Corporal Percy Cass

Born on 20 August 1890 in West Hartlepool, County Durham, England - emigrated to Canada in July 1910 with his two brothers and joined by his father (Henry Colburn Cass), mother (Alice Emma (nee Dye)), sister, and younger brother, all of West Hartlepool - husband of Lillian Maud Cass (nee McCarthy), Toronto, Ontario (formerly of West Hartlepool) (married on 2 November 1912) - father of Violet Lillian Cass (born on 28 July 1913 in Toronto, Ontario) - enlistment records provide the following: present address same as wife (218 Augusta Avenue, Toronto), trade as porter, married, no current or previous military service, Church of England, height of 5 feet 5.75 inches, chest of 37 inches fully expanded, fair complexion, grey eyes, red hair.

Attempted to enlist in Toronto, Ontario, on 23 August 1914 but was rejected for medical problems - joined the 166th Battalion, CEF, in Toronto, Ontario, on 28 January 1916 (number 669065) - departed Halifax, Nova Scotia, onboard SS Olympic with the 166th Battalion - arrived in Liverpool, England, on 19 October 1916 - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion, CEF, on 27 November 1916 - invalided sick (influenza) to No. 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital at Le Havre on 17 December 1916 - wounded (gas poisoning) on 26 March 1917 and sent to No. 12 Canadian Field Ambulance - transferred to No. 13 Canadian Field Ambulance on 3 April 1917 - rejoined the 38th Battalion on 7 April 1917 - promoted to lance-corporal on 6 June 1917 - promoted to corporal on 8 July 1917 - died of wounds on 23 August 1917 at No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station - buried in Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension (grave III.D.44), France.

(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; email, Paul Hodgson, 14 Feb 2017)

(My sincerest thanks to Corporal Cass's grandon, Paul Hodgson, for sharing the images and additional information for this entry).