Pvt. Louis Geraldi enlisted on Aug. 31, 1915 in St. Catharines at the age of 30, was given regiment number 158587, and assigned to the 81st battalion. He was born on Jan. 7, 1884 in Gananoque, ON. He listed his wife, Lillian Geraldi of Merrickville, ON, as his next of kin. He worked in woolen mills as his occupation including the Rosamond Woolen Mill in Almonte. E.M. Wylie served as his witness. He was 5’4” with a 32” chest making him a slight man, dark complexion, dark eyes and dark hair and Catholic. He was swore in and declared fit on Aug. 31, 1915 but wasn’t approved until Dec. 1, 1915.
After his approval, Louis stayed in the Toronto area with the 81st battalion until April before heading overseas. His wife, Lillian, of Disher St. in Merritton, ON near St. Catharines received his pay of $16 a month. She then moved to 157 Division St. Welland, ON when she received a war gratuity of $64 on July 18, 1920. She also received his medals, decorations, plaque and scroll.
Pvt. Geraldi arrived in England on May 6, 1916 on the SS Olympic from Halifax with the 81st battalion and joined the 18th battalion on June 28, 1916 where he then went to France.
After being in billets for the week, the 18th battalion relieved the 4th Brigade near Albert on Sept 14 and prepared for their attack the next day. At 6:24am on Sept 15, the 18th battalion advanced 1200 yards and took both their objectives. They were able to hold their positions and were relieved by the Gordon Highlanders on the 16th.
Pvt. Geraldi was shot and died on Sept. 15, 1916 at the Somme while with the 18th battalion of the Western Ontario regiment at the age of 32. He is commemorated on page 91 of the Book of Remembrance and buried at Pozieres British Cemetery in Pozieres, France, 6kms NE of Albert, grave reference III.R.12. The village of Pozieres was attacked on 23 July 1916 by the 1st Australian and 48th (South Midland) Divisions, and was taken on the following day. It was lost on 24-25 March 1918, during the great German advance, and recaptured by the 17th Division on the following 24 August. Plot II of POZIERES BRITISH CEMETERY contains the original burials of 1916, 1917 and 1918, carried out by fighting units and field ambulances. The remaining plots were made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields immediately surrounding the cemetery, the majority of them of soldiers who died in the Autumn of 1916, but a few represent the fighting in August 1918. He is also commemorated on the Almonte Cenotaph.
After his approval, Louis stayed in the Toronto area with the 81st battalion until April before heading overseas. His wife, Lillian, of Disher St. in Merritton, ON near St. Catharines received his pay of $16 a month. She then moved to 157 Division St. Welland, ON when she received a war gratuity of $64 on July 18, 1920. She also received his medals, decorations, plaque and scroll.
Pvt. Geraldi arrived in England on May 6, 1916 on the SS Olympic from Halifax with the 81st battalion and joined the 18th battalion on June 28, 1916 where he then went to France.
After being in billets for the week, the 18th battalion relieved the 4th Brigade near Albert on Sept 14 and prepared for their attack the next day. At 6:24am on Sept 15, the 18th battalion advanced 1200 yards and took both their objectives. They were able to hold their positions and were relieved by the Gordon Highlanders on the 16th.
Pvt. Geraldi was shot and died on Sept. 15, 1916 at the Somme while with the 18th battalion of the Western Ontario regiment at the age of 32. He is commemorated on page 91 of the Book of Remembrance and buried at Pozieres British Cemetery in Pozieres, France, 6kms NE of Albert, grave reference III.R.12. The village of Pozieres was attacked on 23 July 1916 by the 1st Australian and 48th (South Midland) Divisions, and was taken on the following day. It was lost on 24-25 March 1918, during the great German advance, and recaptured by the 17th Division on the following 24 August. Plot II of POZIERES BRITISH CEMETERY contains the original burials of 1916, 1917 and 1918, carried out by fighting units and field ambulances. The remaining plots were made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields immediately surrounding the cemetery, the majority of them of soldiers who died in the Autumn of 1916, but a few represent the fighting in August 1918. He is also commemorated on the Almonte Cenotaph.