Private John Leo Lightizer

1. Private, 13th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1915-08-28 to 1916-06-28
2. Private (Army). 1915-06-24 to 1915-08-28
3. Private (Army). 1915-04-03 to 1915-06-24

Son of Harry Lightizer and Hannah Lightizer of Middleton, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia

CWGC lists his age as 16 when he died and his attestation shows only 1897 as a birth date, conveniently making him 18 at enlistment. Based on family tree information and census data his birth date was February 10, 1900. Additional information below from files at the LAC in Ottawa, viewed fall 2010 and the 13th Battalion war diary for June 1916.

Originally enlisted with the 40th Battalion in 1915 and sailed on the SS Caledonia, June 15, 1915. He joined the 13th Battalion (Canadian Highlanders) in the field on September 4, 1915. Medical forms in his file show he was admitted to the #2 Canadian Field Ambulance 27/12/1915 with influenza, discharged 31/12/1915. He was admitted to the No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance with bronchitis on 10/1/1916 and discharge 18/1/1916. The 13th Battalion spent June 1916 in the Ypres Salient fighting in the battle of Mount Sorrel. The casualty lists for this action were long as detailed in the Battalion War Diary. John was the only man of the battalion killed that day, 18 others wounded in action at the Halifax Trench. He was wounded by gunfire in the chest and abdomen on 28/6/1916 and moved to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing station where he died of his wounds. He was buried at Lijssenthoek Cemetery, 2nd largest military cemetery in the area. His medal card lists awards for the 1914-15 star, memorial cross and memorial plaque sent to his parents in the early 1920s.