Wednesday 31 March 2010

Private Raymond Spence Bunn

Born on 10 June 1895 in Westbourne, Manitoba - son of Thomas William and Kate Bunn, Vancouver, British Columbia - enlistment records provide the following: trade as McGill student, single, no current or previous military service, Church of England, height of 6 feet 1 inch, chest of 36.5 inches fully expanded, fair complexion, light blue eyes, red hair.

Attended public schools in Dundas and Stonewall, Manitoba - attended King Edward High School, Vancouver, British Columbia - attended Normal School, 1914 to 1915 - attended McGill University College, British Columbia, from 1912 to 1914, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts.

Joined the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion in Vancouver, British Columbia, on 5 March 1915 (number 411034) - taken on the strength of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in France on 16 July 1915 - transferred to the machine gun section in March 1916 - declared missing in action on 4 June 1916 - "He was on duty in the front-line trenches, on June 2, when the heavy bombardment preceding the battle of Sanctuary Wood took place. Along with a number of others, he succeeded in reaching the support trench when the Germans advanced. He was not seen afterwards." [UBC book] - name listed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (panel 10), Belgium.

(sources: Library and Archives Canada (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca), online attestation papers; 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; Anonymous, Record of Service 1914-1918: University of British Columbia, McGill British Columbia, Vancouver College (Vancouver: Lionel Ward & Company, Ltd., 1924, p.23)

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