major general september june canadian general art patron practiced law toronto led years world war killed action mount belgium experienced militia commander demonstrated great flair training organising raw canadian recruits opening months war demonstrated courage fire visiting lines numerous occasions height battle personally directing forces face poison gas attacks heavy remains senior canadian officer die combat unfortunate killed opening engagement largest battle career trapped line reconnaissance overrun subsequent german attack division created trained remained best units canadian army successor remembered men command attended funeral aftermath early years born september small town west toronto ontario canada children thomas raised childhood educated local schools worked family farm study philosophy graduated turned attention law called bar years later established practice toronto partners forming highly successful firm managed married children reportedly quiet avoided publicity moved little society legal practice preferred clients court years law substantial income support arts amassed large art collection including pieces close friend admirer art collection auctioned found contain selection art sculpture antique furniture globe keen amateur painter excellent represented canada shooting contests home britain military service greatest passion reserved canadian militia joined student posted queen rifles canada private soldier devoted time energy unit excellent soldier rate shot rose steadily ranks militia officer captain major led company marie calm riot striking dock workers deployment promoted regiment aide camp defence minister military tour europe inspected german army hand convinced war imminent outbreak world war august immediately called hughes establish build ordered regiment near august worked law office arriving time barracks uniform days promoted command 1st consisted battalions recruited ontario men dispersed intended spread experience morale raw recruits end september months training brigade departed day sea voyage britain installment arrival plymouth british officer took overall command canadian contingent known camp oversaw training organising ready fighting belgium northern france performed task inspection camp november king george lord roberts lord drew compliment finer physique british_army fine brigade splendid fellow expeditionary force commanded similar training camps officers prepared men departure france february second battle dispatched western initially deployed near belgian town april men embroiled second battle german attack french lines caused massive casualties use poison gas brigade fed battle reinforcements poorly coordinated staff officers confused bloody encounter canadian forces held germans despite forced wrap soaked faces counteract gas day men directed attack named operation failed french troops ordered support canadian line arrive travelled line witness battle came fire time retiring order french officers intended support canadian contingent took heavy casualties battle subsequently canadian courage action year involved fighting assaulting german lines unsuccessful battles aftermath engagements reorganised consisting divisions led turner overall command british lieutenant general detached brigade placed charge coordinating mass small independent canadian units steadily arriving canada autumn able shape force included cavalry regiments british indian artillery effective infantry unit january confirmed command disparate force death mount early june posted trenches belgian town new commander corps positions german held rise named noted canadian troops overlooked german positions constant danger enemy fire germans digging new trenches implied assault intended ordered reconnaissance line draw plan overrun dangerous german positions local attack complied june conducting standard inspection line canadian trenches shortly arrived trenches massive german artillery bombardment began heavy calibre shells destroying trenches killing canadian soldiers trapped stunned huge shell burst wounded staff officers battalion badly wounded officers transported underground field hospital left wounded aide captain present hospital buried explosion mines preceded large scale german attack confused situation attempted escape advancing enemy inadvertently ran leg broken bullet sheltered continued artillery bombardment battered trench suffering effects wounds june stage battle artillery duel begun armies mixed trapped approximately shell exploded trench hiding wounding killing instantly wounds heart stayed commanding officer body captured advancing german troops buried general corpse shallow grave request buried field hospital captured advancing germans result knew general whereabouts day returned allied lines staff officer later claimed shell killed british origin unclear conclusion reached captured general assumed command battle use bombardment able retake lost trenches drive germans despite heavy casualties june canadian burial party found bodies sector trench general remains uniform decoration buried military grave military cemetery later commonwealth war grave funeral attended men division old regiments numerous canadian british officers worked alongside posthumously mentioned dispatches courage fire time mentioned division taken killed action years later remembered efficient capable got opportunity demonstrate tactical shown training exercises remains highest ranking canadian officer killed combat legacy toronto originally built named active following armistice germany steps taken create new toronto accommodate returning soldiers looking join including new lodge west toronto junction neighbourhood toronto instituted named general honour general remains active day meeting temple west toronto attended lodge prior war
Malcolm Mercer