May 7, 1883

Born in Alexandria, Ontario along with his twin sister Annie, to William and Mary (nee Duval) St. John

Oct 24, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59924 (temporary number 229)

Ø  Next of kin given as William St. John, father, Alexandria, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Engineer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø  Posted to “A” Company

It is interesting to note that he passed his medical exam in Montreal, Quebec 3 days earlier and that he lied about his age, stating he had bee born May 7, 1886.  He possibly thought that he would not be accepted because of his actual age.

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Below is from the 1935 Communiqé and mentions Walter St. John

Jun 27, 1916

Promoted to the rank of Corporal to replace Cpl Sleeth, 59889

Oct 1, 1916

The 21^st Battalion was in dug-outs in the reserve trench just east of the previously captured sugar refinery south of Courcelette, France when they came under an enemy artillery barrage.  After first being reported to be missing in that barrage, it was later determined that he had been killed by an enemy shell.  He was buried in a nearby field, but when the war ended, his body could not be located by the Imperial Graves Registration Commission and his name now appears on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France, for those soldiers killed during the war in France with no known grave.

 Following the war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal (below), Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), and Scroll were sent to his father William St. John, at Green Valley, Ontario

The Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. Mary St. John, at the same address

If you know the location of his missing 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal, Memorial Cross or Plaque, please contact the webmaster