MILITARY HISTORY
PRIVATE CECIL HENRY MOUNCE – No. 412389 – Active Service (World War I)
On May 8, 1915, Cecil Henry Mounce completed the Attestation Paper for the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF) at Peterborough, Ontario. He was 22 years old when, as unmarried man, he enlisted for the duration of the War. Cecil was born in Sault St. Marie, Ontario and gave his date of birth as July 13th, 1892. He listed his present address as 141 Hunter Street East Peterborough, Ontario. His next of kin was listed as Mrs. Sydney Manning of Lakefield, Ontario. Cecil indicated that he had no previous Military experience and he had not served in an Active Formation or Unit of The Canadian Army. Cecil indicated he had previously worked as a canoe builder. He was described as standing 5 feet 5 inches with dark complexion and brown eyes and black hair.
Private Mounce was taken on strength the 39th Canadian Overseas Battalion and trained in Halifax Nova Scotia. He was sent to England with 2nd Canadian Battalion on June 4th from Halifax and arrived in Liverpool England on June 11th, 1915. He was sent to France with the 2nd Battalion on July 17th, 1915.
2nd Battalion war action in France
On 8 February 1915, the 2nd battalion was mobilized for war. They sailed out of England aboard the S.S. Blackwell, bound for France. The battalion’s first taste of battle came later that month, on 19 February, when they entered the trench system at Armentieres. Their first battle was the Second Battle of Ypres, in April 1915. When the battalion pulled out of the battle, on 29 April, the final count included 6 officers and 68 other ranks killed 4 officers and 158 other ranks wounded, and 5 officers and 302 other ranks missing, for a combined loss of 543 men.
The 2nd Battalion also fought at the battles of Ypres St. Julien, Festubert, Pozieres, Vimy (1917) Arieux, Hill 70. Passchendaele, Amiens, and canal du Nord, to name only a few. By the end of the war, 242 officers and 5,084 other ranks had fought with the battalion. Of those, 52 officers and 1,227 other ranks were killed in action, accidentally killed, or died of their injuries.
Private Mounce served as the regimental postman beginning on November 20, 1916. On October 13, 1917, he was granted leave for recovery from gas exposure and sent to England on October 25th, 1917. Private Mounce returned to duty in January 1918. On June 11th, 1918, he spent 7 days in hospital with trench fever and was returned to England.
In England Private Mounce was diagnosed with nephritis and was invalided and returned to Canada. He was discharged from Military service in Kingston Ontario on June 26th, 1918. He had served 3 years in England and France.
He was eligible for the Volunteer Service medal, British War Medal (England and France).
Cecil Henry Mounce died on July 11, 1972.
An excerpt from an article in McLean’s magazine by Barbara Amiel, September 1996:
The military is the single calling in the world with job specifications that include a commitment to die for your nation. What could be more honorable?
Cecil Henry Mounce was a member of the Lakefield Methodist church and is included on the Memorial Plaque which honours their members who served in the Armed forced during World War 1. The plaque currently hangs in the sanctuary of the Lakefield United Church 47 Regent Street, Lakefield Ontario.
PERSONAL HISTORY
CECIL HENRY MOUNCE
Cecil Henry Mounce was born in Sault Ste. Marie on July 13, 1892, the son of Mary Ann “Minnie” Carveth and William Henry Mounce. Cecil had an older brother Clarence and a younger sister Vina. By 1897, Cecil’s mother had married William Sidney Manning and the family was living on Regent Street in Lakefield. Cecil received his education in the local schools and later he was living in Peterborough and he was working as a boat builder. In May 1915, Cecil enlisted in Peterborough to serve his King and Country. After the war, Cecil returned to Peterborough and a year later he married Bertha Jessie Record in Peterborough on June 16, 1919. Bertha Jessie Record was born on July 18, 1894, daughter of Jessie Telford and Richard Alfred Record. They had a son Roy Henry Mounce born on June 17, 1929. Bertha passed away on June 22, 1971 and Cecil died on July 11, 1972; both are buried in Little Lake Cemetery in Peterborough, ON.