CRANSTON, George

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             50th Battalion - Calgary
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   126889
RESIDENCE:                    Walton – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            February 17, 1892
                                             London - England
DATE OF DEATH:           April 10, 1917                      25 years     2 months
MEMORIAL:                    Vimy Memorial – Vimy –
                                             Pas de Calais - France
FRIEND:                            Mr. George Bennewies- Walton - Ontario
Occupation:                        Labourer                               Religion:     Church of England
Enlistment:                         Mitchell – September 30, 1915
Enlistment Age:                 23 years     7 months

Private Cranston sailed from Halifax on HMTS Olympic on April 1, 1916 arriving in England on April 11, 1916. He transferred to the 50th Battalion at the end of May 1916, proceeded overseas into France on August 11, 1916.
On this day, the day following the capture of Vimy Ridge, it was cold and it was wet and raining and the Battalion was at The Music Hall Line preparing for the assault on Hill 145. “A & C” Companies were left and right assault while “B & D” Companies were left and right supporting Companies.
The 4th Division was assigned the task of capturing Hill 145 and the Pimple and if successful the whole of the Douai Plain would lay before them.
Zero hour was 3:15 pm and the Battalion had moved to the advance point at Beer Trench and as they advanced they encountered very strong and very heavy enemy opposition but were still able to achieve their objectives and to consolidate their positions by 3:45 pm.
The enemy counter-attacked down Basin Trench driving a Battalion post back 50 yards before being driven off. Banff Trench was then consolidated as a defensive line.
During the assault on Hill 145 62 men were killed, 135 were wounded and 32 men were missing.
During this attack was when Private Cranston lost his life in action performing his duties. The war diaries and his file do not provide information as to how this soldier died except for the basic information. In addition, other research from books written about this day would provide no new information about the last moments of Private George Cranston.