Source: August 1918 casualty.
Soldier Biography
Pte John Wallis
John Wallis was born in Cornwall, England in 1889. He served three years, 9 months in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (DCLI). This regiment, formed in 1881, served in a number of outposts of the British Empire, including Malta, Gibraltar, South Africa, India, and Burma. Although we don’t know where Pte Wallis served when he was with the DCLI, we can assume that he was familiar with military life.
By 1917, he was living in Flint, Michigan and listed his occupation as a miner. In July of that year, he made his way to Windsor and enlisted in the Canadian army. Following summer training, Pte Wallis left Canada in December 1917 and his ship arrived New Year’s Eve in Glasgow.
While doing further training in Bramshott, England, Pte Wallis contracted German Measles. He spent March 1918 in hospital. His medical record notes that he was a “young man, well nourished and built”. He recovered from the measles and was sent to Etaples, France in August 1918. On September 7, he joined the 18th Battalion in the field.
More than a year after he enlisted, Pte Wallis finally was in France, fighting on the front lines. He was part of the contingent supporting other battalions during heavy fighting the first weeks of October. Just five weeks after joining the 18th Battalion, he was killed in action on October 11. The 18th Battalion war diary of that day notes that 54 soldiers (non-officers) were wounded and 11 were killed.
Pte Wallis is buried in France.
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 