Pvt. Mervyn Forsey Miskelly #2043040 was born to William and Maggie also known as Ellen and Hellen Miskelly in Merrickville, ON on July 13, 1882. His younger brother Lawrence was a bookkeeper in Merrickville. Mervyn was the third of four children including William S and Edith. He was also a clerk who was replaced by his younger brother after he went to war. Pvt. Miskelly enlisted on March 21, 1917 in Kingston, ON at the age of 36 and assigned to the No. 3 Divisional Ammunition Column as a driver. He was 5’6, 35” chest, 160 lbs, single, blue eyes, brown hair. He listed his father, William of Merrickville as his next of kin, tinsmith as his occupation and Methodist as his religion. He also listed Merrickville as his present address at time of enlistment. On April 21, 1917, he wrote a will leaving everything to his father. HIs pay of $15 per month also went to his father.
Pvt. Miskelly was with the No. 3 Column for a month before sailing from Halifax on April 28, 1917 on the SS Olympic and arriving in Liverpool. He was then assigned to 7th reserve battalion at Shornecliffe. On July 11, 1917, he was transferred to the 38th battalion and headed for France. He did serve with the 4th Engineer Battalion from July 29 to Sept 1, 1917 in France and then rejoined the 38th battalion.
On Oct. 30,1917, the 38th battalion was ordered to go over the top at 5:40am. They held their objective. It was noted their losses in the Reserve Area were very high particularly for B company as the German artillery targeted that area instead on the attack. Friendly artillery then returned fire. Later that afternoon, the three companies were sent forward in support of the 55th and 78th battalion and helped them hold their position. 25 men were killed and 80 wounded.
Pvt. Miskelly died Oct. 30, 1917 at Passchendale while with the 38th battalion. He is memorialized at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in West Vlaanderen, Belgium on Panel 10-26-28 after there was no grave established as of Sept 13, 1921. The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, often referred to simply as the Menin Gate, bears the names of more than 54,000 soldiers who died before 16 August 1917 and have no known grave.He was given a cemetery plot at Merrickville Union Protestant Cemetery in Merrickville. He is commemorated on page 295 of the Book of Remembrance.
Pvt. Miskelly was with the No. 3 Column for a month before sailing from Halifax on April 28, 1917 on the SS Olympic and arriving in Liverpool. He was then assigned to 7th reserve battalion at Shornecliffe. On July 11, 1917, he was transferred to the 38th battalion and headed for France. He did serve with the 4th Engineer Battalion from July 29 to Sept 1, 1917 in France and then rejoined the 38th battalion.
On Oct. 30,1917, the 38th battalion was ordered to go over the top at 5:40am. They held their objective. It was noted their losses in the Reserve Area were very high particularly for B company as the German artillery targeted that area instead on the attack. Friendly artillery then returned fire. Later that afternoon, the three companies were sent forward in support of the 55th and 78th battalion and helped them hold their position. 25 men were killed and 80 wounded.
Pvt. Miskelly died Oct. 30, 1917 at Passchendale while with the 38th battalion. He is memorialized at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in West Vlaanderen, Belgium on Panel 10-26-28 after there was no grave established as of Sept 13, 1921. The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, often referred to simply as the Menin Gate, bears the names of more than 54,000 soldiers who died before 16 August 1917 and have no known grave.He was given a cemetery plot at Merrickville Union Protestant Cemetery in Merrickville. He is commemorated on page 295 of the Book of Remembrance.