Headstone

AITCHISON, Aylmer

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
London, Ontario
Regimental Number
3131092
Rank
Sapper
Date of Death
Age at Death
23 years 10 months
Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        1st Battalion
                                             Canadian Engineers
SERVICE NO:                   3131092
RESIDENCE:                     Lucknow – Ontario  
DATE OF BIRTH:            March 5, 1895
                                             Wingham – Turnberry Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           January 15, 1919                  23 years     10 months
CEMETERY:                    Belgrade Cemetery – Namur –
                                             Namur – Belgium
                                             III     A     12
PARENTS:                         Mr. Thomas and Emily Aitchison – Lucknow – Ontario
Occupation:                        Jeweller                                Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                    London – February 18, 1918 into 1st Depot Battalion of Western Ontario Regiment.
Enlistment Age:                 22 years     11 months

Aylmer was drafted under the Military Service Act of 1917 and upon enlistment was placed into Category A or a man fit for service in the field.
Private Aitchison departed Halifax and Canada on the S.S. Runic on May 10, 1918 and arrived in England on 
May 24, 1918.
On the same day that he arrived in England he transferred to the 2nd Canadian Engineers Battalion based at 
Seaford - Sussex. He left for overseas on August 30, 1918 and went to the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp on September 3, 1918. Then on September 20, 1918 he transferred to 1st Battalion of Canadian Engineers and joined them already in the field.
He was dangerously ill when he arrived at No. 13 Canadian Field Ambulance on January 14, 1919 and on that same day he was transferred to No. 48 Casualty Clearing Station - Maubeurge.
Sapper Aitchison died of cardiac dilatation at No. 48 Casualty Clearing Station. His family had previously been informed that he was dangerously ill. Cardian dilatation is where the heart cavity becomes enlarged and then stretches and the result is the heart muscle itself thins, resulting in heart failure.