Nov 5, 1887

Born in Monaghan Township, Peterborough County, Ontario to William Wesley and Ellen Jane (nee Robinson) Manley

Oct 6, 1915

Attested into the 93^rd Battalion in Peterborough, Ontairo

Ø      Number 195171

Ø      Next of kin given as Ellen J. O’Connell, mother, 194 Reid St., Peterborough, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Plumber

Ø      Previous military experience given as 3 months in the 59^th Regiment and 1 year in the 57^th Regiments of the Canadian Militia

Ø      Religion given as Methodist

Ø      Assigned to the Pioneer Section

On attestation he gave his birth date as being November 4, 1888, but his birth registration shows his actual birth date as November 5, 1887

Jul 15, 1916

Embarked the Empress of Britain in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Jul 25, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded to Shorncliffe

Aug 22, 1916

Admitted to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Oct 6, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling

Oct 20, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Oct 23, 1916

Admitted to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital for further treatment of his Gonorrhea

Jan 4, 1917

While in hospital he was posted to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling.  Shortly after this, the 6^th Reserve Battalion moved to Seaford

Jan 14, 1917

Transferred to the Barnwell Military Hospital, Cambridge

Jan 25, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

Apr 21, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 22, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of about 3,000 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Apr 24, 1917

Left the CBD to join his battalion

May 21, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Aux Rietz as part of a draft of 149 reinforcements.  There is no explanation in the file as to why it took almost a month to reach the battalion, however the CBD war diary makes mention of 2,055 reinforcements leaving camp to join their respective battalions on April 24^th.  It would seem that there was some difficulty locating each those battalions.

Aug 15, 1917

During the advance on Hill 70, Private Manley was first reported missing, however his body was located and buried close to the railway line near Lens.  When the war ended and the Graves Registration Commission tried to locate his grave, it could not be found and he is subsequently commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France.

Following the war the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to his brother, John Westley Manley, Peterborough, Ontario

The Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. Henry LaBrash, Box 177 Campbellford, Ontario.

There is a note in the file that the Memorial Cross was returned, with no indication that it was ever sent back.