MILITARY HISTORY

Private Ira Thomas Pye Snelgrove – 760169 – ACTIVE SERVICE (World War I)

On December 1, 1915 Ira Thomas Pye Snelgrove completed the Attestation Paper for the Canadian Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in New Westminster, British Columbia (BC). He was 37 years, 8 months and 23 days old when, as a single man, he enlisted for the duration of the War. Ira Thomas Pye was born in Lakefield, Ontario, and gave his birth-date as March 9, 1878. On his Attestation Paper, he indicated that he had belonged to the 57th Regiment, Peterborough Rangers for five years. There is nothing on his File to indicate where he was educated or to what level. As far as employment is concerned, he lists Painting Manager. Ira Thomas Pye was 5′ 5” tall, 36″ chest (expanded); his weight was 134 pounds. He had a fair complexion, with blue eyes and brown hair. Ira Thomas Pye’s Medical Examination was completed in New Westminster. He was deemed fit for Overseas duty with the Canadian Army, CEF. His next-of-kin was listed as a cousin, Mrs. E. D. Braden, of Vancouver, BC and also notification to Miss S. L. Gregory, Exeter Ontario, at the Radio Navigation School (RNS). Ira Thomas Pye Snelgrove signed the Oath and Certificate of Attestation December 1, 1915, in New Westminster. The Certificate of Magistrate was signed by the Justice on December 1, 1915. Ira Thomas Pye Snelgrove was taken-on-strength, as a Private (Pte), with the 121st “Western Canada” Overseas Battalion (Bn), in New Westminster and was assigned Regimental Number 760169.

January 10, 1916 Pte Snelgrove was promoted to the Rank of Corporal (Cpl) but it was shown as Lance Corporal. There is no documentation for the next 7 months. August 1, 1916 L/Cpl Snelgrove made a Pay Assignment to Mr. Robert A. Braden (cousin), PO Box 74, New Westminster, BC. L/Cpl Snelgrove’s Military Records do not have any documentation that covers the period of time from December 1, 1915 to August 14, 1916; a little over 8 months. This 8 month, 13-day period would have been used to do all his Basic and Advanced Training. The main goal was to form the men into Units and ship them off to England as quickly as possible where their training would be completed. On August 14, 1916 L/Cpl Snelgrove embarked from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the SS Empress of Britain for England. He disembarked at Liverpool, England on August 24, 1916 on strength with the 121st Overseas Bn. On August 28, 1916 L/Cpl Snelgrove was appointed to the Rank of Corporal (Cpl) at Bramshott, England. The following 4½ months have no documentation, Cpl Snelgrove was undoubtedly performing assigned duties and more training in England.

121st Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
The 121st Battalion (Western Irish) and the 11th Regiment the Irish Fusiliers of Canada, received permission to recruit an overseas battalion in early November 1915. The authority was published in General Orders 151 of November 22, 1915. The Battalion was a distinctly Irish Unit, and was mobilized at Queen’s Park, New Westminister under Lt Col A. W. McLelan, later to be a Commanding Officer of the Irish Fusiliers of Canada. The Battalion was recruited in New Westminster and Vancouver, by November 8, 1915 before official authorization had been received; more than half the men required had signified their willingness to join. A large number of the Garrison and Home Establishment of the Irish Fusiliers of Canada had enlisted. The men of the 121st Bn were first engaged in training at Vernon Camp in the summer of 1916, finally left Vernon for overseas in August 1916. [Courtesy of Edward McRae]

16th Canadian Reserve Battalion (British Columbia)
The 16th Canadian Reserve Battalion was organized at Seaford, England on January 10, 1917 under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel E. C. J. L. Henniker. Authorization published in Canadians’ Routine Orders 271, January 20, 1917. Formed by absorbing 103rd and 121st Battalions. Absorbed 225th Battalion on February 6, 1917. Reinforced 54th and 102nd Battalions and 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles. Absorbed by 1st Canadian Reserve Battalion on February 15, 1918. [Courtesy of Edward McRae]

January 2, 1917 Cpl Snelgrove’s next-of-kin’s address was changed from Mrs. E. D. Braden, 20 Slocan Street, Vancouver to Kelowna, BC. January 9, 1917 Cpl Snelgrove was struck-off-strength from the 121st O/S Bn to the 16th Reserve Battalion (Res Bn) at Seaford, England. January 10, 1917 he was taken-on-strength to the 16th Res Bn. February 6, 1917 Cpl Snelgrove reverts to the Rank of Private at his own request to proceed Overseas. On February 7, 1917 Pte Snelgrove is struck-off-strength from the 16th Res Bn for Overseas Service with the 54th Bn at Seaford. On February 8, 1917 he was attached to the Canadian Base Depot (CBD) in the Field (France). On February 9, 1917 Pte Snelgrove left the CBD for the 54th Bn in the Field. On February 12, 1917 he arrived at the 54th Bn and was taken-on-strength. Another period, 10 months, of no documentation; being in the Field he would have had many assignments, including on the Front-Line and training.

December 1, 1917 Pte Snelgrove is granted one Good Conduct Badge. On December 24, 1917 Pte Snelgrove was granted 14 days Leave to January 9, 1918.

