113162 Pte William Henry Dainton
Poperinghe New Military Cemetery
Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
Born in Kensington, London, England, on 8th September 1886, William was a resident of Keene, Ontario, at the time of signing on with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
A farm labourer by trade, and with no previous military experience, William, married to Mary Jane Wood, attested into the 33rd Battalion, in Peterborough, Ontario, on August 30th, 1915.
Soon finding himself transferred to the 8th CMR, William was moving on again when that regiment was absorbed by the 4th CMR in January 1916 under divisional restructuring.
At the time of William's loss, on May 27th, 1916, the 4th CMR was in and out of the front line in and around Sanctuary Wood and Zillebeke Dugouts up to and including that day. Working parties were spread over four locations, repairing trenches, burying cable, undertaking carrying parties. During this activity it was noted in the 4th CMR War Diary on the 27th that one man suffered shell shock and one was wounded.
It seems probable, as the only loss in that area on the 27th was Pte. Dainton, that the wounded man could have been him subsequently succumbing to his wounds. The Circumstances of Death Register seems to confirm this as the case as is it clear he was killed in action that day. That he is buried at Poperinghe New Cemetery, not that far from their location that day, is consistent with the Diary referring to Pte. Dainton.
As an aside, the 4th CMR History by S. G. Bennett, published in 1926, erroneously lists William's loss date as June 2nd, 1916: the opening day of the 14 day "Battle for Mount Sorrel".
His brother, 113161 Cpl Frederick Arthur Dainton also served with the 4th CMR, signing up in Peterborough, Ontario, a month earlier, on 5th July 1915.
Born in Kensington, London, England on 13th January 1884, and living in Peterborough, Ontario, "Fred" was married to Violet Rachel Bristow, and a painter by trade come the call. Like his brother, Fred was assigned to the 33rd Battalion though was transferred to the 8th CMR in January 1916.
Records indicate that Fred suffered a left knee injury after falling through a barn floor. This bothered him for the rest of his service. It is then recorded that on May 29th he was "blown up" in a heavy bombardment and was unconscious for 24 hours. He was admitted to the 3rd Division Rest Station suffering from shell shock, where he stayed for 3 weeks. In all probability this hospitalisation saved his life, as the 4th CMR suffered huge losses just days later in the 2nd of June 'Battle for Mount Sorrel'.
Although he got back into action quickly, at the end of June / early July 1916 he had a "nervous breakdown", which was followed by a string of illnesses. He was subsequently discharged as unfit for service on 31st January 1918. During his time under medical care Fred earned the right to wear good conduct chevrons. He sailed back to Canada in October 1918.
Cpl Frederick Arthur Dainton passed away in Peterborough, Ontario, on 13th October 1961.
Headstone image supplied to 4mr.com anonymously. These biography excerpts are courtesy of David Kavanagh.