TOWLE, Robert Sidney

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Valcartier, Quebec
Regimental Number
33469
Rank
Lance Corporal
Date of Death
Age at Death
31 years 1 month
Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        1st Canadian Infantry Division
                                             3rd Infantry Brigade
                                             3rd Field Ambulance      
                                             Canadian Army Medical Corps
SERVICE NO:                   33469
DATE OF BIRTH:            July 10, 1886
                                             Lucknow – Ashfiled / West Wawanosh Townships –
                                                                County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           August 16, 1917                   31 years     1 month
CEMETERY:                     Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery – Noeux-les-Mines
                                             Pas de Calais – France
                                             II     J     22
PARENTS:                         Mr. Albert and Elizabeth Towle – Lucknow - Ontario
Occupation:                        CPR Engineer                      Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         September 25, 1914 – Valcartier - Quebec
Enlistment Age:                 28 years     2 months

Private Towle and his unit left Canada from Quebec after boarding the SS Cassandra on October 4, 1914.
He was Taken on Strength by the 3rd Canadian Field Ambulance in France on July 15, 1915.
He is appointed Lance Corporal on May 20, 1917.
The 3rd Canadian Field Ambulance was responsible for clearing the wounded from the right section of the 1st Canadian Divisional front.
The plans for the clearing of the wounded was adjusted several times because of the heavy enemy shellings, the inability to make full use of the light rail system and the severe enemy shell gassing attacks. The bearers were forced to suffer through this.
Lance Corporal Towle was dangerously wounded on August 15, 1917 with compound fractures in the legs from gun shots, was then transferred to No. 7 Casualty Clearing Station based at Bracquemont where he later died.
At 4:25 am the advance began in an effort to capture and hold Hill 70. The Brigade reached their final objective at 
05:33 am. Consolidation of the positions began immediately and during the day there were numerous counter-attacks by the enemy and numerous attempted counter-attacks.
We believe from reading all the diaries and other accounts of this day that Lance Corporal Towle was a stretcher bearer and assisting with the movement of the wounded and the dead during and after the battle and at some point there was enemy snipers and his wounds were caused from an enemy sniper.