Private 198483 John Emmanuel Bedale

Died of Wounds on Sunday, 12th November 1916, age 25.
Buried in Grave VIII. C. 27. at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.

46th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regt.).

Son of James William and Alice Bedale, of Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Fort William, Ontario, Resident: Kakabaka Falls, Ontario.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on Commonwealth War Graves site.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/74033/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Emmanuel Bedale registered June quarter 1891 in Dudley, actually born on 6th May 1891. Mother's maiden name was Gregory.

1901 Census
27 Bloomfield Road, Tipton, Staffs.
James William Bedale (34, Printer Foreman, born Wolverhampton), his wife Alice (34, born Dudley), and their 5 children: James Gregory (12, born Tipton), Emanuel (10, born Tipton), Frederick (8, born Tipton), Elsie (5, born Tipton), and Arthur (2, born Tipton).

1911 Census
42 Waterloo Street, Tipton, Staffs.
James William Bedale (44, Printer Compositor, born Wolverhampton), his wife Alice (44, born Netherton), and 4 of their 5 surviving children of 9: Emanuel (20, Bookbinder, born Tipton), Arthur Joseph (12, born Tipton), Winnifred (8, born Tipton), and Jessie (6, born Tipton).

Personal Data

John Emmanuel Bedale was born on 6th May 1891, his name was registered as just Emmanuel which is how his parents named him on the census records. He emigrated to Canada in 1911, departing Liverpool on 20th April on SS Corsican, bound for Quebec. Just over 5 years later, he would be returning for Liverpool, this time as a soldier.

Emmanuel attested into the 94th Overseas Battalion on 25th November 1915 at Fort William, Ontario, giving his address as Kakabeka Falls, Ontario. His occupation was Ranger, and his next of kin was his father, Mr J W Bedale of 71 Chattaway Street, Birmingham. He was 5 feet 9inches tall, with a 37-inch chest with a 3 inch expansion. He had a ruddy complexion - the outdoor life - and brown eyes and dark brown hair. His religion was stated as Church of England. After a satisfactory medical at Fort William on 15th December, his attestation was signed off on 16th December 1915.

Departing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the SS Olympic on 28th June 1916, he arrived at Liverpool on 7th July 1916. He was taken on the strength of the 32nd Battalion and proceeded abroad on 20th August as part of a draft for the 46th Battalion who he joined on 7th September.

Action resulting in his death

The War Diary of the 46th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, for 8th November 1916 says: "The relief of the 50th Battalion from the front line was carried out this afternoon, and the same frontage as before taken up. A number of casualties were suffered when going up to the trenches." The War Diary can be seens at: http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001112029.jpg

The War Diary of 4th November had stated the front line was "The line held from Practice Road on the left to Chalk Pits, with three companies to the right of Dyke Road".

The battalion would have marched from their billets in Albert. Chalk Pits are about a mile south of Pozieres on the road known as "Dead Man's Road" from Gibraltar to Casualty Corner, Contalmaison.

The War Diary for 8th November records that 198483 Pte Bedale was killed. This was not correct, he had been mortally wounded with GSW (Gun Shot Wounds) to the chest, head and abdomen. The term GSW includes wounds from shell-fire, from the widespread wounds that John received, this is most likley. The Canadian Records say that he was taken to 2/1st (South Midlands) Casualty Clearing Station which at that time was near Doullens. As John died and was buried at Warloy-Baillon (not quite half-way to Doullens), possibly it was realised that he was beyond hope and kept at Warloy-Baillon waiting for his inevitable end. His death was some days away, he was wounded on the 8th, but died on 12th November.

His CWGC gravestone ar Warloy-Baillon says. "Beloved son of Jas W & Alice Bedale of B'ham, England.".

Newspaper Cuttings

None.