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 a 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 soldier via a blog comment. Member of the 18th Battalion Facebook Group.
American citizen.
“Killed by enemy shell bursting in road.” Service file notation.
Bugler Dyer enlisted on Jan. 2, 1916, with the 91st battalion, transferring later to the 186th Kent Battalion.
He left for overseas on Mar. 26, 1917, training at Bramshott Camp, England, until June 6, when he crossed to France with the first draft from the Kents to reinforce the 18th battalion.
He was killed in action Aug. 21, 1917.
Regimental number: 189746. RG 150,Accession: 1992-93, BOX: 2790-7, Item:- 371235, PDF: B2790-SO07. Date of Birth: 21/03/1897 at Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan, USA. John was living in Chatham, ON, with his father James (Next of Kin) and mother Rebecca Dyer, then living at his attestation at 174 Gray St., Chatham (later living at 189 William St. South, Chatham. At the time of his enlistment, John was a single woodworker by trade.
Age at attestation: 18 years & 9 months. Height: 5’ 4”, Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Blue, Hair: Light Brown. It was noted on his Medical 3/01/16: Small brown ‘Birthmark’ left rear shoulder.
Attestation dated 3/01/16 at St. Thomas, ON to 91st Batt.
He embarked at Halifax, NS. 25/05/17 aboard the S.S. Lapland, with 186th Overseas Battalion. John disembarked at Liverpool, England 7/04/17 and then transferred to 4th Cdn. Reserve Batt. 6/06/17 at Bramshott, England to the 17th / 18th Battalions for overseas to France. Jack was TOS with the 18th Batt. at Estaples, France 16/06/17.
He was KIA as a result of an explosion of high Explosive artillery shell that burst on the road the unit was moving on. The explosion left 53 casualties of which 23 were fatal, of which Pte. Dyer was killed instantly 21//08/17. This was after the battle at Hill 70.
He is buried at Aux-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension (1.M.11). Pas-de-Calais – France.
John had Assigned Pay ($20.00) to his mother Georgina living at 174 Gray St., Chatham. He was awarded the 14/15 Star, English War Medal. His mother received the Memorial Cross, although she had passed away before 11/11/1920 and the Roll and Plaque was sent to his father 1010/1920.
There is a photo of John with his adopted mother (Rebecca Clements) Dyer. John’s mother had died after he was born.
The following came by Ruth Ann (Ellerbeck) Pearce:
PRIVATE JOHN CLEMENTS DYER a Story:
Pte. Jack Dyer, 189746, joined the infantry division of the 186th Battalion. He was in the 1st draft to leave Kent for France in 1917. They gathered at the Armouries in Chatham and marched to the Grand Trunk Station in time to catch the eastbound Wabash. Segt. William Taylor was incharge at the Armouries. The men had been rapidly rounded up into shape.
34 recruits joined the 91st Battalion at St. Thomas heading for the firing lines in France. Pte. Dyer’s last words as he left for the train were “Pray for me.”
Letter to my Great Grandmother Rebecca “Clements” Dyer from Lieut. Spencer, former officer of the 18th Battalion. Mr. and Mrs. James Dyer had lived on the corner of Gray and Lacroix St., Chatham.
France August 28th 1917.
John had been killed by a long range shell which fell in the middle of the company as they were marching back to their billets about four miles from the firing line.
It seem so sad the Lieut. writes, that the boys who had been through so much trouble in the front line should fall by a stray shell.
The first time I came in contact with your son in this Battalion was when we were in a shell hole together with a wounded man and four others all one day. Your son helped to carry the wounded man until he could not go a step further and he came out with me night as 9 guides to a stretcher party.
He showed the greatest pluck and courage all the time and I could not help admiring his coolness for a boy so young.
He went out again, three times with a party trying to locate a shell hole, and all through the attack of the 15th and the days in the trenches afterward, he carried on as a true soldier and went right through the show.
I am enclosing some photographs he had in his pocket and another parcel of his personal effects taken from his tunic, thinking that you might care for them in memory of your brave son, who lies right up to the name of a good soldier.
Enclosed was a pocket Bible – In it was written “I shall fear no evil.” Mrs. Maude Ellerbeck cherished that small Bible all her life. He continues:
I trust you will accept my sincere sympathy in your bereavement.
Yours Truly.
Liet. George Spencer.
Curator’s Note: – Lieut. George Johnson SPENCER, 186th Batt. Attestation at Chatham, ON. JRH.
Somewhere in France, Aug. 1917
Helped “Inter” Fallen Comrades.
(Pte. Welsh writes to his parents of the heavy fighting)
Pte. Welsh reported he helped bury four men. One of which was my great Uncle Jack Dyer. It was in a very nice cemetery back of the line. He did not know how he escaped from this shelling that killed and wounded so many. I was only ten feet away from where the men were killed.
The officers said it was the worst battle of the war, even worse than the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the Somme.
After the battle, his clothes were rags and he was all scratched. They were all fitted up with new cloths.
Capt. Brackin, G. G. (MC) KIA -26/08/18 Lieut. Oliver, Douglas R. (Capt.) and Lieut. Spencer, George Johnson (DSO) and Mowbray, James Nathen (WIA) had joined the 18th Battalion.
Curator’s Note: The officers listed above with additional information. JRH.
Contact information: Ruth Ann (Ellerbeck) Pearce.
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 186th 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 91st Battalion and was transferred to the 186th 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 186th Battalion and Taken Off Strength (TOS) 4th Reserve Canadian Battalion, Bramshott. |
| June 5, 1917 | Transferred | SOS the 4th Cdn. Res. Bn. To the 18th Battalion. |
| June 6, 1917 | Arrived | Arrived 2 Canadian Infantry Base Depot, Etaples, France. |
| June 13, 1917 | Joined | Joined the 18th 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 18th 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.
Son of James and Rebecca Dyer, of 189, William St. South, Chatham, Ontario.
