Edward Donnick Roche #292031 was born Feb 9, 1891 to James and Catherine Brennan Roche in Wolford Township in North Leeds-Grenville. He was the third of seven children including Francies, Maggie, John, William, Mary, and Pierce. Pvt. Roche enlisted on Feb. 14, 1916 in Morris, MB near Winnipeg at the age of 26 and was initially assigned to the 106th Winnipeg Light Infantry and then 222nd overseas battalion. He was 5’9, 38” chest, 165 lbs, single, hazel eyes and dark hair. He listed his father, James Roche of Merrickville, ON as his next of kin, his occupation as farmer , and his religion as Catholic. His medals and decorations went to his mother, Catherine who also received a Memorial Cross. His father received his plaque and scroll. His monthly pay of $15 went to his mother Catherine in Merrickville.
Pvt Roche sailed on the SS Olympic from Halifax on Nov 14, 1916 with the 222nd and arrived in Liverpool. He then went to Shoreham where he was assigned to the 19th reserve battalion. On March 14, 1917 he joined the 17th No. 5 Machine Gun Battery for a couple weeks then got assigned to the 128th on March 27. On April 16, 1917, he wrote his will leaving everything to his mother Catherine. On April 18, 1917, he was examined and found to have varicose veins in his right leg and ankle. However, it was ruled the veins did not impact his ability to serve. On May 23, 1917, he was assigned to the 5th battalion and headed for France.
On August 13, 1917, the 5th battalion relieved the 4th battalion without incident at 2:30am. On August 15, the 5th battalion attacked the German trenches with fine weather and dry ground. 220 men were killed in this attack. On August 14, the 5th battalion under heavy barrage advanced at 5:20am with little opposition to the initial objective. They then moved their Lewis guns up and advanced in the afternoon to the Blue Line. They took heavy machine gun fire and lost approximately 120 men. The next day, on August 15, the 5th attacked again under intense barrage, aircraft bombs, and machine gun fire and took the Green Line achieving their objective. The 4th battalion returned and held the line.
Pvt. Roche died August 15, 1917 at Hill 70 near Loos while with the 5th battalion. He was reported missing and later presumed dead. He is memorialized on the Vimy Memorial. The Vimy Memorial overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge. Located north of Arras in France, the Vimy Memorial is Canada’s largest overseas National Memorial. It commemorates more than 11,000 men of the Canadian Expeditionary Force killed during the First World War in France and who have no known grave. Many of them died in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.He is also on his parent’s gravestone in St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Merrickville, ON. He is commemorated on page 318 of the Book of Remembrance.
Pvt Roche sailed on the SS Olympic from Halifax on Nov 14, 1916 with the 222nd and arrived in Liverpool. He then went to Shoreham where he was assigned to the 19th reserve battalion. On March 14, 1917 he joined the 17th No. 5 Machine Gun Battery for a couple weeks then got assigned to the 128th on March 27. On April 16, 1917, he wrote his will leaving everything to his mother Catherine. On April 18, 1917, he was examined and found to have varicose veins in his right leg and ankle. However, it was ruled the veins did not impact his ability to serve. On May 23, 1917, he was assigned to the 5th battalion and headed for France.
On August 13, 1917, the 5th battalion relieved the 4th battalion without incident at 2:30am. On August 15, the 5th battalion attacked the German trenches with fine weather and dry ground. 220 men were killed in this attack. On August 14, the 5th battalion under heavy barrage advanced at 5:20am with little opposition to the initial objective. They then moved their Lewis guns up and advanced in the afternoon to the Blue Line. They took heavy machine gun fire and lost approximately 120 men. The next day, on August 15, the 5th attacked again under intense barrage, aircraft bombs, and machine gun fire and took the Green Line achieving their objective. The 4th battalion returned and held the line.
Pvt. Roche died August 15, 1917 at Hill 70 near Loos while with the 5th battalion. He was reported missing and later presumed dead. He is memorialized on the Vimy Memorial. The Vimy Memorial overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge. Located north of Arras in France, the Vimy Memorial is Canada’s largest overseas National Memorial. It commemorates more than 11,000 men of the Canadian Expeditionary Force killed during the First World War in France and who have no known grave. Many of them died in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.He is also on his parent’s gravestone in St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Merrickville, ON. He is commemorated on page 318 of the Book of Remembrance.