Sewell, Guy Blanchard: Service no. 654410

Source: Via Facebook post by relative and August 1917 casualty.

Killed by shell bursting in road. August 21, 1917.

Summary of Service for Sergeant Guy Blanchard Sewell. Reg. No. 654410.

Date	Event	Remarks
August 19, 1895	Born	Indicates on attestation papers he was born in Colchester, England.
February 8, 1916	Enlists	Enlists with 161^st Battalion in Clinton, Ontario. He is a salesman married to Beatrice Sewell. He was active in the Militia with the Royal Canadian Regiment.
March 1, 1916	Transferred	Transferred to the Provincial School of Instruction at Clinton, Ontario. It is not known as to what education or courses where taken.
March 10, 1916	Anti-Typhoid Inoculations	A further course of 2 inoculations were done but the dates are not legible.
May 5, 1916	Appointed Corporal
June 7, 1916	Appointed Sergeant
July 21, 1916	Vaccinated
October 11, 1916	Submits Will	Bequeaths his real and personal estate to his wife Beatrice Sewell. It is witnessed by O.A. Stickles and R.H. Carpenter.
November 1, 1916	Unit Sails from Canada
November 1916	Assigns Pay	Assigns pay in the amount of $25.00 per month to his wife and this is later modified to $20.00 per month in July 1917.
November 11, 1916	Unit Arrives England
January 12, 1917	Transferred to 18^th Battalion	West Sandling, Kent
January 13, 1917	Arrives Canadian Base Depot	Transits to the Continent and arrives at the Canadian Base Depot in Etaples, France.
January 18, 1917	Joins Unit in the Field	Arrives at Bully Grenay. The War Diary relates for that day: “18th Canadian Battalion was relieved in the front line by the 14th Canadian Battalion. The 18th Battalion moved into Billets at BULLY GRENAY in Brigade reserve. 10 n.c.o.s [non-commissioned officers] o.r. arrived to be carried supernumerary to Establishment. LIEUT. J.J. RICHARDSON to be Actg. MAJOR while commanding a coy. 2 o.r.s returned from hospital.” This is an interesting entry as it indicates that the soldiers arrived as N.C.O.s and were not needed in that capacity as the Battalion had the correct establishment of N.C.O.s for it purposes. In most cases a N.C.O. in a reserve or reinforcing battalion was demoted to a private in order to make up the establishment of the correct number of men in an active front-line battalion.
February 13, 1917	Reverts to Private	Reverts to “ranks” 30 days after arrival in France.
March 19, 1917	2^nd Canadian Field Ambulance	Sick with influenza and leaves front line for treatment. The Battalion has fought at Vimy Ridge and now is in Brigade Reserve. The War Diary relates: “Position same. LIEUT. P.G. MIGHT received order from Base. Battalion pay parade. 2 o.r.s admitted to hospital. 2 o.r.s returned from hospital.”
March 27, 1917	No. 22 General Hospital	P.U.O. (slt) slight. Pyrexia of Unknown Origin. A cold or flu. Dannes Camiers, France.
April 4, 1917	No. 6 Convalescent Depot	Etaples, France.
June 11, 1917	2^nd Canadian Infantry Depot	Etaples, France.
June 13, 1917	Proceeds to Join Unit
June 14, 1917	Joins Unit	The War Diary does not relate any men arriving from the hospital on this date. It is possible the War Diary entry for the 13, June may relate to his arrival.
July 1917	Modifies Assigned Pay	Adjusts assigned pay from $25.00 per month to $20.00.
August 21, 1917	Killed in Action	The following months, especially August was a very active one for the Canadian Corps and the 18^th Battalion. After the attack on Hill 70 the Battalion was relieved on the night of August 18/19 and moved to the relative safety of the rear. On August 21 the Battalion moved and when it was passing through cross-roads at Bully-Grenay moving to the huts at Bouvigny, a German shell landed amongst the marching men, killing 23 men outright and causing a further 53 wounded. This one shell accounted for 35% of the total casualties for the Battalion that month. 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.”
December 29, 1920	Comprehensive Burial Report	Private Sewell is buried at plot I.M.9 at the Aix-Noilette Community Cemetery Extension west of Lens, France outside the village of Aix-Noilette. It appears he is buried in the plot with two other men of the Battalion that died that day. Privates J.T. Murray and A. Phillips lie with him. He lies along with 21 other comrades of the 18^th Battalion.