BROCK, Leonard Roy

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             50th Battalion - Calgary
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   127184
RESIDENCE:                    Wingham – Ontario.
DATE OF BIRTH:            June 9, 1895
                                             Parry Sound District - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           November 18, 1916             21 years     5 months
CEMETERY:                     Adanac Military Cemetery – Miraumont –
                                             Somme – France
                                             III     H     31
PARENT:                           Elizabeth A. Brock – Wingham - Ontario
Occupation:                        Bank Clerk                           Religion:     Methodist
Enlistment:                         Wingham – October 13, 1915 into the 71st Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 20 years     4 months

Leonard is honoured and remembered on the Bank of Montreal Memorial Plaque.
Private Brock arrived in Halifax, boarded the S.S. Olympic and embarked from Canada on April 1, 1916 and arrived in Liverpool on April 11, 1916. On May 28th he transferred to the 50th Battalion. He then went overseas into France and disembarked in Le Havre on August 11, 1916.
The final day of the Battle of the Somme was November 18, 1916 and on this day the 4th Canadian Division used five battalions of about 4,000 men, sent them north and they very quickly advanced on Desire Trench and captured it. This objective was 600 yards further forward of the destroyed Regina Trench. They then advanced another 600 yards before they were then forced back to Desire Trench. Division losses were 1,250 men killed, wounded or missing.
Private Brock was killed from bullet wounds to the heart after he “went over the top” with the members of his Battalion during an attack near Courcelette in the Regina Trench.
Private Brock arrived in Liverpool on the S. S. Olympic on April 11, 1916. Private Brock transferred to the 50th Battalion May 28, 1916 and went overseas during August of 1916 and immediately joined his unit in the field.
 November 18th was the final day of the Battle of Ancre. These days had been glorious but at the same time costly. They had been able to advance a half mile beyond Regina Trench but at a cost of 1,250 men lost.
When he and the men in his unit began their attack against an enemy trench, which was later taken by the 50th Battalion, he was shot through the heart and he died immediately.
The barrage began at dawn and was put down on the front enemy lines with two Companies advancing on the Germans positioned about 300 yards in front of Regina Trench. The objectives were gained. The Battalion’s smoke barrage caused the Battalion to lose touch with the 75th Battalion on the left and left about 200 yards of enemy trenches still occupied by the enemy. Even so the advance continued and the enemy trenches were taken and then these positions were consolidated. Heavy casualties had been taken because the Battalion had been exposed to heavy enemy enfilade fire from the enemy machine-guns. 
During the last few days of the Battle of Ancre the costs were heavy for the 50th Battalion. Their 200 wide front of their objective the Regina Trench was in their hands. They had advanced and clawed their way forward for another 500 yards beyond their objective.
The casualties were 17 killed, 98 wounded and 85 mising. One of those killed was Private Brock.