Private Thomas Melbourne Adair

Born in Tamworth, Ontario, on 30 May 1900 (declared 1898 on his attestation form) - son of Robert Hanna and Arvilla Adair - at the time of his enlistment in 1916 he was a student, single, with no current military service, had previously served three years with the Tamworth Cadet Corps, was 5 feet 6.75 inches tall, had a 34 inch chest (fully expanded), weighed 124 pounds, had a dark complexion, grey eyes and brown hair, and was a Methodist.

Joined the 146th Canadian Infantry Battalion in Kingston, Ontario, on 13 March 1916 (number 835761) - embarked from Halifax, Nova Scotia, onboard SS Lapland on 26 September 1916 - arrived in England on 6 October 1916 - transferred to the 95th Canadian Infantry Battalion on 1 October 1916 - taken on the strength of the 95th Battalion the same day - struck off the strength of the 95th Battalion on transfer to the Canadian Army Service Corps Depot on 12 December 1916 - taken on the strength of the CASC Depot the same day - struck off the strength of the CASC Depot on 8 May 1917 - taken on the strength of the 7th Reserve Battalion on 8 May 1917 - struck off the strength of the 7th Reserve Battalion on 5 July 1917 - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion in France on 5 July 1917 - sent to the 4th Entrenching Battalion in France on 21 July 1917 - joined the 4th Entrenching Battalion in the field on 23 July 1917 - rejoined the 38th Battalion on 4 August 1917 - sent to base as a "minor" on 16 December 1917 - taken on strength of 4th Canadian Base Depot on 17 December 1917 - rejoined the 38th Battalion on 30 May 1918 - was reported missing after action on 10 August 1918 - name inscribed on the Vimy Memorial, France.

(Updated with a photo of Pte Adair's inscription on the Vimy Memorial that I took in August 2012).

(sources: Library and Archives Canada (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca), military service file, Thomas Melbourne Adair; Canadian War Museum, 19740281-001, Manu 58F 2 3, 207th Canadian Infantry Battalion and 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Nominal Roll; The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Regimental Museum, A400-0007, Master Personnel List for the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force; Commonwealth War Graves Commission, "Debt of Honour" register, www.cwgc.org)