GLAZIER, Joseph
DIVISIONAL UNIT: 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
9th Infantry Brigade
58th Battalion - Central Ontario
Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO: 654240
RESIDENCE: Goderich – Ontario
DATE OF BIRTH: May 12, 1897
Colborne Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH: October 26, 1917 20 years 5 months
MEMORIAL: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial – Ypres –
West Vlaanderen – Belgium.
Panels 18-24 & 26-30
PARENTS: Mr. William and Amelia Glazier – Goderich – Ontario
Occupation: Labourer. Religion: Church of England.
Enlistment: Goderich – January 14, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion.
Enlistment Age: 18 years 8 months.
Private Glazier on November 11, 1916 immediately following his landing in England transferred to the 58th Battalion and leaves for France arriving at his unit already in the field on January 4, 1917. He was admitted to No. 13 Field Ambulance on April 24th and then transferred to No. 23 Casualty Clearing Station on April 26th with chilblains. This was an inflammation of the small blood vessels in the hands caused by cold air (not freezing air). It could cause itching, swelling, red patches and blistering to the hands and feet. He then is admitted to No. 30 General Hospital in Calais, then to No. 7 & 10 Convalescent Hospitals in Boulogne and finally rejoins his unit on July 26, 1917.
Early in the morning of October 26, 1917, the 3rd Canadian Division began their advance onto Passchendaele. They first moved along the remains of the Gravenstafel-Passchendaele road toward the Bellevue Spur. They advanced and overran the forward enemy lines before the enemy replied with a murderous artillery barrage that last for many hours. The Canadians had advanced and tried to hold onto their gains but had to move back because of the enemy barrager. They then dug in and tried to find any kind of cover. The advance on this day was through mud that in some places was waist deep. Still, the Canadians were able to advance about 1,000 yards. The Division was not able to achieve its objectives during this day of fighting.
The Division losses were 2,900 casualties with 600 men losing their lives.
Private Glazier was killed in action in the vicinity of Passchendaele.
Wieltje Dugout was where the Battalion waited for the advance under dark and wet skies in winds from the south at 10mph. Then at 5:40 am the artillery began, the advance moved forward with the 58th Battalion / 43rd Battalion leading, the 52nd Battalion in support and the 116th Battalion in reserve. German artillery came down immediately and this caused some casualties but when the Brigade artillery lifted it was noticed that the advancing barrage was slower on the right than the left and was distributed 300 yards deep. The move forward had caused casualties but the advance continued. Shortly after the Battalion captured “pill boxes” at Lamerk and Dad Trench and it was here the advance came under very heavy enemy machine-gun fire from the enemy trenches and enfilade machine-gun fire from Bellevue Farm to the left of the front.
Now there was much more heavy machine-gun fire from Crest Farm and the men were forced to seek cover in shell holes. This was followed by a bloody and bitter fight for the possession of Contour Trench and then in mid-afternoon 64 enemy soldiers stood up and surrendered and this provided the opportunity for the Battalion to secure and take possession of the enemy trench system.
There were very heavy and severe casualties taken during the advance and following fight. During the night of October 26th machine gun posts were set up in front of Contour Trench and no attempt to regain any lost ground was made by the Germans.
The casualties on this day were extreme with the Battalion losing 303 men or 61% of the 500 men who began the day.
