Laver, Bruce: Service no. 190067

Digitized Service Record

Source: Personal message from Allan Miller on Facebook.

Find-A-Grave

Family Search: When Private Bruce Laver was born on 23 June 1896, in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, George Laver, was 24 and his mother, Ruth McBride, was 22. He married Ivy Ada Carter on 14 July 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. He immigrated to Canada in 1909 and lived in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom in 1901 and Norfolk, Ontario, Canada in 1911. He registered for military service in 1915. In 1915, at the age of 19, his occupation is listed as farming. He died on 24 March 1980, in London, Canada West, British North America, at the age of 83, and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, West McGillivray, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada.

This man enlisted with the CEF on March 13, 1916, at St. Thomas, Ontario under reg. no 190067. He was unmarried and was involved with farming. His next-of-kin was his mother, Ruth, living at 47 Wood Street, Hillfoot, England. Originally with the 91st Battalion he was transferred to the 142nd Battalion.

He arrived in England on November 11, 1916, and was attached to the 18th Battalion on April 13, 1917, after service at Dibgate, West Sandling, and Bramshott. He arrived for active service on May 2, 1917, and served with the Battalion until accidentally wounded on the 28th by a bayonet. This wounding was deemed accidental.

He was granted 14-day’s leave to England on December 24, 1917, and was arrested in England on February 2, 1918, for being absent without leave. He was convicted of this offence and was given the loss of 39-day’s pay.

He was also sentenced to 2-year’s Hard Labour, but this was suspended under the “Suspension of Sentences Act” by the General Officer Commanding the 3rd (British) Army.

He returned to service and was wounded on May 9, 1918.

He has several other offences on his service record and was somehow appointed as a Lance-Corporal on February 24, 1919.

He was discharged with the 18th Battalion as it was deactivated on its return to London, Ontario on May 24, 1919. He intended to reside in St. Thomas, Ontario and would later move to London, Ontario.