No.163662, Private, Vernon Isaac PLACE
Aged 23
|
Vernon Isaac Place was born in Isleham on 11th April 1893 (Newmarket Q2-1893 3B:548) and baptised in Isleham on 17th December 1893, son of Charles and
Mary Ann PLACE (née BROWN).
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at Fen Bank. Isleham with his father Charles [52] an agricultural labourer born Mildenhall, his mother Mary Ann [49], born Lakenheath, sister Kate M. 29, mission worker born Mildenhall, brother Abram [24] agricultural labourer born Isleham, sister Lizzie S [22] housemaid born Isleham, brothers Alfred [20], Charles H. [18], Arthur [16] all agricultural labourers born in Isleham, brother Thomas [12] and sister Bessie Eva [10] both born in Isleham. 1911 census...Aged 17 he was Fen Bank, Isleham, with his parents and brothers Abram, Thomas and Charles Henry. 10 of the 11 children survived, the missing child seems to be Eva, born 1887, died 1889 He emigrated to Canada, but at present unable to find out exactly when, the Canadian Archives are being up dated. An elder brother, Arthur, died in France in December 1914. see here and another brother, Thomas, died in France in October 1915. see here |
|
4th October 1913 he sailed from Quebec to USA (Niagara Falls/New York on SS Cayuga. Gave his age as 22yrs 11 months, address as Toronto, Ontario and reason for trip "indefinite visit. Canadian Archives - RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7857 - 43 Item Number: 579773 Enlisted in Toronto on 5th August 1915. Gave his occupation as labourer, he was unmarried, 5' 8.5" (174 cm) tall, chest 37" to 40" (94 to 101.6 cm), blue eyes, dark brown hair and Church of England.
He sailed from Montreal on the SS Corsican on 25-9-1915, and was taken on strength at West Sandling Camp in the 36th Battalion on 6th October 1915. He was transferred to the 1st Bn on 24-3-1916 on embarkation for France Reported missing and wounded on 13th June 1916, he was later presumed to have died on that date which is at variance to his circumstances of death card. Vernon's circumstances of death card from the Canadian Archives shows that he was killed instantly by a shell when part of a carrying party in the attack. at Mount Sorel. His battalion were at Mount Sorrel which was in the Ypres Salient, 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) east of Ypres. The Battle of Mount Sorrel took place along a ridge between Hooge and Zwarteleen. Mount Sorrel got its name when Major Martin established his headquarters there (he was a Director of the Mount Sorrel Granite Company before the war). The Hill was the main observation point for that area of the battlefields and also over Sanctuary Wood. It was a first , and successful, attack by the 3rd Canadian Division. Of the 48 men of the 1st battalion killed that day, only three have identified graves. |
photo; Commonwealth War Graves Commission
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
