Dyer, John Clements: Service no. 189746

Family Search: Private John Clements Dyer was born on 21 March 1897, in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States. He lived in Chatham, Kent, Ontario, Canada in 1916. He registered for military service in 1916. In 1916, at the age of 19, his occupation is listed as woodworker in Chatham, Kent, Ontario, Canada. He died on 21 August 1917, in Aix-Noulette, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France, France, at the age of 20, and was buried in Aix-Noulette, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

Note: Made aware of this solder via a blog comment. Member of 18th Battalion Facebook Group.

American citizen.

Photo submitted to the 18th Battalion Facebook Group by Ed Wilson: “Aix-Noulette cemetery where 15 men are buried. On the road D.coy were hit with a High Explosive shell. 53 casualties, 23 fatal including our own distant relative (on Mums side) John Clements Dyer.”

Photo submitted to the 18th Battalion Facebook Group by Ed Wilson. The men in the photo are in replica uniforms of the 18th Battalion and flank Private Dyer’s headstone.

Chatham Planet. May 11, 1916. Via Allan Miller 18th Battalion Facebook Group.

Chatham Daily. 1916. Via Allan Miller, 18th Battalion Facebook Group.

Summary of Service[i] for Private John Clements Dyer, reg. no. 189746

Date	Event	Remarks
March 28, 1897	Born	Detroit, Michigan, United States of America to James Dyer, father.
January 3, 1916	Enlisted	Enlisted with the 186^th Overseas Battalion at St. Thomas, Ontario. He was a 18-year, 9-month old woodworker standing 5’4” tall and a chest of 33” with a 2” expansion. He was a Methodist. He weighed 120 lbs. His medical record shows is “Habits” were “good.” His next-of-kin is his father, James Dyer, residing at 174 Gray Street, Chatham, Ontario. Note: This soldier originally enlisted with the 91^st Battalion and was transferred to the 186^th on February 29, 1916.
February, April, and May 1916	Inoculated and Vaccinated
July 7, 1916	2 Days C.B.	Per. D.O. 125 of that date.
January 22, 1917	1 Day C.B.	Per D.O. 18 of that date.
March 27, 1917	Embarked	Embarked the S.S. Lapland at Halifax for service in England.
April 1, 1917	Assigned Pay	Assigned $20.00 of his pay to Mrs. Georgina Dyer, 174 Gray Street, Chatham, Ontario.
April 7, 1917	Disembarked	Disembarked at Liverpool for Bramshott Camp.
April 7, 1917	Transferred	Stuck off Strength (SOS) the 186^th Battalion and Taken Off Strength (TOS) 4^th Reserve Canadian Battalion, Bramshott.
June 5, 1917	Transferred	SOS the 4^th Cdn. Res. Bn. To the 18^th Battalion.
June 6, 1917	Arrived	Arrived 2 Canadian Infantry Base Depot, Etaples, France.
June 13, 1917	Joined	Joined the 18^th Battalion “In the Field.” The War Diary relates, ““B” Company at ranges on Musketry instruction. Special training by R.S.M. Price[ii] of N.C.Os. 52 o.rs arrived as reinforcements. 3 o.rs returned from hospital.”
August 21, 1917	Killed in Action	Killed by shell bursting in road. This action was one of the greatest single causes of loss of life by an event in the Battalion’s history. The War Diary relates,
		“The Battalion left BULLY-GRENAY at9.30 a.m. and proceeded to BOUVIGNY HUTS going in Corps Reserve. On the road “D”coy sustained 52 casualties, 23 of which were fatal, by the bursting of an enemy shell (high velocity). This bringing our casualties to approximately 220 during the tour. Lieut. W. Hampton and 4 O.Rs admitted to hospital.”
On or about August 21, 1917	Interred	Private Dyer was interred at Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension. He is buried along with 23 other comrades of the 18^th Battalion at grave I.M.11. His inscription reads “ASLEEP IN JESUS”
October 10, 1920	Memorial Plaque Despatched	Memorial Plaque Reqn. No. P11076 dispatched to James Dyer.
November 11, 1920	War Medals Despatched	Victory and British War Medal despatched ref. (2)C30073.
1920	Memorial Cross Despatched	Memorial Cross despatched. Note that mother died subsequent to receiving it.
December 3, 1920	Scroll Despatched	Memorial Scroll Reqn. No. 22899 dispatched to James Dyer.

[i] The Summary of Service for this soldier is meant as just that, a summary of his service. It is not intended to be an exhaustive biographical relation of his life or his war service. Some information may be deliberately suppressed by the author out of sensitivity to the soldier. Readers are encouraged to reference the actual service records available at the Library and Archives Canada in PDF format if they wish to learn more about this soldier. Such additional information (i.e. hyperlinks etc.) are for informational purpose only and no claim to verification or accuracy is made by the author of this summary.

[ii] The identity of this soldier has not been confirmed. Possibly Price, George: Service no. 928158.