Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Group Photo – Attached is a postcard photo of Alfred Kingsley taken at the Niagara-On-The-Lake military camp (back row first on the right with arrow above) while serving with the 2nd Dragoons militia unit. On the reverse side someone had written Grandfather Kingsley 1919. I know the year is incorrect because he was killed near Vimy Ridge in France on June 9,1917 and I have it on record that the Dragoons were training at Niagara Camp in Sept/Oct of 1915 before he signed-up and joined the newly created 86th Canadian Machine Gun Battalion established 1915 in Hamilton. This photo had to be taken prior to him joining the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Hamilton on August 21st,1915. His official Military Record indicates former military service of 3 yrs with the 77th ( est. age 15)and 6 yrs with the Dragoons (est. age 18) and being shipped overseas May 8th, 1916. Now you can put a face with the headstone etching from LaChaudiere Military Cemetery I made while visiting in 2007. With the official date of being killed in action on June 9th, 1917 while on a night raid just beyond Vimy Ridge this would mean he was 26 yrs old when he died.

Cemetery – La Chaudiere Military Cemetery - La Chaudiere Military Cemetery is located at the foot of Vimy Ridge, very near the town of Vimy, France. The cemetery is 13 kilometres north of Arras, France. May they rest in peace. (John & Anne Stephens 2013)

Grave Marker – The grave marker at La Chaudiere Military Cemetery located at the foot of Vimy Ridge, very near the town of Vimy, France. The cemetery is 13 kilometres north of Arras, France. May he rest in peace. (John & Anne Stephens 2013)