Maurice Owen Samwell
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Sep 10, 1895
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Born at Wales Ontario
Note:
This town no longer exists as it
was flooded in 1958 when the St. Lawrence Seaway was constructed.
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Nov 6, 1914
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Several documents state that he enlisted on
this date. I suspect that he may have
presented himself for service but was not actually attested until later.
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Dec 3, 1914
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Medical history sheet filled in (no location
given)
Ø External Hemorrhoids recorded and noted to be repaired
Ø Hemorrhoids noted as being operated on, but no date given for
procedure
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Dec 4, 1914
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Attested at Toronto Ontario into the 2nd
Divisional Cyclist Company
Ø Number 58
Ø Stated to be single
Ø Occupation “Clerk”
Ø Next of Kin given as C. Franklin Clarke (mother) of Fitzroy Harbor,
Ontario
o A note also appears to also notify Rev GC Clarke, 127 3rd
Ave., Ottawa Ontrario
Ø No previous military experience is given
Ø No religion is stated (a second Attestation Paper lists religion as
“Church of England”)
Ø Assigned to “A” Company
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Feb 1, 1915
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Service Number on the paylist for February was
changed to 113
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Feb 14, 1915
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Admitted to the General Hospital in Toronto
Ontario with Influenza
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Feb 16, 1915
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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May 1, 1915
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Pay assignment of $15 was made to Mrs C Clarke
(mother)
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May 16, 1915
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Embarked SS Corinthian for England
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May 27, 1915
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Disembarked in England
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Sep 15, 1915
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Embarked for France
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Feb 21, 1916
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Sent to Trench Warfare School Wiring Class
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Feb 26, 1916
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Returned from Trench Warfare School
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Apr 20, 1916
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Attached to APM
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May 31, 1916
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Unit’s name changed to “Canadian
Corps Cyclists Battalion”
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Jun 12, 1916
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Returned to duty from APM
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Jul 17, 1916
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A request for transfer from “B”
Company of the Cyclist Battalion to the 21st Battalion Machine Gun Section was
approved by Maj E Jones for Commanding Officer
Ø The Cyclist Battalion’s Medical Officer and Commanding Officer,
as well as the Commanding Officer of the 21st Battalion had to approve the
transfer
Ø The reason for the request was to enable him to serve with friends
Ø Although is civilian occupation was given as “Clerk” on
Attestation, his previous occupation is now listed as “Railway Trainman”
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Jul 19, 1916
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Transferred to 21st Battalion
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Jul 20, 1916
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TOS (Taken on Strength) 21st
Battalion
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Sep 15, 1916
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First reported missing, then reported
“believed killed” then changed to read “for official purposes presumed to
have died on or since September 15, 1916.
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Nov 3, 1920
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Plaque, Memorial Cross and Scroll were sent to
mother, Mrs. Franklin Clarke, c/o The Rectory, Fitzroy Harbor Ontario.
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Nov 9, 1920
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An entry made that “noted W.O.[V?] lost
9/11/20”
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Apr 22, 1921
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British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to
mother at Fitzroy Harbor Ontario
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2010
For the 7
nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers were projected
onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres. At
the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across
Belgium and Canada. The image above shows
the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010.
Below on the
left is the name of Maurice Samwell being projected on that wall. Below right shows the name being broadcast to the
schools. Each name appeared for 25 seconds
and each night 9,700 names were shown.
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