Sumner, John: Service no. 189835

Digitized Service Record

Source: Gathering Our Heroes.

Find-A-Grave

Family Search: Private John Sumner was born on 14 September 1877, in Southport, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom. He immigrated to Canada in 1913 and lived in Chatham, Kent, Ontario, Canada in 1927. He registered for military service in 1916. In 1916, at the age of 39, his occupation is listed as section man, Canadian Pacific Railway in Chatham, Kent, Ontario, Canada. He died on 15 March 1943, in Ontario, Canada, at the age of 65, and was buried in Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham, Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada.

Friend of Private Roy George Teeter.

Private John Sumner, reg. no. 189835.

This man enlisted with the 91st Battalion on 10 January 1916 at St. Thomas, Ontario.

He was an Canadian Pacific Railway Sectionman and indicated his religious affiliation was to the Salvation Army.

He was transferred to the 186th Battalion and he arrived in England on 7 April 1917 aboard the SS (HMT) Lapland.

Assigned to the 4th Reserve Battalion on 7 April 1917 at Bramshott Camp. He was transferred to the 18th Battalion on 26 October 1917.

He arrived “in the field” on 20 November 1917.

He suffered was wounded on 8 August 1918 with a GSW to the head which required treatment on the Continent at No. 11 Stationary Hospital, admitted on 9 August 1918 and he was released to be treated and recover at No. 11 Convalescent Depot. By 2 September he was well enough to be sent to the Canadian Infantry Base Depot and then the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp where he was toughened up and prepared to fight again.

On 15 September 1918 he returned to service with the 18th Battalion and just before the war ended, he was granted 14 days leave to the United Kingdom starting 3 November 1918.

On 13 April 1918 he suffered contusions to both legs and was sent to the rear for medical attention and was not returned for duty until 24 December 1918 in Germany.

Returning to his Battalion he served the rest of the war with the 18th Battalion and he was discharged due to demobilization on 28 March 1919 at London, Ontario.