Private George Franklin Strong a typical example of a reinforcement during Canada’s Last Hundred Days. The quality of reinforcements at this time left much to be desired. It wasn’t that George was too young, or inexperienced – he was just so small.
On 28 September 1918, Private George Franklin Strong gave his life to help his comrades capture Bourlon Wood during the Battle of Canal du Nord.
Height Requirement
In the CEF, the height requirement rose, and fell, and rose and fell again during the Great War. Bantam units formed for shorter men, but these units never made it to the front, though many did so via regular infantry battalions.
The Canadian Corps on the verge of becoming an Army earlier in 1918. However, the Canadians could not sustain their casualties, and Sir Arthur Currie knew his elite force’s days numbered. Casualties heaviest during Canada’s Last Hundred Days, and Currie forced to bring in woefully-prepared reinforcements. Private George Franklin Strong one of those unlucky soldiers.
Enlistment of Private George Franklin Strong
George had his medical exam at Windsor, Ontario on 16 October 1917. George had perfect vision, but stood only 5′ 1″ tall, 114 pounds, with fair complexion, grey eyes and auburn hair.
Private George Franklin Strong 4000082 attested 10 December 1917 with the 1st Depot Battalion.
1st Depot Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment
Authorized by General Order 89 of 1 September 1917 and by General Order 57 of 15 April 1918. Was to reinforce the 4th, 19th, 123rd and 208th Battalions through the 3rd Canadian Reserve Battalion. Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Berkley Henry Belson.
England
Pte George Franklin Strong sailed to UK on 21 February 1918, arriving aboard HMT CRETIA on 4 March 1918.
Pte Strong admitted with the Mumps on 12 April 1918 at No 12 Canadian General Hospital, Bramshott, and later discharged on 9 May 1918.
Pte Strong proceeds overseas to the 47th Battalion on 18 August 1918. Private George Franklin Strong arrives at his unit in the field on 20 August 1918.
47th Battalion
Organized in February 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W N Winsby. Mobilized at New Westminster and recruited in New Westminster, Vancouver and Victoria. Drafts of 5 officers, 250 other ranks, 4 officers, 244 other ranks and 5 officers, 249 other ranks sent to England on 17 June, 24 June and 1 October 1915.
The 47th Battalion embarked from Montreal 13 November 1915 aboard MISSANABIE and later disembarked England on 22 November 1915 with a strength of 36 officers, 1115 other ranks. Disembarked in France 10 August 1916 with the 4th Canadian Division, 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade and later reinforced by 24th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
France
Private George Franklin Strong entered the Western Front on 18 August 1918, at the tail-end of the Battle of Amiens.
No sooner had Private George Franklin Strong arrived than he was SoS to the 43rd Battalion on 23 August 1918. Perhaps LCol Ralph Humphrey not impressed with the quality of his reinforcement.
43rd Battalion
Organized in December 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. M. Thomson. Mobilized at Winnipeg, and recruited in Winnipeg. Embarked from Montreal 1 June 1915 aboard GRAMPIAN, and later disembarked England 9 June 1915 with a strength of 40 officers, 998 other ranks.
Arrived in France 20 February 1916 with the 3rd Canadian Division, 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 14th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Battle of Canal du Nord
On the morning of 28 September 1918, the Germans put up a strong resistance from the Marcoing trench line and the Cambrai-Douai road. The enemy had reinforcements and defensive positions that did not appear on the Canadian maps.
Bourlon Wood
The Canadian Corps charged first with capturing Bourlon Wood, and then advancing and establishing a front running from northeast of Cambrai to Aubencheul-au-Bac.
Dug-out fire in Bourlon Wood showing 8.3 German Howitzer. This shows a damaged and smouldering dug-out with a 21cm Morser siege howitzer on it’s side. MIKAN No. 3522301 
Bourlon, ruins of church and wood. MIKAN No. 3404080 
MIKAN No. 3329257 
Photo shows village of Bourlon and road, a supply vehicle and a group of ammunition limbers or wagons are in the foreground. MIKAN No. 3329256
On its South-East side, stretching nearly to Fontaine-Notre Dame, is Bourlon Wood, and the village and the wood also the scene of desperate fighting in the Battle of Cambrai 1917.
Bourlon Chateau
10th Battalion HQ established in a chateau in Bourlon Village at E.12.B.80.55 at 5:10 am on 28 September 1918.
The barrage 15 minutes late when it did come at 09h00, and of such a feeble nature that for the purposes of the 10th Battalion practically useless. The attack pushed forward along the road and resulted in approximately 100 casualties which could have been avoided.
Bourlon Ammo Dump
The advance made under very heavy machine-gun fire and rifle fire at close range. The men had to make it through two heavy belts of wire. The advance stalled when casualties had become too high.
Bourlon Church
During the night casualties evacuated. About 21h00 relief by the 8th Battalion commenced. Pte George Franklin Strong killed in action 28 September 1918.
Bourlon Village
The 10th Battalion finally relieved after many delays at about 02h00 on 29 September 1918, when it moved back to west of Haynecourt. Private George Franklin Strong buried at Crest Cemetery, Fontaine-Notre Dame.
Crest Cemetery, Fontaine-Notre Dame
Fontaine-Notre Dame a village approximately 3 kilometres south-west of Cambrai on the main road from Cambrai to Bapaume (N30), east of Bourlon Wood.
The village of Fontaine-Notre Dame captured for a short time on 21 November 1917 by the 51st (Highland) Division, and again by the Guards Division on 27 November. But, it then remained in German hands until the 3rd and 4th Canadian and 57th Divisions retook it on 27 September 1918.
Of the twenty-nine men of the 43rd Battalion fallen on 28 September 1918, sixteen buried in Crest Cemetery, Fontaine-Notre Dame. Crest Cemetery contains 88 Great War burials, all but one of them Canadian. All date from 27 September to 7 October 1918.
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