McMATH, Arthur William

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        1st Canadian Infantry Division
                                             2nd Infantry Brigade
                                             7th Battalion  -  1st British Columbia 
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   491362
RESIDENCE:                    Clinton - Ontario
DATE OF BIRTH:            June 1, 1894
                                             Goderich – Goderich Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           September 8, 1916               22 years
CEMETERY:                     Puchevillers British Cemetery – Puchevillers –
                                             Somme – France
                                             IV     B     27
PARENTS:                         Mrs. Ellen Jane McMath – London - Ontario
Occupation:                        Printer                                  Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         July 21, 1915 – Clinton into the 33rd Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 21 years

Private McMath left Canadian shores bound for Liverpool on the S.S. Lapland and arrived there March 25, 1916. He transferred to the 2nd Battalion and went in France on May 26, 1916 and joined the 7th Battalion and joined them on May 26, 1916.
Numerous casualties were suffered by the Battalion during the day because there was a gap in the front and support lines and the flank was exposed. The gap was filled and consolidated.
Private McMath received wounds while he performed his military duties, was transferred to No. 5 Casualty Clearing station where he later died.
At 8 am with the relief underway the enemy attacked the 14th Battalion. No. 1 Platoon of No. 2 Company of the 7th Battalion was close by and rushed to confront the 200 attacking enemy and drove them off with bombs and rifle fire. While this was going on the enemy was shelling the support lines and communication trenches.
Following the attack and shelling a gap was found in the Battalion front lines which opened up enemy fire on the flanks and the gap was filled but it was not a total success.
During the day the enemy artillery was active on the whole of the Battalion front.
At about 9 pm a large force of the enemy made a determined attack but they were repulsed with Lewis gun and rifle fire.
During this day of battle 14 men were killed, 69 men were wounded and 1 man was missing.
In this day of battle was when Mrivate McMath lost his life in action.