Born on 24 July 1897 in Kent, England - son of Thomas and Frances (or Emma) Jemmett, Toronto, Ontario - at the time of his enlistment in 1916: present address same as mother; trade as labourer; single; no current or previous military service; Church of England; height of 5 feet 9 inches; chest of 35.5 inches fully expanded; fair complexion; gray eyes; brown hair.
Joined the 126th Battalion, CEF, in Toronto, Ontario, on 17 January 1916 (number 775323) - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion, CEF, on 4 or 6 December 1916 - killed in action on 26 March 1917 - buried in Villers Station Cemetery (grave VII.F.26), 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)
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Hi -- I hope you get this -- I just found this blog doing some casual google research. I recently came into possession of some letters of my grandmother's. They are between her uncle and his father during his time in WWI. They include a copy of a newspaper article mentioning that he was in the Princess Pats under the command of Capt. Barclay. In researching Barclay, his name came up as the commander of the original D Company of the 38th Battalion. They were shipped out very early -- May 29, 1916 -- and replaced with another D Company -- but I thought, regardless, that some information I have might be of interest to you. There are some discrepencies between the dates in his letters and the events detailed by the newspaper article and other websites regarding the 38th. In addition to this, his letters are incomplete. Needless to say, I have a lot of gaps in my knowledge, but here is what I do know: Charles Wilmont Parke enrolled in the first D Company of the 38th Battalion in February, 1915. This company, under the command of Capt. Gregor Barclay, consisted almost entirely of men from the Officer's Training Corp of McGill University. Parke attended Bishops College School -- but his brother went to McGill for medical school, so it is likely they were affiliated or he had just enrolled in Officer's School. D Company was called up as reinforcements and, on May 29, 1915, sailed from Montreal on the British/Belgian ship, the S.S. Northland, (formerly named "Zeeland" it was re-named in WWI to sound less German). Parke was shot in the face in September of 1915, but returned to the trenches in November. He was officially reported missing between June 2-4. On the 5th of June he was sent a cable, (which he never received), summoning him to accept a commission in the New Brunswick Kilties. In his letters, he mentioned the names of other men, whom I assume served in the Company with him. He reports that a man named Bill Lester -- tall and a good swimmer -- died on August 4, 1915, and a man from Montreal named Rough died sometime between then and August 17th. He also mentions General Alderson, William Marsh (his platoon officer and a viscount), Sergeant Fletcher in the 42nd and his brother (first name unknown) - an officer in the 2nd. Allan Routledge -- an officer in the 42nd -- Jack Marsh, and a man by the name of McStewart are all names of former school friends he mentions. I assume they were either in his battalion, the 42nd, 2nd, or another group stationed near Parke's group in early March. I don't know if this information will be useful to you -- take it or leave it. I will try to find out more about Barclay, Parke, and any other men who may have been members of the 38th. Any information you happen to have on these people would also be most welcome. My e-mail is CSesler@Gmail.com. Good luck in your endeavor!
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