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, France

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. Thomas Maher, 21 Apple St., Brockville, Ontario