TREMAIN, Walter
Removed from Wingham as not on stone, placed in none
DIVISIONAL UNIT: 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
8th Infantry Brigade
2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles - Victoria
Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO: 126322
DATE OF BIRTH: May 8, 1893
London - England
DATE OF DEATH: November 15, 1917 24 years 6 months.
CEMETERY: Cardiff (Cathays) Cemetery - Cardiff
Glamorganshire – Wales
EB 51
PARENTS: Mr. Frederick and Emma Tremain – Hamilton – Ontario
SISTER: Mrs. H. Drage – Palmerston - Ontario
Occupation: Boiler Maker Religion: Church of England
Enlistment: September 10, 1915 – Stratford into 71st Battalion
Enlistment Age: 22 years 4 months
Private Tremain boarded the SS Olympis in Halifax and embarked from Canada on April 1, 1916 arriving in England on April 11, 1916. He transferred to the 74th Battalion and proceeds into France to the Canadian Base Depot. On June 9, 1916 he transfers to the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles and joined them in the field on June 12th. He is promoted to Corporal and then to Sergeant on April 14, 1917.
The weather during the night of October 29/30 was fine and cool and the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles were in support of the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. The day of October 30th was bright and dry with a cold wind blowing.
Prior to the advance the enemy artillery laid down a barrage and casualties were suffered. At 5:50 am the Brigade artillery and machine guns opened up with their barrages and one minute later the enemy replied onto the Brigade front and support lines.
At 5:54 am the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles advanced and they reached their intermediate objective at 7:10 am. They also reported very heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire. At 8:35 am the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles reported they had control of Souce, Vapor and Vanity trenches. At 7:16 am “D” Company of 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles moved forward and occupied original front line trenches.
At 8:50 am the two Companies of the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles began their advance forward in support and to reinforce the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles.
At 9:12 am “B” Company of 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles advanced and 1 Platoon being directed to Source Farm with the rest reinforcing “A & B” Companies of the 5th CMR.
At 10:40 am “D” Company 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles in support of “C” Company 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles reports he is cut off cannot advance due to heavy enemy fire from the left flank. At 10:45 am the 5th says they have suffered critical casualties and need assistance and both his flanks are up in the air because the Battalions on the flanks had suffered such high losses they could not advance further.
At 12.20 pm it is reported that “B” Company of 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles was sent forward to assist the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles which was all but destroyed and only a few men survived.
At 2:45 pm it is reported that the enemy is advancing toward them and are 200 yards out. Men exhausted as is ammunition and they report they will not be able to hold unless reinforements and ammunition arrive.
In the evening the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles were removed from the front due to such heavy losses and the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles then took over the front lines along with 1 Company of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles.
Sergeant Tremain was in the middle of this fight with the enemy when he was severely wounded in the left forearm from an enemy shell. He was admitted to No. 8 British Field Ambulance Depot who treated him and decided to move him to a facility on the coast. One at a medical facility on the coast and following further treatment Sergeant Tremain was invalided to No. 3 Western General Hospital in Cardiff – Wales. On November 11th the doctors there declare that he was dangerously ill. Four days later at 7:40 am on the morning of November 15, 1017 Segeant Tremain succumbed to his wounds.
