Source: December 1916 K.I.A.
This soldier joined the 35th Battalion on April 15, 1915, in Toronto, Ontario. He was a single salesman. Going overseas to England and was transferred to the 23rd Reserve Battalion on June 15, 1915, at Monks Horton. He had a bout of rheumatism and was attached with the 17th Battalion for a machine gun course at Shorncliffe. Returning to the 23rd Battalion he was transferred to the 18th Battalion and arrived in the field on January 20, 1916. He served with the Battalion until wounded (GSW stomach, severe) on or about September 15, 1916, at Courcelette, the Somme. Transferred for treatment in England his condition did not stabilize or improve and he died at University College Hospital.
REPORTS CONFLICTING
Pte. Leopold John Creasy has been officially reported died of wounds, but Mr. John C. Green, of 70 Wellington street west, Pte. Creasy’s former employer, has received a letter from his brother in England in which he stated the Pte. Creasy had practically recovered from his wounds, and while still in hospital, was able to walk and be up and around, and expected to undergo an operation for a shrapnel wound the first week in December. Mr. Green was convinced that some mistake had been made. Pte. Creasy was 24 years old and unmarried. He was one of the most popular members of the Central Y.M.C.A. and was locally famous as a chess player. His next of kin is his mother, Mrs. M. Creasy, who lives in England.
Source: Toronto Star, December 15, 1916 via CVWM
Admitted to University College Hospital on September 21, 1916 and died December 12, 1916. The Report of Surgery indicates he died from complications found during the surgery to remove some shrapnel:
“Wound just above Pouparts Ligament. Was allowed to heal before operation for removal of a pience of metal was attempted. When this operation was ultimately carried out an Arterior-Venus Aneurysm [arteriovenous aneurysm] was discovered of this ext. [illegible] artery and vein. The metal was removed and the vein was ligatured. Two days later pat. had a severe hemorrhage. Immediate operation and artery was ligatured. Pat. died shortly after returning to ward
T.B. Johnston”
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 