Private Bruce Falconer

Name: Falconer, Bruce

Address: 35 Waller Street, Ottawa,Ontario

Religion: Presbyterian

Date of death: 1918-10-05

Cause of death: Died of wounds

Buried: Terlincthun British Cemetery, IV. E. 42.

Highest Rank: Private (38th Battalion)

Battle wounded/killed: France - Avion: 30-Jun-1917 Wounded - recovered / 29-Sep-1918 - Queant - Douai-Cambrai Road - seriously wounded / 5-Oct-1918 - Died of Wounds

LAC ID: 384308

Attestation record(s): image 1, image 2

Service file: B2983-S048

Uploader's Notes:

Son of George and Christian Falconer, of Edinburgh. Thirteen years in Canada and worked for some time in Ottawa.

From: Steve Todd

Bruce Falconer enlisted with the 109th Canadian Infantry Battalion and sailed from Halifax 18-Apr-1916 and arrived in Liverpool on 28-Apr-1917 aboard the S.S. Northland. He was quickly transferred to the 124th Battalion, the 156th Battalion, and ultimately Taken on Strength (TOS) with the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion after arriving in England.

· 06-Jan-1916 – Enlisted

· 30-Jun-1917 – Wounded in Action – [see War Diary following] severe GSW – left buttock and flesh wound left leg – to No.23 Casualty Clearing Station

· 02-Jul-1917 – Admitted No.26 General Hospital, Etaples

· 11-Jul-1917 – Admitted Military Hospital, Boscombe, Hants

· Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental District (EORD)

· 24-Aug-1917 – Transferred to Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Bear Wood, Wokingham, Berkshire

· 29-Sep-1917 – Attached 3rd CCS , Seaford

· 24-Jan-1918 – Posted to 7th Reserve Battalion

· 15-Feb-1918 – Posted to 6th Reserve Battalion

· 04-Apr-1918 – Posted to 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion

· 29-Sep-1918 – Wounded and taken to 11th Canadian Field Ambulance

· 04-Oct-1918 – Dangerously Ill – No.53 General Hospital, Boulogne

· 05-Oct-1918 – Died of wounds

War Diary – 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion CEF

29-Jun-1917 Front line

Under cover of an Artillery barrage two advanced posts were established at 730 pm last night in AVION at N32.b.3.3 and 3.5 with support posts at N32.c.9.9 and A9.9 No enemy parties were encountered. Details of these operations are covered in report of operations. Our Artillery has been less active than preceding day, but fire has been concentrated from N32.d.1.7 to N32.d.6.4 and N31.c.9.6 to N31.d.9.2. The area in rear of AVION including the Railway embankment has been heavily bombarded. Hostile Artillery activity was also below that of previous two days. Our rear area has been very little shelled, enemy fire being on frontal line system. There has been no machine gun or trench mortar activity. Both our own and hostile aeroplanes have carried on patrol of both front line areas.

30-Jun-1917 Front line

Shortly after midnight our artillery fired three hundred rounds at N27 central and N29 A in retaliation to enemy shelling. Our fire during the day has been only intermittent. Enemy has heavily shelled AVION Trench and area in advance of same in that part of the town occupied by our outposts. There has been less hostile fire on our support line than usual. Weather conditions have interfered with the work of aeroplanes. Many explosions occurred during the night in N20.c, N2.y and LENS and the direction of MERICOURT. Tonight our outpost line consisting of one platoon from each of B, C and D companies was relieved by platoons of the 43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion.These three platoons with another three platoons from A, B and D company were withdrawn to gun pits near S12.c.2.2. We continue to hold KIRK and QUEBEC trenches and LACOULOTTE trenches with six platoons.Weather dull with heavy showers at intervals.

28-Sep-1918 In the FieldBattalion moved forward at 6.30 A.M., “C” and “D” Companies in front with “A” and “B” Companies following at 500 yards distance. The ARRAS – CABRAI Road was reached without casualties. Several batteries of field guns were passed by. Positions were taken up in the MARCOING LINE in I.29 and X.23 with B.H.Q. at X.21.d.90.10. The 1oth Brigade was still engaged and the forward situation was obscure. Later it was found by personal reconnaissance of Lieut. Barnes that the 10th Bde. was holding in front of DOUAI – CAMBRAI ROAD. While standing in front of Hd.Qrs observing forward operations Lieut.-Col. Gardner was wounded by a shell. The Battalion was very heavily shelled all afternoon and had about 15 casualties including 2 Officers. i.e. Lieut.-Col. S.D. Gardner and Lieut. R.C. Gaisford. Captain W. Vernon, M.C., temporarily assumed command of the Battalion and attended conference of C.O.s at which it was decided that the Battalion would attack on the morning of the 29th. Its object would be to carry out the second phase as laid down in the plan of the attack. At 8.00 P.M., Major F.A. Rowlandson took command of the Battalion and Captain A.F. Menzies, M.C., took command of “B” Company. The following Officers Joined their Companies:-

Liuet. H.F. Nelson “A” Company

“ R.I. Moore “C” “

Munitians were issued and arrangements for attack made.

29-Sep-1918

The Battalion was in position of assembly at 5.40 A.M. At 5.30 A.M. Captain W. Vernoh, M.C. Adjutant, made a reconnaissance of our frontage. The Battalion attacked after a 20 minute barrage at 6.20 A.M. “b”, “C” and “D” Companies in front and “A” Company in support. Hd. Qrs. Were established at pill box just outside village X. The Battalion passed over and crossed the DOUAI – CAMBRAI Road in face of intense Shell and Machine Gun fire and progressed some 250 yards when held up by very heavy M.G. fire from Railway Embankment. We were unable to connect up with either of our flanks. Companies held their positions but were to advance. The 78th Can. In. Battalion in support attempted to reinforce us but was unable to reach the DOUAI – CAMBRAI Road. During this period Lieut. F.H. Barnes made a reconnaissance of utmost value under most trying conditions, enabling companies to gain touch and to communicate with HD.Qrs. During the night Companies moved to west side of DOUAI – CAMBRAI Road.

30-Sep-1918

The 11th Brigade passed through and attacked, and the 38th Battalion moved into Support in MARCOING Line where it reorganized.Weather was fine throughout the operation after zero hour September 27th.

Uploader's Research notes: [Private Army Canadian Infantry 156th Battalion Private Army Canadian Infantry 124th Battalion Private Army Canadian Infantry 156th Battalion Private Army Canadian Infantry 109th Battalion Private Army Canadian Infantry 38th Battalion ]

Date added: 2005-04-08

Last modified: 2019-09-10