838005 Pte. Henry Norman Aplin was born in London, England, on August 23rd, 1886.

The Aplin family immigrated to Canada in 1905 and settled in Holland Centre in Grey County. Henry was working on his family farm when war was declared and he joined the two independent Infantry Companies being recruited by the 31st Regiment prior to the authorization of the 147th (Grey) Battalion. All men belonging to these two Companies were assigned to the new Battalion and Henry attested to it on November 30th, 1915, being assigned to 'A' Company.

Henry was billeted in Owen Sound over the winter, conducting his initial training locally in the sheds and arenas around town. In the spring of 1916 the outlying Companies of the Battalion were pulled together in Owen Sound and soon left for Camp Niagara to conduct further training.

In June 1916 the Battalion moved to the new training of Camp Borden and trained there until September when they were ordered overseas. En-route the Battalion was quarantined in Amherst, Nova Scotia, due to a diphtheria outbreak, which delayed their departure until November 14th. 1916.

After the 147th Battalion ceased to exist in January 1917, Henry became a member of the 8th Reserve Battalion and was assigned to the 4th C.M.R., attesting to them on March 7th, 1917. Henry would have seen service with the 4th C.M.R. during the Battle of Arras, a battle that saw the Canadian Corps take Vimy Ridge. He was accidentally wounded shortly after on May 26th, 1917.

Pte. Henry Aplin was subsequently struck off strength from the 4th C.M.R. on January 27th, 1919.

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Biography details credit: George Auer