McCRACKEN, Lyle Gardener

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Brussels, Ontario
Original Unit
161st Huron Battalion
Regimental Number
654186
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
21 years 1 month
Cemetery
Mont Huon Military Cemetery - Seine Maritime - France
Cenotaph
Brussels Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         2nd Canadian Infantry Division
                                             4th / 5th Infantry Brigade
                                             2nd Machine Gun Battalion
                                             Canadian Machine Gun Corps
SERVICE NO:                   654186
RESIDENCE:                    Brussels – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            July 19, 1897
                                             Brussels – Grey / Morris Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           August 31, 1918                   21 years     1 month
CEMETERY:                     Mont Huon Military Cemetery – Le-Treport –
                                             Seine Martime – France
                                             VII     E     6A
MOTHER:                         Mrs. F. J. McCracken – Brussels - Ontario
Occupation:                        Painter                                  Religion:     Methodist
Enlistment:                         Brussels – January 6, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 18 years     6 months

Private McCracken arrived in England on November 11, 1916 with the 161st Battalion. That same day he transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot. On March 12, 1917, he transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Pool. He then joined the 4th Canadian Machine Gun Company on April 2, 1917.
On the morning of August 27th, the men of the 2nd Battalion were standing and watching an Infantry Brigade pass through and begin their attack, the Germans brought down a very heavy artillery barrage around the machine-gun positions.
Private McCracken was in charge of a machine-gun and while he was manning it an enemy shell exploded nearby and a piece of shrapnel pierced his steel helmet and he was very seriously wounded. He was immediately tended to and was then transferred to the dressing station, and from there evacuated to No, 2 Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport.
The Battalion was located at Agny.
At 10:00 hours the 4th and 5th Brigades attacked forward with the objective being Cagnicourt. No. 1 & 3 Companies supported the infantry with overhead firing onto enemy positions following in their “A” echelon limbers.
At 4:30 pm No. 3 Company reported he was held up at Senlis River and the battery was located in the ridge to the left of Vis-en-Artois with “N” Battery in the rear. Ammunition was being sent up by mules and at this time casualties were 6 men wounded.
On August 31st, 1918, Private McCracken died from his wounds.
The Company he was attached to was using the Vickers machine gun which fired 600 rounds per minute and his Company would have had 24 machine guns, 16 Officers and about 375 men.