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Private James Gordon Small

Portrait of a soldier wearing a peak hat. He has a moustache.

Pte. Small

Ca. 1916. VAC. “James Gordon Small.” CVWM. Accessed January 30, 2017.

Pte. Small’s Family Home, London, ON Photograph by Kelsey Priestman, 2017.

Pte. Small’s Family Home, London, ON.                 Photographed by Kelsey Priestman, 2017.

CEF no. 400647

James Gordon Small was born in Wingham, ON, in 1895. He was residing at 315 Egerton St. in London, ON, when he enlisted with the 33rd Canadian Infantry Battalion on 11 January 1915, and was later transferred to The Royal Canadian Regiment. On 23 September 1916, the London Free Press announced his that mother had received a telegram stating “Pte. Gordon Small, infantry, has been officially reported died of wounds at No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital, September 18.” Pte. Small died of a gunshot wound to the leg, and is the only known member of The Royal Canadian Regiment from London that lost his life at the Battle of the Somme.

He is commemorated on page 163 of the First World War Book of Remembrance (Memorial Chamber, Peace Tower, Parliament Hill).

Grave: St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, France.