839104 Pte. Joseph John Byers was born in Holland township, Grey County, Ontario, on July 1st, 1894, to Thomas Alexander Byers and Edith Maude Hughes.
He enlisted on May 13th, 1916, in Owen Sound, Ontario, with the 147th (Grey) Batallion and after training sailed to England on the Olylmpic on November 14th, 1916.
Joseph was one of 354 men of the 147th Battalion to be transferred to the 4th CMR in 1917, and one of 20 to arrive into the 4th CMR on February 17th, 1917.
During the regiment's return to the line near Vimy, after rest on September 4th, the 4th CMR were subject to a gas attack, during which Joseph was wounded. Sadly he subsequently died from injuries at the 42nd Casualty Clearing Station on September 13th, 1917, at 23 years of age.
Joseph lies at rest in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France.
Biography credit: Theresa Krause