Service Personnel Information 1914–1918

Military Service Record 1914–1918

His Story

George Banyard Carnie was born on 20 August 1881 in Derby, Derbyshire – not in Edinburgh as stated on his attestation paper. His parents were James Leslie Carnie and Ann Banyard (m. 1871). James was an excise man and travelled between England and Scotland. They had six sons – Richard L. (b. 1872), James (b. 1874), John L. (b. 1876), William W. (b. 1878), Frederick (b. 1880) and George B. In C1881 the family was living in West Derby. In c1891 James was in Edinburgh with three of the boys – John, Frederick and George. George came to Canada in March 1899 on the Allan Line ship, the Californian, from Liverpool to Saint John, New Brunswick. While thus far there is no record of him in c1901 or c1911, in c1906 he is in the Calgary District of Alberta, working in High River. Perhaps his absence in C1901 can be explained by the fact that he stated he served with the South African Constabulary for almost two years. [“E. Division” was raised in Manitoba. The bulk of the Canadians that served in the force were enlisted in Canada in early 1901.]

George attested on 30 December 1915 in Vancouver with the 102nd Battalion (Comox-Atlin). Three others of our Cenotaph men were also in this battalion. At the time he was living in Vancouver and working as a telephone linesman. A cousin, Margaret Doyle (listed as next-of-kin), is at the same address. His medical was done at the station in Comox on 26 April 1916. He went overseas on the Empress of Britain in June 1916. He was deployed to France in August 1916; by September he was admitted to Clandon Park Hospital in Guildford (unknown cause). He was back in France in May 1917; hospitalized in September with trench fever; and again in November with wounds to arms and legs. In July he was awarded a 1st Class Badge? He was Killed in Action on 3 September 1918. He is memorialized on the Vimy Memorial. The War Diary for the day reads: “7:30 am We continued our advance, feeling for the enemy who had already retired. Our route lay due East along the North side of the ARRAS-CAMBRAI Road, along which were dotted the frequent bodies of dead mules and horses, whilst in the middle of the road by the wreckage of more than one armed motor-car. Headquarters were halted for a space about midday at P.35.c.2.4. where a sudden salvo of shells claimed one victim, LC/CPL CARNIE of the Signallers [established and maintained communication]. By nightfall HQ had been established at W.1.c..9.4. on the main road. “D” Company was now in the Right Front Line about the road running through W.8.b and W.3.c & b, where the men had dug in. “B” Company, through whom “D” had passed, was holding our Left Front Line, being in touch with the 54th Battalion again on the left. “C” Company was in Support and “A” in Reserve. Patrols were out all night reporting on the available means of crossing the CANAL DU NORD which lay a formidable obstacle about 500 yards ahead.”

Family Bits: In 1919, there was a land grant certificate made out to Margaret Josephine Doyle with respect to 40 acres in the Sayward area. While there is absolutely no mention of George Carnie, this file was found by searching on his name! He must have left the property to her in his will? On one of his files dated 12 August 1916, Margaret is listed as a Friend, her address in Yakima, Washington. She was found living in Yakima in c1920 with her sister; both born in England (1880 and 1881); Margaret emigrated in 1916; Mary in 1918; Margaret had two children – Elsie and Herbert. Margaret and the two children were found coming on the Empress of Britain from Liverpool to Quebec in May 1911.