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Sep 20, 1887
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Born in Russia
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Jun 28, 1915
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Attested into the 59th
Battalion CEF in Brockville, Ontario
Ø Number 454625
Ø Next of kin given
as Ignat Polulak, brother, Kamenets Podolsk gul Kamenets, Podolsk Co.
Lanskorum, Selo Kochiebrew, Russia (now part of west Ukraine)
Ø Previous occupation
given as Labourer
Ø No previous
military experience given
Ø Religion given as
Greek Church
o Later noted as
Greek Catholic
Ø Assigned to the 2nd
Reinforcing Draft
It would seem that he could
not read or write as his signature is marked with an X and noted as “his
mark”
The battalion trained in the
Kingston, Ontario area
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Nov 13, 1915
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The 2nd Reinforcing Draft
embarked the SS Missanabie in Montreal, Quebec
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Nov 23, 1915
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Disembarked in Plymouth,
England and the draft proceeded to the West Sandling Camp where the men were
absorbed into the 39th Reserve Battalion to continue training
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Dec 27, 1915
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Admitted to the Moore Barracks
Convalescent Hospital in Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Influenza
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Jan 5, 1916
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Discharged to duty from
hospital
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May 25, 1916
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Transferred to the CPTD
(Canadian Pioneer Training Depot) in Shorncliffe
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Jul 16, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st
Battalion
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Jul 18, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian
Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 44
reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st
Battalion
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Aug 8, 1916
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After leaving the base depot
he joined the 2nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in the Halifax
Camp near Brandhoek, Belgium
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Aug 22, 1916
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After leaving the entrenching
battalion, Private Polulak joined the 21st Battalion in the Quebec
Camp near Poperinge, Belgium
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Sep 15, 1916
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Just over 3 weeks after
joining the 21st Battalion, the men were launched into the Battle
of the Somme. The battalion’s
objective was the strongly held sugar refinery south of Courcelette,
France. The fighting was fierce and
the battalion suffered heavy casualties.
Private Polulak was one of the fatal casualties whose body was never
recovered from the battlefield. As a
result, his name is honoured on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy
Ridge, France for those killed during the war and have no known grave.
Following the war, the British
War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to
his brother, Ignaty Polulak, c/o Victor EK Weldie, 210 London Bldg.,
Vancouver, British Columbia
It is unclear from the file if
the medals were returned or not, as there is an entry stating that the
British War Medal and Victory Medals were re-engraved for Private E.
Therrien, #61887 on October 30, 1929
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