REICHARD, George

REICHARD, George

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Hensall, Ontario
Original Unit
Regimental Number
654731
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
40 years 4 months
Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             47th Battalion - West Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   654731
RESIDENCE:                    Hensall – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            May 13, 1878
                                             Wellesley – Waterloo County - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           September 27, 1918             40 years     4 months
CEMETERY:                     Quarry Wood Cemetery – Sans-les-Marquion –
                                             Pas de Calais – France
                                             II     B     24
PARENT:                           Mr. Adam and Mary Reichard – Hensall - Ontario
Occupation:                        Labourer                               Religion:     Methodist
Enlistment:                         Hensall – April 6, 1916 – 161st Huron battalion
Enlistment Age:                 37 years     11 months

Private Reichard and the 161st left Canada on November 1st and arrived in Liverpool on November 11, 1916. On March 4, 1918 Private Reichard was Struck off Strength from the 161st Battalion based at Witley Camp – Surrey and absorbed into the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Bramshott – Hampshire. On March 28th he went overseas into France and is attached to the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Pool. Then on August 12, 1918 he joins his unit in the field.
The 4th Division advanced across the Canal du Nord and very rapidly were on the enemy positions but they came under very heavy enemy machine gun fire from the exposed flank on the south. The Village of Bourlon fell and the advance was halted west of the Marcoing Line.
Private Reichard was killed in action as he performed his duties and was struck by shrapnel and he advanced with his unit west of Bourlon.
Winds on this day were north-west with good visibility and fine weather.
The 44th Battalion was in front of the 47th Battalion which was acting as support. A heavy barrage began falling at 
5:20 am. Originally it was heavy but thinned out as the infantry advanced. The Battalions were close together to try and avoid the enemy counter-barrage which would certainly be falling soon.
The objective was the Canal du Nord lines in front of the canal, the Sunken Road and the Marcoing Line.
The assaulting right / left Companies were “A” & “C” with the right / left supporting Companies being “B” & “D” Companies.
“A” Company met no resistance until they reached Raillencourt and this was from isolated pockets of resistance. When they came upon the Marcoing Line there was heavy enemy resistance including machine-gun fire.
“C” Company was in the town, had taken heavy enemy fire and were not able to proceed. They consolidated and then were able to reach their objective by going north of Sailly.
“B” Company had gone into the outskirts of Raillencourt and met very heavy enemy fire. They called for support from “D” Company and were then able to destroy the opposition. The enemy was overrun.
By 7:10 am the Marcoing Line along with Sailly had been reached and the Battalion then reorganized and consolidated.
Casualties included 30 killed, 140 wounded and 31 missing.
With all Companies having consolidated they were now waiting for either an enemy counter-attack or to continue with the advance.