Pte
Arthur Clarence Covey
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 28/08/1898 |
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Place of birth: Edmonton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada |
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Profession: Teamster |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 782463 |
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Enlistment date: 17/06/2025 |
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Enlistment place: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 46th Bn. (South Saskatchewan) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Tiber, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXXVI Row: G Grave: 19 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 5
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) | ||
| #5 | Cemetery |
My story
Arthur Clarence Covey was born on 28 August 1898 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England. He was the fourth of five children. His father and eldest brother immigrated to Canada in 1903. Arthur and the other family members sailed for Canada in 1905. The family initially settled in Vermilion, Saskatchewan, and later moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. On 17 June 1916, 18-year-old Arthur, working as a teamster, voluntarily enlisted at the recruitment office in his hometown and joined the 128th Canadian Infantry Battalion. One month after his enlistment, the 128th Battalion embarked for England, arriving there on 24 August. After nearly seven months of training in England, Arthur and 124 men of the 128th Battalion were transferred to France. On 10 June 1917, they were assigned as reinforcements to the 46th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. In mid-August, Arthur was introduced to real warfare when the 46th Battalion took part in the Battle of Hill 70 (15–25 August 1917). After the Battle of the battalion is removed from the frontline for rest and training in preparation of new action in the Ypres Salient.
On 21 October 1917, the Canadian 10th Infantry Brigade (including the 46th Battalion) arrived in the Ypres front area. On the 22nd, the brigade took over the front line south of Passchendaele, with the 50th Battalion in the front line and the 46th Battalion directly behind it in support. While waiting for the attack (scheduled for the 26th), the men took shelter in shell holes, with their groundsheets as their only protection. Rain and cold made conditions particularly harsh. German shelling caused heavy casualties. In preparation for the attack, on the evening of the 25th, the 46th Battalion moved to positions in the front line near Heine House and Hillside Farm.
The artillery bombardment began at 5.40 a.m., but fell short, causing many casualties among their own ranks even before the troops could advance. During the attack, the 46th Battalion suffered heavy losses from both friendly and German artillery fire, as well as intense German machine gun fire. With the support of the 50th Battalion, all objectives were captured and reinforced before noon.
Around 4 p.m., the enemy launched a heavy artillery bombardment on the lines and launched several counterattacks. Due to the high number of casualties, the weak defensive line and the lack of artillery support, the 46th Battalion withdrew towards Zonnebeke, mainly using the Zonnebeke-Passendale road. After some regrouping, the battalion held its ground in a line close to the positions from which they had departed that morning.
In the evening, the 46th Battalion was relieved and withdrew to Levis Corner, near the center of Zonnebeke. The Germans fired gas grenades and other ammunition at that area, resulting in further casualties.
According to the report by Lt. Col. Dawson, who commanded the 46th, the battalion suffered 402 casualties (53 killed, 287 wounded, 62 missing), which amounts to 70%. According to the report by Lt. Col. Dawson, who commanded the 46th, the battalion suffered 402 casualties (53 killed, 287 wounded, 62 missing), which amounts to 70%.
The website CWGC.org lists 98 men from the 46th who were killed on 26 October, 75 of whom are commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and 11 buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery. Within days of the attack, at least 16 men from the 46th Battalion died of their wounds in field hospitals. The very high losses during this and other operations in the First World War earned the battalion the nickname “The Suicide Battalion”.
Arthur Clarence Covey was killed in action west of Pacchendaele on the 26th and buried along the road to Passchendaele. After WW1 his remains were exhumed and reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery, plot XXXVI. G. 19.
On 21 October 1917, the Canadian 10th Infantry Brigade (including the 46th Battalion) arrived in the Ypres front area. On the 22nd, the brigade took over the front line south of Passchendaele, with the 50th Battalion in the front line and the 46th Battalion directly behind it in support. While waiting for the attack (scheduled for the 26th), the men took shelter in shell holes, with their groundsheets as their only protection. Rain and cold made conditions particularly harsh. German shelling caused heavy casualties. In preparation for the attack, on the evening of the 25th, the 46th Battalion moved to positions in the front line near Heine House and Hillside Farm.
The artillery bombardment began at 5.40 a.m., but fell short, causing many casualties among their own ranks even before the troops could advance. During the attack, the 46th Battalion suffered heavy losses from both friendly and German artillery fire, as well as intense German machine gun fire. With the support of the 50th Battalion, all objectives were captured and reinforced before noon.
Around 4 p.m., the enemy launched a heavy artillery bombardment on the lines and launched several counterattacks. Due to the high number of casualties, the weak defensive line and the lack of artillery support, the 46th Battalion withdrew towards Zonnebeke, mainly using the Zonnebeke-Passendale road. After some regrouping, the battalion held its ground in a line close to the positions from which they had departed that morning.
In the evening, the 46th Battalion was relieved and withdrew to Levis Corner, near the center of Zonnebeke. The Germans fired gas grenades and other ammunition at that area, resulting in further casualties.
According to the report by Lt. Col. Dawson, who commanded the 46th, the battalion suffered 402 casualties (53 killed, 287 wounded, 62 missing), which amounts to 70%. According to the report by Lt. Col. Dawson, who commanded the 46th, the battalion suffered 402 casualties (53 killed, 287 wounded, 62 missing), which amounts to 70%.
The website CWGC.org lists 98 men from the 46th who were killed on 26 October, 75 of whom are commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and 11 buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery. Within days of the attack, at least 16 men from the 46th Battalion died of their wounds in field hospitals. The very high losses during this and other operations in the First World War earned the battalion the nickname “The Suicide Battalion”.
Arthur Clarence Covey was killed in action west of Pacchendaele on the 26th and buried along the road to Passchendaele. After WW1 his remains were exhumed and reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery, plot XXXVI. G. 19.
Sources 8
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1901 England census https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/7814/images/MDXRG13_1262_1265-0671?pId=7425066 Sources used |
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1906 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8827/images/e001213317?pId=2514905 Sources used |
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Census of Canada, 1916 (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG31-C-1). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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Commonwealth War Graves Registers, First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG150, 1992-93/314, 59) https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC),RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2064 - 25) https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 (1905) https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2997/records/47876527 Sources used |
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War Diaries 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, October 1917. (Library and Archives Canada, RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4902, Microfilm reel number: T-10694, File number: 308) http://canadiangreatwarproject.com Sources used |
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war diaries 46th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4939, Microfilm reel number: T-10745--T-10746, File number: 437) https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462402 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/462402 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=27f9c843-bff2-4d3d-8d24-b966605c689b |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5597764 |