DORRANCE, Samuel Hays

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        2nd Canadian Infantry Division
                                             2nd Battalion Canadian Machine Gun Corps
                                             6th Infantry Brigade
                                             6th Company
                                             Canadian Machine Gun Corps 
SERVICE NO:                   654781
RESIDENCE:                    Seaforth – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            November 7, 1887
                                             Seaforth – McKillop Township – Huron County - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           September 6, 1918               30 years     10 months
CEMETERY:                     Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery – Arras -
                                             Pas de Calais - France
                                             VII     F     12
WIFE:                                 Mrs. Mae Dorrance – Seaforth - Ontario
MOTHER:                          Mrs. S. Dorrance – Seaforth – Ontario.
Occupation:                        Chauffeur                             Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         Seaforth – May 8, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion.
Enlistment Age:                 28 years     6 months

On the day of arrival in England which was November 11, 1916 Private Dorrance transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Corp at West Sandling - Kent. Then on March 12, 1917 he transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Pool at Crowborough - Sussex. He then went into France and joined his unit in the field on April 3, 1917. On March 3, 1918, his unit was absolved by the 2nd Battalion Canadian Machine Gun Corps.
During the early morning hours of September 6th the weather was cloudy with the wind blowing from the south-west.
At 4 am the enemy was using his artillery with scattered shell fire falling onto the forward areas. There were also enemy machine gun bursts on the Brigades left front areas.
There was an adjustment required to the Divisional boundaries. The enemy was shelling the area around Buissy very heavily especially on the forward batteries.
Private Dorrance was returning to his shelter after completing sentry duty near Cagnicourt, when he was struck down from the shards of an enemy shell blast. This happened at 4:45 am. Two comrades administered aid, and then carried him to a nearby dressing station. Later that day at No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance Private Dorrance died from the wounds he received.
He was wounded from the shrapnel in the left leg and also suffered from a fractured right hip.
Private Dorrance lost his life when the enemy was scattering his artillery fire along the Brigade front during the early morning hours of September 6, 1918.