Campbell River Genealogy Society
~ LOST FAMILIES FOUND ~
ANDREW LAW
Service Personnel Information 1914–1918
| Attestation Paper | |
| Service/Regimental Number: | 487369 |
| Present Address: | Colonial Rooms Water St., Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Birthplace: | Picton, New Zealand |
| Date of Birth: | 4 Nov 1882 |
| Next of Kin: | Thomas Law (father) |
| Marital Status: | single |
| Trade or Calling: | Miner |
| Previous Service in a Military Force: | None |
| Date of Enlistment: | 19 January 1916 |
| City and Province of Enlistment: | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Digitized Personnel Record | Library and Archives Record Link |
| Description on Enlistment | |
| Height: | 5 ft 8 ins |
| Chest: | 40 ins |
| Complexion: | Fair |
| Colour of Eyes: | Blue |
| Colour of Hair: | Light Brown |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic |
| Considered Fit for Duty by: | J. W. Wordley, Medical Officer |
Military Service Record 1914–1918
| Force: | Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force |
| Division (battalion or company): | 1st Canadian Pioneers |
| Unit: | Canadian Pioneers |
| Rank: | Private |
| Honours and Awards: | |
| Photograph: | Not currently available |
| Date of Death: | 8 October 1916 |
| Age (at death): | 37 |
| Country of Burial: | France |
| Cemetery: | Adanac Military Cemetery, Somme |
| Grave Reference: | II H 8 |
| Location: | Miraumont is a village about 14.5 kilometres north-north-east of Albert and the Cemetery is some 3 kilometres south of the village on the east side of the road to Courcelette (D107). |
| Book of Remembrance: | ANDREW LAW’S name can be found on page 117 of the 1916 First World War Book of Remembrance |
His Story
Andrew Law was born 4 November 1882 in Picton, New Zealand. He was one of nine children of Thomas and Elizabeth Law. One of Andrew’s brothers, William (b. 1870), came to Canada in 1897 (his wife and son came the following year). In C1901 they were on Texada Island; he was a miner. According to c1911 Andrew followed him to Canada in 1902. In c1911 Andrew was listed as a miner, living at Seymour Tunnel near Vancouver. William and his family were also in Vancouver.
Andrew attested on 19 January 1916 in Vancouver. He enlisted with the 1st Canadian Pioneers (the 80th Battalion became the 1st Pioneers with 1st Division). He was Killed in Action on 8 October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The War Diary of the day reads: “We proceeded to points marked W & Y in accompanying trace and the following work was done:- C.T. on Bde Bdg M13 C6.2 put through from old front line to jumping off trench. New communication trench put through 450 yards east of Somme and jumping off trench, and deepened and reclaimed 350 yards between these points 100 yards of front line trench deepened where easterly C.T. ??? front line Casualties 15 OR killed, wounded and missing.” He is buried at the Adanac Military Cemetery in France.
Family Bits: From the book “Evergreen Islands” there is information that William Law and his family moved to Quadra Island sometime after 1911. They lived at Hyacinthe Bay. William Law Jr. enlisted in Vernon, B.C. in 1915. He returned to Quadra after the war.