WYGOLD, Edward John

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             11th Infantry Brigade
                                             87th Battalion  -  Canadian Grenadier Guards
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   802119
RESIDENCE:                    Elimville - Ontario
DATE OF BIRTH:            March 10, 1891
                                             London - England
DATE OF DEATH:           August 23, 1917                   26 years
CEMETERY:                     Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery – Souchez
                                             Pas de Calais – France
                                             VII     J     16
PARENTS:                         Mr. Daniel & Mrs. E. J. Wygold – Plaistow – London - England
SISTER:                              Mrs. Alice Wygold – Plaistow - London - England
Occupation:                        Farmer                                  Religion:     Methodist
Enlistment:                         November 20, 1915 – Parkhill - Ontario
Enlistment Age:                 24 years

Private Wygold sailed with his unit from Halifax on August 22, 1916 on the SS Lapland arriving in England on 
   August 30, 1916.
Private Wygold was reported as missing while he was serving near Hill 70 located at Lens in France on 
August 15th 1917.
It was later learned on August 23rd that had in fact been captured and had been a prisoner of war in a German prison camp and that he had died in captivity from wounds suffered to his leg below the knee and left upper arm.
He died as a German prisoner of war, at a German Field Hospital (“Feldazarett”) located at Feldas, Oignies in France and was buried in a German cemetery and later exhumed and placed at rest at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery. 
The town of Oignies in France was occupied by the Germans from very early in the war until October 1918 at which time they began their retreat toward Germany.
The Germans were found to be in much greater strength than previously told and they were also more determined to dispute the battleground than was previously anticipated.
The role of the 87th Battalion was to make the enemy believe that the Canadian Corps would be attacking on the 87th Battalion front. The 87th was ordered to engage as many of the enemy as possible, keep them busy and divert their attention from where the 1st & 2nd Canadian Divisions were positioned. The 87th Battalion was very successful in this operation but at a very high cost in men.
During the evening of August 15th, the 87th Battalion was relieved by the 102nd which was completed by 11:30 pm.
The Canadian Unknown Soldier brought back from France and resting at the national War memorial in Ottawa had been originally buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery.