McCLUSKEY, Harvey Pearson

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             47th Battalion - West Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   654637
RESIDENCE:                    Goderich – Ontario 
 DATE OF BIRTH:           November 12, 1898
                                             Goderich – Goderich Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           August 15, 1918                  19 years     9 months
CEMETERY:                     St. Sever Cemetery Extension – Rouen –
                                             Seine-Maritime – France
                                             R     II     F     1
PARENTS:                         Mr. James and Elizabeth McCluskey – Goderich – Ontario.
Occupation:                        Farmer                                  Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         Goderich – March 21, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 17 years     4 months

Private McCluskey arrived in England on November 11, 1916.
On February 28, 1918, he transferred to the 47th Baatalion and joined them in the field on March 4, 1918.
Private McCluskey received grave wounds during an attack on Fouquescourt on August 10, 1918. His wounds were in the wrist, buttock and stomach and were caused by the shrapnel from an enemy shell. He immediately received aid, was transferred to No. 5 General Hospital located in Rouen. Private McCluskey was unable to survive these wounds and died in this location.
The Battalion assembled in battle position behind the 44th Battalion north of Warvillers. “A” & “C” Companies were right and left assault with “B” & “D” Companies in support right and left. The advance commenced at 10:15 am with the Battalion following a rolling barrage that lifted every 200 yards every 5 minutes and they were also under very heavy enemy artillery fire casing some casualties and further on heavy machine-gun fire was met from an old 1916 Somme trench system that was well defended with wire and had long grass all over it. It was here the enemy was waiting with withering fire. Then about 1,000 yards west of Foquescourt there was more heavy machine-gun fire which halted the advance of the 44th Battalion.  Now the 47th Battalion found its left flank exposed.  “A” Company moved ahead in close support and assisted the 44th Battalion in engaging the enemy machine-guns. Attempts were made to work around the village, and then tanks came up to assist and “A” Coy and the 44th rushed the village, penetrated to open ground in the east of it and forced a defensive line. Then “C” Coy on the left was involved in heavy and severe fighting with an enemy machine-gun nest and once that obstacle was eliminated they leap-frogged the 44th Battalion and advanced until enfilade fire held them up from the right. The right battalion was not close, the light was failing and the enemy was hanging on and the 47th Battalion then consolidated Menelars Trench and held for the night. The advance covered about 8,000 yards
Those killed numbered 13 while 86 were wounded.