School Remembrance Projects

George Strachan, Private
77th & 87th Battalion/ 22nd Reserve Battalion/ C.C.A.C.
11th Infantry Brigade
4th Canadian Division 42nd Regiment

Personal Information: George Strachan was born on December 2nd, 1896 in Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada. He lived with his mother, Alice Strachan in Smiths Falls until the Spring of 1915. On July 24th, 1915, Strachan enlisted in the army at the age of 18. So this grey eyed - brown haired boy became a soldier of the 77th Battalion of the 42nd Regiment in the Canadian Infantry. (Attestation Papers)

Military Movements: After George Strachan enlisted for the army on July 24th, 1915 and became a part of the 77th Battalion, his soldier life began. He trained in Canada until he shipped out to England in early June 1916. On June 28th, 1916, Strachan arrived in England. (Archives)

On July 4th,1916 he was Transferred on Strength (TOS) to the 87th Battalion and embarked to France on August 10th,1916. He was sent to C.C.A.C. in Folkestone on September 18th, 1916. In researching we were not able to find out what CCAC meant. On February 22nd, 1917 Strachan was sent to the 22nd Reserve Battalion and then went back to the 87th Battalion on April 20th, 1917. Unfortunately, the 87th Battalion had suffered severe losses in April 1917 when they were attempting to take Hill 145. (Nicholson, page 260) Also, the 87th Battalion was involved in the Battle of Amiens where Strachan and the 87th Battalion were ordered by General Currie to secure the front line positions around Le Quesnel Wood and eliminate pockets of German resistance. What is interesting about this battle is the use of tanks to secure the front line. (Nicholson, page 410) The last known activities of the 87th Battalion was on August 19th, 1918 when Strachan and the battalion advanced east of the village of Chilly-Lihons and resisted four German counter-attacks on the evening of the 19th August. (Nicholson, page 419) After World War One ended, George Strachan was sent back to Canada on June 9th, 1919 and on the same day he was discharged from the army.

Medical Records: George Strachan was admitted to Earlern General Hospital in Cambridge, England one month after he arrived in England. He was discharged from this hospital 2 days after he admitted. There was no record of his injury. On November 23rd, 1916 he was admitted to CC hospital in Epsom with a gunshot wound in the right knee. He was discharged from the hospital on January 4th, 1917 after he stayed in this hospital for 2 months. (Archives)

The Final Days: George Strachan and other soldiers of 87th Battalion returned to Canada on June 9th, 1919. He arrived at Montreal, Quebec and on the same day he was released from army at the age of 22. He returned home to Smiths Falls, Ontario.

Lest We Forget: George Strachan survived World War One. He was released from the army at the age of twenty-two. He received the British War & Victory medals from this war. All his information was kept at the National Archives. His reference number RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9370-37 and his service number 144575.

Primary Source
Military Files
National Archives of Canada

Internet
www.vac-acc.gcc.ca
www.archives.ca
www.cwgc.org

Text
Nicholson, Colonel G.W.L, Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 ( Queen's Printer, 1964)