Pte
Chester Fitzell
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 20/05/1896 |
|
Place of birth: Holyrood, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador |
General information
|
Last known residence: Radisson, Saskatchewan, Canada |
|
Profession: Farmer |
|
Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
|
Country: Canada |
|
Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 887915 |
|
Enlistment date: 03/05/1915 |
|
Enlistment place: Radisson, Saskatchewan, Canada |
|
Units: — Canadian Infantry, 5th Bn. (Western Cavalry) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 10/11/1917 |
|
Place of death: Bellevue, Passchendaele, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 21 |
Memorial
|
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: Panel 18 - 26 - 28. |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Chester Fitzell was born in May 1896 in Holyrood, Newfoundland, the son of Aaron and Katherine Fitzell, who farmed in Whitkow, Saskatchewan, a town founded by Ukrainian immigrants that is now largely a ghost town. Chester enlisted in May 1916 at Radisson, where he lived, and left for England six months later. There he was assigned to the 5th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Western Cavalry), part of the 2nd Canadian Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division. In the summer of 1917, Chester was hit by gas. He was admitted to No. 18 General Hospital in Camiers, France. He stayed there from 29 July and was discharged on 6 August.
In late 1917, the 5th Battalion was involved in the Battle of Passchendaele. At the end of this battle, on 10 November 1917, the Canadians carried out their last large-scale attack of the offensive. The 1st Division advanced with the 2nd Canadian Brigade to the north of Passchendaele. The objective was to take the north of Passchendaele Ridge, the area near Hill 52, Vocation Farm, Venture Farm and Vindictive Crossroads. Hill 52, half a mile north of Passchendaele, was an excellent observation point and would place the Allies on top of Passchendaele Ridge. The 7th (1st British Columbia) and 8th (90th Winnipeg Rifles) Battalions were supported by the 5th Battalion (Western Cavalry) and the 20th Battalion (Central Ontario). The 5th Battalion was in support at the hamlet of Meetcheele; they were to reinforce the 7th and 8th Battalions if necessary. Immediately after the attack began, a German aircraft spotted the 5th Battalion's support positions. Moments later, German artillery began shelling the area and destroyed the trenches the battalion had dug the previous day. The battalion suffered heavy losses from the continuous shelling and was forced to move several times. At the end of the day, the 5th Battalion estimated its losses at 320.
An hour after the attack began, Venture Farm and Vindictive Crossroads were in the hands of the 7th and 8th Battalions. However, the British 1st Division on their left had been pushed back, leaving the Canadians' left flank exposed. The right flank was also coming under increasing pressure. A further advance to Hill 52 became almost impossible and the 5th (Western Cavalry) was sent forward to support the 7th and 8th along the front line. Throughout the day, the German infantrymen's spring seemed broken. Hands went up en masse. About 1,150 Germans surrendered and were carried off in captivity. The German artillery, however, continued to fire. One barrage after another rolled over the ridge, causing many casualties. The Canadians suffered about 1,000 casualties on 10 November 1917.
Chester, 21, fell on 10 November 1917. He was initially buried at Bellevue, near Meetcheele. Today Chester has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate.
In late 1917, the 5th Battalion was involved in the Battle of Passchendaele. At the end of this battle, on 10 November 1917, the Canadians carried out their last large-scale attack of the offensive. The 1st Division advanced with the 2nd Canadian Brigade to the north of Passchendaele. The objective was to take the north of Passchendaele Ridge, the area near Hill 52, Vocation Farm, Venture Farm and Vindictive Crossroads. Hill 52, half a mile north of Passchendaele, was an excellent observation point and would place the Allies on top of Passchendaele Ridge. The 7th (1st British Columbia) and 8th (90th Winnipeg Rifles) Battalions were supported by the 5th Battalion (Western Cavalry) and the 20th Battalion (Central Ontario). The 5th Battalion was in support at the hamlet of Meetcheele; they were to reinforce the 7th and 8th Battalions if necessary. Immediately after the attack began, a German aircraft spotted the 5th Battalion's support positions. Moments later, German artillery began shelling the area and destroyed the trenches the battalion had dug the previous day. The battalion suffered heavy losses from the continuous shelling and was forced to move several times. At the end of the day, the 5th Battalion estimated its losses at 320.
An hour after the attack began, Venture Farm and Vindictive Crossroads were in the hands of the 7th and 8th Battalions. However, the British 1st Division on their left had been pushed back, leaving the Canadians' left flank exposed. The right flank was also coming under increasing pressure. A further advance to Hill 52 became almost impossible and the 5th (Western Cavalry) was sent forward to support the 7th and 8th along the front line. Throughout the day, the German infantrymen's spring seemed broken. Hands went up en masse. About 1,150 Germans surrendered and were carried off in captivity. The German artillery, however, continued to fire. One barrage after another rolled over the ridge, causing many casualties. The Canadians suffered about 1,000 casualties on 10 November 1917.
Chester, 21, fell on 10 November 1917. He was initially buried at Bellevue, near Meetcheele. Today Chester has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate.
Sources 3
|
Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150; Volume: Box 3116 - 15). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
|
War diaries: 5th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4886, Microfilm reel number: T-10682, File number: 253). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
|
War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150, 1992-93/314; Volume Number: 178). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1592171 |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=9cb8f587-dd7d-4456-8d06-2d5786c8ecb6 |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5867958 |
|
The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1592171 |