GARDINER, Earl Albert

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
St Marys, Ontario
Regimental Number
727212
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
23 years 5 months
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         3rd Canadian Infantry Division
                                             9th Infantry Brigade
                                             “C” Company
                                             58th Battalion  -  Central Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   727212
RESIDENCE:                     St. Marys – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            January 18, 1894
                                             Lincoln – Nebraska – U.S.A.
DATE OF DEATH:           June 26, 1917                       23 years     5 months
CEMETERY:                     La Chaudiere Military Cemetery – Vimy –
                                             Pas de Calais – France
                                             II     A     2
PARENTS:                         Mr. and Mrs. James C. Gardiner – Kirkton – Ontario
Occupation:                        Farmer                                  Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         St. Mary’s – December 13, 1915 – into 110th Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 21 years     11 months

Private Gardiner arrived in England and then went to the 8th Reserve Battalion based at Shoreham and Struck off Service of the 110th Battalion. Then on March 3, 1917 he is Taken on Strength with the 58th Battalion and joins this unit already in the field on March 6, 1917.
The Battalion prior to the advance was located at Zollernhaus and on this day the winds were from the south at 
13 mph.
8:30 am – “C” Company – No. 11 Platoon jumped off at Partridge and were to occupy Ace Trench. No. 9 Platoon was to bomb its way up the right of the railway and establish blocks in Railway, Amble and Alcove Trenches. Then both Platoons were to send out patrols to see what the enemy was holding. The balance of 9 Platoon was to hold Gladys Trench while No. 12 Platoon was to hold Partridge Trench. 9:30 am – the remainder of Battalion was to advance to the line of the 1st objective, the Acorn and Ace Trenches. Then the advance would continue and once at Able continue on to Adept Trench. 10:30 am – No. 11 Platoon was in Ace Trench and pushing forward; No. 9 Platoon had established their blocks and pushing forward patrols and No. 12 Platoon was in Partridge Trench. 11:30 am elements of No. 11 Platoon were in Adept and Beaver Trenches to the railway and by noon they were established. No. 9 Platoon had established posts in destroyed homes at the junction of the Avion Road and the railway.
At 9:30 am the 58th Battalion had advanced their line during the morning and pushed forward immediately on completion of the relief and by 2 pm had posts in Amble and Alcove Trenches. There was also a Platoon astride the railway where Adept Trench met the railway and were occupying Adept to Beaver Trench.
At 3 pm the order was passed for the 58th to send out strong patrols at dark to reconnoitre Avion Trench and to occupy. It was during this period when Private Gardiner lost his life in the trenches near Lens.
His brother Edwin would lose his life a number of months later during his first day in the field.