August 7, 1918 the 54th Bn was stationed at the Gentelles Wood, FR in preparation for the attack; at 4am on August 8 the Battle of Amiens commenced. Sometime in the battle a mortar shell exploded and killed 8 soldiers Pte Snelgrove was one of these 8 men killed.

After another 8-month gap in his File, on August 8, 1918 Pte Snelgrove is killed-in-action was reported from the Base.

Pte Snelgrove was buried in a temporary grave and then at the end of the War was moved to the cemetery at Moreuil, France were he rests in peace today.
Note: Text in Italics is courtesy of Edward McRae.

Private Ira Thomas Pye Snelgrove is memorialized on Page 504 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. He is interred in the Moreuil Communal Cemetery; Somme, France.

Pte Snelgrove left a Military Will in which he left all his assets and belongings In-Trust to R. A. Braden, Barrister (cousin) at PO Box 74, New Westminster, B.C.

Private Ira Thomas Pye Snelgrove served with the Canadian Army a total of 2 years, 8 months, and 7 days: 8 months and 13 days in Canada, 5 months, 14 days in the UK, 1 year and 6 months in France and 10 days travel time.

There is no mention in his File with regards to what Military Medals that Private Ira Thomas Pye Snelgrove was eligible to receive. Based on his Military Service, he was awarded the:

British War Medal; and
Victory Medal.
He would have also received the CEF Class “A” War Service Badge.

Private Ira Thomas Pye Snelgrove’s Medals and Decorations were sent to his half-brother, Mr. H. A. Little Hall’s Glen, Ontario. His Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll were sent Mr. H. A. Little, at the above address. These articles were dispatched March 16 – 17, 1922.

Note
There are many large gaps in the documentation of this Veteran’s Service. Attempts to access the 54th Bn War Diaries were not successful.

An excerpt from an article in Maclean’s by Barbara Ameil, 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”.

PERSONAL HISTORY

IRA THOMAS PYE SNELGROVE

Ira Thomas Pye Snelgrove was born in Lakefield, Ontario on March 9, 1878, the son of Isaac Snelgrove and Elizabeth Mary Pye. He received his education in the rural school and in Lakefield. Ira was four years old when his dad died and by 1884 Ira and his mother were living in Lakefield. On November 6, 1884, his mother Elizabeth married William John Little and the family moved to the Little farm near Warsaw, Ontario. At age 12, Ira’s mother died on June 13, 1890 and his step-father died on November 6, 1899.
Ira spent five years training with the 57th Regiment Peterborough Rangers. By 1911, Ira had moved to St. Thomas and was working as a printer. He moved west to New Westminster B.C. and in 1914 Ira went to work with The Western Call newspaper as their general manager.
In December 1915 he was living in British Columbia and working as a newspaper manager when he enlisted to serve his King and Country. He listed Mrs. E. D. Braden, an aunt, as his next-of-kin. She was living in Vancouver, B.C. at the time. Sadly less than three years later, in 1918, Ira Thomas Pye Snelgrove was killed in action in France and is remembered with honour in the Moreuil Communal Cemetery in France.

THE IRA THOMAS PYE SNELGROVE FAMILY OF LAKEFIELD

Ira’s maternal grandparents were Elizabeth and Thomas Pye. They resided in Cobourg and later moved to Douro Township, Peterborough County.

Ira’s paternal grandparents were Isaac Snelgrove born in England in November 1815 and Charlotte Anne Payne born in England in November 1822. They married in the United Church in Dummer Township on June 1, 1840. Isaac was a wagon maker and they resided in Dummer Township and had a family of eight children: Henry; Mary; James; Jacob; Isaac; Sarah Hannah, born August 7, 1856; Charlotte Ann, born September 29, 1858 and Moses Snelgrove. By 1881, the family had moved to a farm in Smith Township. Isaac died on April 12, 1895 and Charlotte passed away on October 23, 1912; both are buried in Lakefield Cemetery.

Sarah Hannah married John Chastey; they had a daughter, Mary Evelyn, who married Edwin Donald Braden in April 1913.
Charlotte Ann married Edward James Abbott on March 29, 1882.

Ira Thomas Pye Snelgrove was the son of Isaac Snelgrove born in Smith Township in November 1853 and Elizabeth Mary Pye born in Cobourg in 1856. Isaac and Elizabeth were married in the Bible Christian Church in Lakefield on April 26, 1876. Isaac was a carriage maker and they made their home in Lakefield until Isaac became ill and the family moved to Smith Township to be near his parents. When Ira was four years old, Isaac passed away on May 6, 1882, age 28 years, from tubercular consumption and is buried in the Lakefield Cemetery. Shortly after the death of her husband, Elizabeth and Ira moved back to Lakefield. On November 6, 1884, Elizabeth Mary Pye married William John Little, son of William Henry Little and Elizabeth Singleton, in the Methodist Parsonage in Warsaw, Ontario. William was a farmer so the family settled on the Little farm. Elizabeth and William has a son Percy, baby Percy passed away at one month of age. Elizabeth passed away June 13, 1890 and William John Little died on November 3, 1899; both are buried in St. Mark’s Cemetery in Warsaw, Ontario.