TOMS, Hugh Wilfred

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Clinton, Ontario
Original Unit
161st Huron Battalion
Regimental Number
654440
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
20 years 5 months
Cemetery
Crucifix Corner Cemetery - Somme - France
Cenotaph
Bayfield Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         2nd Canadian Infantry Division
                                             4th Infantry Brigade
                                             18th Battalion - Western Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   654440
RESIDENCE:                    Bayfield – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            February 18, 1898
                                             Bayfield – Goderich Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           August 8, 1918                     20 years     5 months
CEMETERY:                     Crucifix Corner Cemetery – Villers-Brettoneux –
                                             Somme – France
                                             I     D     5
FATHER:                           Mr. John Toms – Bayfield - Ontario
Occupation:                        Fisherman                            Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         Clinton – February 5, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 18 years

Private Toms and the 161st Battalion boarded the SS Lapland in Halifax harbour and sailed from Canada and arrived in Liverpool on November 11, 1916.
Private Toms was killed in action near Corbie in France.
This morning the fog was heavy with no observation available of the enemy lines or of their objective.
The enemy commenced an artillery bombardment at 04:00 hours on the Battalion but it was light in  
      nature, but more heavy fire was directed on the wooded area to the south-west of Villers-Bretteneux. 
The Brigade barrage set to begin at 04:20 hours prior to the advance was just ready to begin when the enemy ceased their firing
The advance began forward with the 18th Battalion on the right. “C” Company of the 2nd Platoon was responsible for the right flank and making contacting with the 1st Canadian Division. “A” Company was the left flank and was to contact the 19th Battalion. “D” Company was in support 200 yards to the rear and to the west of Marcelcave and the quarry beside.
By 07:45 am hours the Battalion had reached the extreme limits of their objective and the casualties were light because of the heavy fog.
The Battalion then pushed past the quarry for another 300 yards and it was here they set up their defences.
Throughout the advance the enemy opposition was quite considerable and it was mainly from there well established and hidden machine-gun posts and nests.
During the day 30 men were killed and 120 more were wounded.