WEST, Robert Ingersoll

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Original Unit
78th Battalion - Winnipeg Grenadiers
Regimental Number
2115529
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
24 years 5 months
Cemetery
Hillside Cemetery - Somme - France
Cenotaph
Seaforth Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             12th Infantry Brigade
                                             78th Battalion  -  Winnipeg Grenadiers
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   2115529
RESIDENCE:                    Winnipeg - Manitoba
DATE OF BIRTH:            March 10, 1894
                                             Cavalier – North Dakota - USA
DATE OF DEATH:           August 24, 1918                   24 years     5 months
CEMETERY:                     Hillside Cemetery – Les Quesnel
                                             Somme – France
                                             II     B     5
PARENTS:                         Mr. George and Margaret West – Seaforth, Ontario / Winnipeg, Manitoba 
Occupation:                        Salesman                              Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         September 7, 1917 – Winnipeg Manitoba
Enlistment Age:                 23 years     6 months

Private West departed from Canada at Halifax on the SS Cretic and arrived overseas on March 4, 1918.  He then went to Dibgate Camp – Kent and here he was Taken on Strength by the 44th Battalion and went to Seaford – East Sussex where the 44th Battalion was. He then went overseas into France and joined the 44th already in the field on July 24, 1918. On August 6th he was Struck off Service with the 44th Battalion and was Taken on Strength by the 78th Battalion already in the field and joined them on August 13, 1918.
Private West was in the field 9 days before losing his life.
On the evening of August 24th the 78th Battalion was in Reserve in the area of Gentelles Wood in the area of Rosieres and Cachy. The Battalion was relieved by French units but left the area before their arrival. During the relief process 25 men were killed and 45 men were wounded from the effects of hostile enemy bombing.
Private West was killed performing his military duties during the Battalion relief and enemy hostile bombing.