GOVIER, James Charles

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
24
Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        1st Canadian Infantry Division
                                             2nd Infantry Brigade
                                             10th Battalion  -  Western Canadians
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   81327
RESIDENCE:                    Winnipeg – Manitoba 
DATE OF BIRTH:            October 20, 1891
                                             Manitou - Manitoba
DATE OF DEATH:           September 24, 1916             24 years
CEMETERY:                     Puchevillers British Cemetery – Puchevillers –
                                             Somme – France
                                             IV     D     41
PARENTS:                         Mr. William and Susie Govier – Blyth – Ontario
Occupation:                        Brakeman                             Religion:     Wesleyan
Enlistment:                         Winnipeg – Manitoba – December 24, 1914
Enlistment Age:                 23 years     1 month

Private Govier arrived in England in early March of 1915. He then went into France and transferred to the 10th Battalion and was in the thick of it all until the day he was killed in action.
Private Govier received grave wounds in battle, was moved to No. 3 British Casualty Clearing Station - Puchevillers where he lost his fight to life the same day as he received his wounds.
On September 22nd, the 10th Battalion relieved the 52nd Battalion in the forward trenches and this relief was completed at 1:54 am on the morning of September 23rd. The Battalion had the right of the front. “A” Company was to occupy the Sunken Road with 1 Lewis gun. “B” Company was to occupy the trenches with 2 Lewis guns, “D” Company was also to occupy the trenches with 3 Lewis guns and “C” Company was to occupy the area around the chalk mound with 2 Lewis guns. There was a bombing platoon in the Sunken Road. The infantry had full water bottles and carried 48 hours worth of rations plus emergency rations.
Then in the evenng the 10th Battalion was taken from the front lines and relieved by the 7th & 13th Battalions. The relief was completed at 11:15 pm on the night on September 23rd. There was early morning fog but it cleared and it was clear, sunny and warm with winds from the south-east. 
The 10th Battalion then moved to the Battalion support area located in the Chalk Pits.
From the time the 10th Battalion relieved the 52nd Battalion on September 22nd until the time they arrived at the support area by the Chalk Pits the Battalion casualties were 3 killed, 2 missing and 44 wounded.
On September 24th the Brigade artillery was very heavy onto the enemy positions and trenches. The German artillery then replied with their own barrage.
On this day the losses were 3 men killed and 3 men wounded.