52nd Battalion - World War I
 

Currently doing some research into a great uncle of my wife's who enlisted at Camp Sewel, Manitoba in August 1915 into the CEF. He was killed 09 July 1916, exactly 14 days after his 21st Birthday and the family was notified 24 December 1916. The paperwork shows he was with the 52 Btn at the time of his death and he was "Killed in the trenches." at Looge, Belgium.

From what I can find on line, Looge seems to be at the Eastern end of the Ypres area and was a fairly consistent 'hotspot' throughout the war. It was apparently a predominantly British controlled area and the Canadian 52nd Btn was there as support.

Does anyone know if the 52nd Btn War Diaries are available online anywhere? I am curious to narrow down more exactly where in the Looge area they were actually based.

David

War diaries link
Here you go!

Thanks for that, David. Looks like he was a casualty of an artillery bombardment on the night of July 8th and the casualties were not recovered until the 9th. He's buried at Menen Road.

We are off to Gainsborough, Saskatchewan tomorrow to lay some flowers for him at the Cenotaph and have a look around where he lived and worked.

David

Hi David

Not as easy to search but the circumstances of death cards are here:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/m...l1guaml3afc465

regards
Darrell

Thanks for that link, Darrell. It will come in handy.

We made it out to Gainsborough, Saskatchewan yesterday to have a look around the Village and place some flowers on the Cenotaph for Debbie's Great Uncle, Thomas Charles Nicholls.

Turned out the Mayor lives right across the street from the Cenotaph, and his wife came over to chat with us while we were there. She apologized for the flag not being up behind the Cenotaph, but the pole was in the middle of being repainted this weekend.

She was interested to learn the Village had two Bakers and a Bakery in it's past history. That information had been lost over time, although they did know the Village once had a Flour Mill and gave us directions to where it used to be. Five grain elevators at one time as well, so a very thriving agricultural community at one time.

David

Hi David

If you haven't found it, he's in file 80. on page 826. It just says killed in action though.

regards
Darrell