Serving His Country Twice

There are 2 inscriptions at the Zivy Crater Memorial, Thelus in the Pas de Calais region that bear witness to an interesting story.

A soldier, Private George Symonds, 18th Battalion, who died on April 9, 1917 on the first day of the Vimy Battle that Canadian’s memorialize every year, was not Private George Symonds at all. He was actually Bernard Pantall who had already served with the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) and was discharged on July 27, 1915 as “…Being no longer physically fit for war service.”

He had joined the RCR in London, Ontario on December 9th, 1913 at the age of 19 years, 6 months and was one of the “originals” that served in Bermuda 1914-15 before being shipped to England and then to France/Belgium.

In Canada on the 4th day of August, 1915 a George Symonds, service no. 401355 joined the 18th Battalion in London, Ontario. But the man that served in the 18th Battalion was not George Symonds but Bernard Pantall. There is an Attestation Paper with a name and other pertinent information on record.

How did this occur? Apparently George Symonds was the cousin of Bernard Pantall and given the sequence of the dates of Pantall’s discharge on July 27 and the “enlistment” of Symonds 9 days after there must of been some collusion with one or more parties. If Symonds did actually enlist in London, Ontario, there would have been some time between his enlistment, training, transportation to England and the Taken On Strength with the Battalion. Without the digitized records to review this specific case one cannot speculate too much regarding the circumstances of this soldier serving in the stead of his cousin.

This enlistment was known by the family as related by Royal Canadian Legion member at Branch 60, Beryl Simpson with whom Bernard Pantall was her Great Uncle.

Guelph Mercury Article

Someone knew. Witness the inscription regarding Symonds/Pantall:

In another location at the Memorial there is another inscription:  SYMONDS, Pte G. 401355. See “PANTALL,” the true family name. Obviously the connection between the identity of Pantall/Symonds was known but as to the timing of the linkage would be conjecture at this time. Suffice to say it was noted and known.

And what happened to George Symonds? He was safe from being conscripted when it was introduced later in the war. Living a double life in Canada would have been easier than it is now and the parties involved put some effort to make it happen.