Corporal Samuel Edward Fallis

1. Corporal, 19th Battalion, Infantry (Army).
2. Lance Corporal, 19th Battalion, Infantry (Army).
3. Private, 19th Battalion, Infantry (Army).

BACKGROUND & MILITARY SERVICE / 1st World War

A Toronto Star newspaper report published on January 31st, 1916, described the Fallis family of Toronto as a "fighting family" as there were three brothers serving at that time with the Canadian army. Their father, Samuel Henry Fallis, was for nearly 27 years a member of the Toronto Police. He had been retired for 3 years due to ill-health. Their mother's name was Sarah Jane Fallis.

At the time of the January 1916 newspaper report, his brother Pte. Frank Fallis, age 18, was with the 83rd Battalion. Another brother who had enlisted was Pte. Nelson Fallis, aged 23. Another brother had tried to enlist, and a sister was living with the parents at 36 Woburn Ave., Toronto.

Prior to enlisting in Toronto in November 1914, Fallis had served nine months with the Queen's Own Rifles, a well-known Toronto regiment. He was employed with real estate brokers Small and Tidy in Toronto. According to his letters mailed home, he had been grazed by a bullet over the top of his head in December 1915. He wrote that life in the trenches "...means work, hard work and lots of it--digging, hauling logs and handling lumber." He also wrote that the mud had at times reached to his knees.

This newspaper report included photos of brothers Samuel, Frank and Nelson. The reason for the report was because his parents had received an official telegram from Ottawa stating that Lance-Corporal Fallis was at the Divisional Rest station at Godewaersvelde, suffering from a gun shot wound to the thumb.

According to his military file, now fully digitized, Lance Corporal Samuel Edward Fallis sailed on the S.S. Scandinavian to England in May 1915. He embarked for France on September 14th, 1915 from Folkestone.

Fallis was appointed Acting Lance Corporal in France on November 23rd, 1915, and appointed again as Lance Corporal on December 1st, 1915.

He was admitted to the Divisional Post Station at Godewaersvelde (France) on January 11th, 1916 with a GSW and laceration to his right thumb.

On July 1st, 1916 he was attached to the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, Trench Mortar Battery. On April 1st, 1916 he was promoted to Corporal.

Death: Fallis was again admitted to No. 4 Field Ambulance on October 1st, 1916 with a GSW to his head, and died of wounds the same day at No. 9 Casualty Clearing Station.

His military file indicates that his "Assigned Pay" was at $20.00/month, and went to his Mother. She received one payment of $25.00 in April 1916, and subsequently received $20.00/month up to October. Her November payment was cancelled.

Another Toronto Star article "Family has 3rd Casualty" was published on November 14th, 1917. Pte. James Nelson Fallis had been wounded. According to this report, Frank Fallis had been wounded on the Somme and invalided home, and Nelson Fallis was reported as having received gunshot wounds in the left arm on November 1st, 1917. Nelson had enlisted in the 83rd Battalion in Toronto, but was transferred to the 4th C.M.R. upon reaching England. His brother Frank was in the same unit. Nelson had worked for the Toronto Fire Department, and was at the Adelaide Street Hall for five years.

Transcription of the Memorial Notice placed in the Toronto Star on October 1st, 1921, pg. 22:

FALLIS--In loving memory of Sergt. S. E. Fallis, No. 55200, 19th Battalion, who fell in action at Courcelette on October 1st, 1916.
Till the day hath dawned and the shadows have passed away, he will be sadly missed by his mother, father, sister and brothers.

Bibliographical notes: M. I. Pirie, 2017

For original copy of a newspaper article profiling Samuel Edward Fallis and his brother, please request via
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