Private Lawrence Fraser Annis was born to Herbert and Clara (nee Stanley) Annis on October 31st, 1894, in Caledonia.  He had an older brother, Stanley, and three younger sisters, Floribel, Amy May, and Winnie.  The family was Presbyterian and operated a small farm in Hibernia.  Lawrence was 21 years old when he enlisted, and recorded his occupation as a Driver.  He stood 5 feet 5 ¼ inches tall (162 cm) and had blue eyes and dark brown hair.

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      Lawrence enlisted on May 14th, 1915, as an Infantryman in the 42nd Highland Battalion and was assigned the rank of Private, and Regimental number 418841.  After a short Basic training, the 42nd Battalion (later given the title The Black Watch) sailed for England and disembarked on June 19th with a strength of 40 officers, and 978 other ranks.  Following a summer of training, Private Annis and his unit deployed to France, landing at Boulogne on September 9th, 1915.  Private Annis was fighting the German Army just five months after enlistment in Caledonia.

 

      Over the next year, the 42nd Battalion operated in northern France and western Belgium, taking part in the Battle of Courcelette from September 15th - 22nd, 1916.

 

      From the Canadian Encyclopedia - The Canadians introduced a new tactic, the creeping artillery barrage.  Rather than wait for their Army’s artillery bombardment to end before charging across no man’s land and into enemy guns, the Canadians walked behind a “creeping” artillery barrage that steadily advanced across German lines, keeping enemy soldiers in their dugout until the Canadians were on top of enemy lines and ready to fight.  Tanks were also used in battle for the first time.  Although plodding, and difficult to move, the large and imposing tanks were an effective psychological weapon.  Each tank was run by an officer and seven men, accompanied by five infantrymen tasked with the removal of casualties ahead of the vehicle.  Of 800 men who took part in the initial assault, 118 remained after three days of fighting. 

 

      Private Annis perished at 23 years old on September 16th, 1916, at the Battle of Courcelette.  He was 23 years old.   Following the battle, Brigadier-General John Clark, Commanding Officer of the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, sent a laudatory message.  "In four attacks the Brigade defeated eleven enemy Regiments, and succeeded in taking many strong positions against overwhelming odds. My one conclusion is that no officer has ever had finer troops to command."

 

      Private Annis’ records do not include his will, but due to the chaos of the battle, none of his personal effects were recovered.  Private Annis’ father, Herbert, received the Memorial Plaque and Scroll, and his mother, Clara, was awarded the Memorial Cross Medal (also known as the Silver Cross).  Sadly, she would become a double “Silver Cross Mother” with the death of her other son Stanley, on September 2nd, 1918.

 

      Private Annis’ remains were never recovered, and he is commemorated at the Vimy Memorial.  Inscribed on the ramparts of the Vimy Memorial are the names of over 11,000 Canadian soldiers who were posted as 'missing, presumed dead' in France. At the base of the memorial, these words appear in French and English:

TO THE VALOUR OF THEIR COUNTRYMEN IN THE GREAT WAR AND IN MEMORY OF THEIR SIXTY THOUSAND DEAD THIS MONUMENT IS RAISED BY THE PEOPLE OF CANADA

 

      Private Lawrence Fraser Annis is commemorated on page 47 of the World War One Book of Remembrance.  He is also listed on the Caledonia Cenotaph.

 

 

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Online References

War Grave Search – https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1564693/lawrence-f-annis/

Local Grave Search - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56673924/lawrence-fraser-annis

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/173110526/lawrence-fraser-annis

Canadian Virtual War Memorial - https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1564693?Lawrence%20Annis

Canadian Census  - https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=census&IdNumber=8115384&ecopy=e001975966

First World War Personnel Records Database (file download size 10.6 Meg) - https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=pffww&IdNumber=10909&ecopy=212403a

https://cefrg.ca/42nd-battalion-royal-highlanders-of-canada/