In order to prepare for their upcoming journey to France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, students from across Canada research the life and death of a particular soldier in order to better understand and relate to the circumstances faced by so many young men and their families. Researching primary documents found online, the students provided brief biographies of these extraordinary men. Here is one such project:
Private Earl Hembroff
By Rebecca N., Explorica traveller
Personal info
Earl Hembroff was born February 18th 1888, in Gladstone Manitoba. Earl was married to his wife Mabel Hembroff and they had a son named Tommy who both died the year he did, 1917, the rest of his family is unknown. They lived on 537 Spence st. In Winnipeg. Before he was Enlisted on January 4th, 1916, he was the proprietor of a billiard room.
Earl was a Congregationalist. The Congregationalist churches are protestant churches practicing congregational Church Governance meaning each congregation independently runs its own affairs. It’s considered to be reformed and practices the Theory of Union.
Medical records
Earl was 5 feet and 6 inches in height. His chest was 37 inches around with an expansion of 3 inches at the time he was examined. He was 27 when he was enlisted and 29 when he died. Earl Never needed to go to a hospital or get serious medical attention (None that was documented).
Military movements
Hembroff was Enlisted on January 4th, 1916 in Winnipeg, Canada. He was in the Canadian Army Medical Corps, No. 12 field ambulance. This means he treated wounded soldiers at the sight of the battle. Earl Hembroff was a private and his ID number was 532274. When he was enlisted in world war 1 he already had previous military experience (Unknown). Earl was killed in action s year after his enlistment.
Lest we forget
Private Earl Hembroff is buried in Quatre Vents Military Cemetery, Plot I.C.3. Which is near Cambligneul, 5½ miles west of Souchez in Fracne. He died on September 4th in 1917 When he was killed in Vicinity of Souchez. He was 29 years of age when he was killed and was commemorated on Page 25 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.