CANTELON, Homer Arthur

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        1st Canadian Infantry Division
                                             1st Infantry Brigade
                                             1st Battalion - Western Ontario
                                             No. 2 Company
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   A /151 400151
RESIDENCE:                    Clinton – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            May 12, 1894
                                             Clinton – Goderich Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           May 22, 1916                       22 years      
CEMETERY:                     Chester Farm Cemetery – Ieper –
                                             West Vlaanderen – Belgium
                                             II     A     10
FATHER:                           Mr. John Cantelon – Clinton - Ontario 
Occupation:                        Sailor                                    Religion:     Church of England
Enlistment:                         Clinton – January 12, 1915
Enlistment Age:                 20 years     7 months

We know from his file that Private Cantelon sailed from Canada on March 13, 1916 and would have arrived in England during the third or fourth week of March.
On June 27, 1915 while at Shorncliffe -Kent he was Taken on Strength with No. 2 Company. He was then involved in the 1st Battalion draft held on August 24, 1915 in France. He then joined his unit five days later on August 29, 1915.
On the morning of May 22, 1916, the Battalion was in a position on the front 800 yards south of Le Touret in the area of Bedford House.
The winds were south-west. 
At 2 pm No.2 Company plus another Company moved via Festubert to the reserve trenches at Willow Road. At this time there was very heavy enemy artillery fire onto this position which was opposite New Years Trench. At this point in the day is where our research indicates that Private Cantelon lost his life. We feel he suffered fatal shrapnel wounds from this enemy bombardment.
At 9 pm the two companies returned to the Battalion and the Battalion as a whole moved to take over part of the front line occupied by the 8th Battalion.
1 Company was positioned in an old enemy communication trench.
1 Company was in support in an old enemy trench on the north side of Le Quinque Rue.
2 Companies were in reserve in an old British trench north of Le Quinque Rue
At 10 pm there was heavy rain falling.