Jul 28, 1895

Born in Chatham, Ontario to Tunis Washington and Margaret Elizabeth (nee Scott) Roach.

Jan 11, 1915

Attested into the 33^rd Battalion in Chatham, Ontario 

Ø      Number 400515

Ø      Next of kin given as Maggie Roach, mother, 132 Adelaide St., Chatham, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Machinist

o       Later shown as Woodworker

Ø      Previous military experience given as 4 years in the 24^th Regiment and 6 months in the 21^st Regiment, Canadian Militia

Ø      Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø      Assigned to “B” Company

For some reason he gave his birth year as 1892, when in fact he was born in 1895.

Feb 28, 1915

The battalion’s pay roll shows that he was paid as a Corporal.

Aug 17, 1915

Embarked the SS Hesperian in Montreal, Quebec as part of the battalion’s 2^nd Reinforcing Draft.  When assigned to the draft, he was reduced in rank to Private.

Aug 28, 1915

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded to Shorncliffe.  On arrival there the draft was absorbed into the 9^th Reserve Battalion.

Sep 14, 1915

While loading horses at 10.00 pm into a rail car, he was kicked in the jaw by a horse causing it to fracture and he was admitted to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital.

Oct 11, 1915

Transferred to the VAD (Volunteer Aid Detachment) Hospital at Shorncliffe and employed there on light duties.

Oct 25, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital.

Jan 5, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion.

Jan 6, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 227 reinforcements for the front and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion.

Jan 15, 1916

Left the CBD to join the battalion.

Jan 18, 1916

Joined the 21^st Battalion in Brigade Reserve in Ridgewood and assigned to #7 Platoon of “B” Company.

Sep 15, 1916

The 21^st Battalion conducted an attack on a German strong point in a sugar refinery at Courcelette.  During this attack Private Roach was killed in action.  He was buried by his comrades and the location was recorded as being between Pozieres and Courcelette.  When the war ended the Graves Registration Commission made an attempt to relocate the battlefield burials into organized cemeteries.  In the 2 years that followed his burial, the burial ground had been churned up by constant shelling, and as a result, his remains could not be located.  This resulted in his name being commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France.

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his widowed mother, Mrs. Maggie Roach, 132 Adelaide St., Chatham, Ontario.