Greer, Thomas Boles

916549 Lieutenant Thomas Boles Greer was a member of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and served during the First World War in the 198^th (Canadian Buffs) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, the 180^th (Sportsmen’s) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and the 38^th (Ottawa) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. On 21 July 1917 he died of wounds likely received during the capture of Avion Trench.

Thomas Boles Greer was born on 07 May 1884 in Toronto the son of James Greer and Margaret Haliburton. He was married to Mildred Irene Kane and they lived at 13 Westminster Ave, Toronto. Thomas was a clerk with the City of Toronto’s Architect’s Department, stood 5 feet 9 inches tall and was a member of the Church of England. At the time of his attestation he had been a Private in the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada for 3 years.

Timeline of Service:

1913 (approx) – enrolled as a Private into the Queen’s Own, Toronto
1916, 01 Apr – Enlistment, Medical Examination and Attestation at the Toronto Recruiting Depot
1916, 03 Apr – Taken On Strength by the 198th Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
1916, 01 Jul – moved with the battalion from Toronto to Camp Borden
1916, 08 Sep – Taken On Strength by the 180^th (Sportsmen’s) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force – Camp Borden
1916, 08 Sep – Appointed Lieutenant
1916, 28 Sep – prepared a Form of Will leaving his Real and Personal Estates to his wife Mildred
1916, 13 Nov – embarked at Halifax aboard the H.M.T. Olympic
1916, 21 Nov – arrived England
1916, 29 Dec – Taken On Strength by the 38^th (Ottawa) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force – Havre, France
1916, 31 Dec – left for unit in the field
1916, 01 Jan – Assigned Pay of $20.00 per month to his wife Mildred and Separation Allowance of $30.00 per month begins (Assigned Pay later increased to $30.00 per month).
1917, 02 Jan – joined unit in the field – France
1917, 09 Jan – Mildred moves to 718 Bathurst St., Toronto
1917, 15 Jan to 12 Feb – Signal Course – 1^st Army School
1917, 28 Feb to 06 Apr – 8^th Course (sic) – 1^st Army School – In the Field
1917, 07 May – Mildred moves to 87 Indian Road, Toronto
Likely participated in the Battle of Vimy Ridge – 09-12 Apr 1917
Likely participated in the Battle of Arleux – 28–29 Apr 1917
Likely participated in the Battle of Fresnoy – 03-08 May 1917
Likely participated in the Affairs South of Souchez River – 03-25 June 1917
Likely wounded during the Capture of Avion Trench – 26-29 June 1917
1917, 30 Jun – reported wounded from General HQ with a gunshot wound to his right ankle
1917, 03 Jul – admitted to No.20 General Hospital, Camiers, France
1917, 08 Jul – reported dangerously ill
1917, 20 Jul – reported dangerously ill
1917, 21 Jul – Died of Wounds Received in Action – age 33
Buried at Etaples Military Cemetery – reference: XVII. D. 25. – Pas de Calais, France
1917, 01 Nov – pension granted (Mildred had moved to 233 Fern Ave., Toronto)
1918, 01 Dec – Commemorated on the World War One Memorial Tablet unveiled in St. Paul’s Anglican Church – Toronto
1920, 31 July – Mildred received a War Service Gratuity to Dependents of Deceased Soldiers of $120.00
1920, 21 Sep – Memorial Cross authorized (to Mildred only as Thomas’ mother had predeceased)
1921, 19 Feb – Memorial Scroll authorized
1922, 13 Jun – Memorial Plaque authorized

Commemorated on page 247 of the First World War Book of Remembrance – Ottawa
Commemorated in The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada’s Book of Remembrance – Warriors’ Chapel, Canterbury Cathedral – England
Commemorated on the Canadian Buffs Memorial, Canterbury Cathedral – England
Commemorated on the Employees of the City of Toronto Memorial Plaque – Old City Hall, Toronto

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