Rank
Pte
Service No.
724272
Unit
109th Btn, 38th Btn
Died
3 November, 1917
Age 33
Age 33
Buried
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium - XXI HH 12A
Remembrance:
First World War Book of Remembrance - Page 290
Additional Info
Robert Henry Mark was born 17 September 1883 in Cameron ON to Henry and Catrin Ann Mark. He was the second youngest of 5 boys and the only son to enlist in WW1. At some point before enlisting, Robert married Margaret Oakley in Purdue, Saskatchewan, and the couple had two girls, Lillian and Martha. When their father died of his wounds, they were just 3 and 1 years old.
Like many of his friends, Robert was a farmer by trade, as his father was before him. Originally enlisting with the 109th on 29 April 1916, Robert was transferred to the 38th Battalion with many other original 109th soldiers upon arriving in France. This battalion would see heavy action in many key battles, including Vimy Ridge.
Robert was first wounded 7 June 1917 with a GSW to the thigh and returned to active service within a month. The 38th Battalion war diary notes that the attack on Passchendaele Ridge would take place on 30 October 1917 and details the fierce fighting that occurred. It’s not known where in the battle Pte Mark was, but the total number of casualties for this attack was 150 men of all ranks. On 31 Oct 1917 Robert received several shrapnel wounds and was treated at 8 Canadian Field Ambulance and then 2 CCS before dying of his injuries on 3 November 1917.
Robert Henry Mark is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. He was 33 years old.
Attestation and other Documents (pdf, 42 pages - 19MB)
