SUNBURY, Theodore Ernest

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade
                                             No. 1 Canadian Motor Machine Gun Mechanical Transport Company
                                             Canadian Army Service Corps
SERVICE NO:                   574480
RESIDENCE:                    Goderich - Ontario
DATE OF BIRTH:            February 17, 1887
                                             Bulwer – Compton - Quebec
DATE OF DEATH:           September 2, 1918               31 years
CEMETERY:                     Dury Crucifex Cemetery – Dury
                                             Pas de Calais – France
                                             II     D     31
WIFE:                                 Mrs. Lulu Sunbury – Bishop’s Crossing – Quebec and Goderich - Ontario
PARENTS:                         Mr. Wellington and Ina Sunbury – East Angus - Quebec
Occupation:                        Musician                              Religion:     Methodist
Enlistment:                         May 29, 1917 – London - Ontario
Enlistment Age:                 30 years     3 months

Private Sunbury departed Halifax and Canada on August 10, 1917 on board the S.S. Grampain and arrived in England on August 23, 1917. That same day he was Taken on Strength with the Canadian Army Service Corps based at Shorncliffe – Kent and also spent time at the Canadian Army Service Corps based at Bramshott – Hampshire.
On June 22, 1918 he proceeds overseas into France through the draft to the CASC.
Later in the war two Canadian Army Service Corps Mechanichal Transport Units were formed and their duties included supplying petrol, ammunition and necessary supplies to the Machine Gun Brigades.
On September 1st the order was received that all battle line vehicles stand to for action. On September 2nd No. 1 & 2 Sections then left with their brigades to the concentration points at 3 am. They formed part of the Canadian Independent Force which was made up of the 1st and 2nd Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigades, Xth Royal Hussars, Canadian Light Horse, Canadian Cyclist Battalion and the Armoured Car Section of the 17th Tank Battalion.
During the morning the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade plus No. 1 Canadian Motor Machine Gun Mechanical Transport Company went into action on the Arras-Cambrai Road on the outskirts of Villers Cagnicourt. It was here they met heavy enemy resistance in the form of enemy field artillery and enemy machine-gun nests. The enemy artillery was firing onto them from point blank range.
One lorry was totally destroyed and another was so badly damaged they had to abandon it. Two Ford cars and seven motorcycles were also either destroyed or abandoned.
It was when they encountered the enemy artillery and machine-guns that Private Sunbury was killed in action.