SKELDING, Harvey

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        1st Canadian Infantry Division
                                             3rd Infantry Brigade
                                             14th Battalion  -  Royal Montreal 
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   457442
AWARDS:                          Military Medal
DATE OF BIRTH:            March 25, 1889
                                             Shelbourne - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           September 26, 1916             27 years     6 months
MEMORIAL:                    Vimy Memorial – Vimy
                                             Pas de Calais - Ontario
FATHER:                           Mr. John Skelding – Shelbourne – Ontario
STEP-MOTHER:              Mrs. A. Shelding - Wingham – Ontario.
Occupation:                        Teamster                              Religion:     Methodist
Enlistment:                         June 16, 1915 – Valcartier – Quebec into 14th Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 26 years     3 months

Private Skelding embarked from Canada in late August 1915 and from his records was on command to the 23rd Reserve Battalion immediately upon arriving in England which was September 6, 1915. He then transfers to the 14th Battalion and proceeds overseas into France on April 23, 1916, goes to Canadian Base Depot and joins his unit in the field on May 14, 1916.
On September 24th the 13th battalion has control of the front line trenches and positions and the Battalion is in support and are located in Sugar, Luxton and Ott Trenches. Later that day the Battalion moves in support to the Sunken Road and Sugar Trench.
The objective is the capture of the ridge running north-west of Courcellete to the Schwaben Redoubt.
The Battalion must establish Lewis gun posts to bring enfilade fire onto enemy in Regina Trench and the Miramont Road.
At 8:50 am it is reported the enemy is working at Kenora and Regina trenches and the artillery is informed
The advance is moving well with the infantry catching up to the Brigade barrage. As well the enemy is shelling Courcelette heavily. At 1.10 pm it is reported the troops are going over the ridge. At 1:27 pm the second waves has reportedly gone over the ridge. At 4:00 pm the 14th Battalion he has reached the final objective in Kenora Trench and is requesting artillery fire in front of the trench. At 4:20 it is reported the enemy is moving north up Kenora and the artillery have been asked to use high explosive and shrapnel onto this position. At 4:30 both the 14th & 15th Battalions are in Regina Trench and are in process of connecting. At 6:10 pm the 14th reports they are holding 200 yards of the trench but that the enemy is shelling their front and rear as well as the valley running in front of them. They report they have enemy trench bombs and will use them. They also report that they have good trench position and machine guns with very little ammunition but require reinforcements as casualties are great. At 6:40 pm the 14th reports they are consolidating their final objective.
This was the situation Private Skelding and the 14th Battalion faced on September 26, 1916 and it was during this period where Private Skelding was killed in action.