Wellesley Tylney Wesley-Long

With thanks to Patrick Dennis for additional information

Mar 3, 1895

Born in Munich, Bavaria, Germany

 

Sep 10, 1915

Embarked the SS Corsican in Liverpool, England

 

Sep 20, 1915

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The ship’s manifest shows that he declared he was coming to Canada to be a student to study for the Holy Order

 

Oct 6, 1917

Medical examination held under the MSA (Military Service Act) of 1917 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

 

Jan 29, 1918

Attested into the 1st Depot Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment in Regina, Saskatchewan

Ø  Number 258282

o   This number was later changed to 1263566

Ø  Next of kin given as D.S. Wesley-Long, father, Munich, Bavaria

o   This was later changed to read Miss A. Wesley-Long, sister, The Hermitage, White Hill, Bletchingley, Surrey, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Divinity Student at the Emmanuel College, University of Saskatchewan

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to No. 4 Company

He stated that he had been previously rejected from serving in the CEF because he had been born in Germany

 

Feb 18, 1918

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

 

Mar 4, 1918

Promoted to the provisional rank of Corporal

 

Apr 2, 1918

Transferred to the overseas draft

 

Apr 9, 1918

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Halifax, Nova Scotia as part of the Saskatchewan Regimental Depot’s 4th Draft

  
 

Apr 19, 1918

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded to Bramshott where the entire draft was absorbed into the 15th Reserve Battalion

Reduced in rank to Private on arrival in Bramshott

 

Aug 13, 1918

His service number was officially changed from 258282 to now read 1263566

When the service number was changed to 1263566, an MSA form was filled in to indicate that he had been conscripted even though his medical form filed on enlistment states that he was a “volunteer”.  It would appear that entry was in error.  The change in service number was made to correct an error made at the recruiting depot that originally accepted him as a volunteer and not as an MSA draftee.

 

Sep 11, 1918

Transferred to the 5th Battalion

 

Sep 12, 1918

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in Etaples, France as part of a draft of 134 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 5th Battalion

 

Sep 16, 1918

After leaving the base depot, Private Wesley-Long joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin St. Vaast, France

 

Sep 27, 1918

While still at the reinforcement camp, Private Wesley-Long was transferred to the 21st Battalion without ever having joined the 5th Battalion

 

Sep 28, 1918

TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion

 

Oct 2, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp he joined the 21st Battalion at the front, south-west of Bourlon, France

 

Oct 11, 1918

During the heavy fighting at Iwuy, France, Private Wellesley Tylney Wesley-Long was first reported missing, then later reported to have been killed in action just 9 days after joining the battalion.  He was buried in the Niagara Cemetery, south of Iwuy

  

Following the war, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to his fiancé, Miss Elsie Gruchy, c/o Mrs. R. Strudwick, Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan

There was no Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll or Memorial Cross issued

 

It would appear that Wellesley Tylney Wesley-Long played football in Saskatoon
as he is remembered on the Saskatoon Football Association’s War Memorial

 

 

 


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