Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Photo of Avard Longley Dimock – Avard Longley Dimock came from the community of Mount Uniake which is about 25 mile North of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada. Avard was one of eight children, and he was an engineer by trade. Blue eyes, brown hair and 5? 7?, Avard was slim and slight of frame (9st 4lb). Census records suggest that the family emigrated in the 1850s from UK to Canada. On 14th May 1917 Avard attested to join the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force (C.E.F.) and was assigned Private 2005068 AL. Dimock. The WWI Service Record indicates that Avard was part of a recruitment to reinforce the Army Medical Corps. On 22nd June 1917 Private Dimock embarked at Halifax and travelled with 524 other men aboard the ocean liner SS Justicia to Liverpool UK, disembarking on 4th July 1917. He was posted to join the 21st Canadian Reserve Infantry Battalion for training at Camp Bramshott in Hampshire. 29th December 1917, Private Dimock transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps (C.F.C.) which meant being stationed initially at the Base Depot C.F.C. Sunningdale. From 11th January 1918 he was on command to District 53 cutting timber in the East of England, attached to the 126th, 135th, 136th and then back with the C.F.C. 126th Company.

Photo of Avard and Rose – The military service record shows that on 7th June 1918 Private Dimock was granted permission to marry, which happened on 19th July 1918 – his wife, Rose Ellen Wootton of Arthur Street in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Rose Ellen Dimock (1886-1969) stayed in Ampthill. The 1939 Register records her as living at 23, Arthur Street. Rose did not re-marry.

Memorial – Headstone – repair and rededication Over the years the gravestone weathered and sustained damage.

Grave Marker – On the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Avard's death, we placed some flowers on behalf of his Great Niece in the United States.