Bombardier Neil Douglas McChlery
Survivor of WW1
Service Biography
Neil Douglas McChlery was born at Beauharnois, Quebec, on 28 June 1892. A student and Presbyterian, he enlisted at Montreal on 31 August 1915 with the Canadian Field Artillery. He arrived in England aboard S.S. Missanabie in December 1915 and later served in France with the 5th Divisional Ammunition Column and the 22nd Battery, 6th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. He was appointed Acting Bombardier in April 1918. After returning to England in April 1919, he embarked from Liverpool for Canada on 19 May and was discharged on demobilization at Montreal on 29 May 1919.
General Information
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
300840
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Canadian Field Artillery
Battalion:
22nd Battery, 6th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Beauharnois, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
23 years 2 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
26 years 11 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Student
Next of Kin:
John McChlery, St-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Religion:
Presbyterian
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 9.5 in / 177 cm
Weight:
141 lbs / 64 kg
Chest:
33.0 in / 84 cm
Expansion:
3.5 in / 9 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Montreal, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
1367 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Bombardier |
Canadian Field Artillery |
Army |
22nd Battery, 6th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
|
|
|
| Appointed Acting Bombardier 13 Apr 1918; discharge certificate and proceedings record final rank Bombardier and 22nd Battery CFA. |
| WW1 |
Gunner |
Canadian Field Artillery |
Army |
22nd Battery, 6th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
|
|
|
| Posted/TOS 6th Brigade CFA; discharge documents identify 22nd Battery as operational battery. |
| WW1 |
Gunner |
Canadian Field Artillery |
Army |
5th Divisional Ammunition Column |
|
|
|
| Proceeded to France with 5th Divisional Ammunition Column. |
| WW1 |
Gunner |
Canadian Field Artillery |
Army |
2nd Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
|
|
|
| Reverted to Gunner on request before proceeding overseas. |
| WW1 |
Acting Sergeant |
Canadian Field Artillery |
Army |
Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
|
|
|
| Appointed Acting Sergeant while employed on headquarters/Q.M. duties; reverted at own request before proceeding overseas. |
| WW1 |
Gunner |
Canadian Field Artillery |
Army |
Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
|
|
|
| Arrived England 27 Dec 1915; reserve-artillery service at Shorncliffe. |
| WW1 |
Gunner |
Canadian Field Artillery |
Army |
35th Battery |
|
|
|
| Enlisted with 35th Battery; proceeded overseas in December 1915. |
Service Chronology
1892-06-28 — Born
1915-08-31 — Voluntarily attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force; joined 35th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery
1915-12-27 — Arrived in England aboard S.S. Missanabie
1915-12-29 to 1915-12-30 — Taken on strength after arrival in England; reserve-artillery service at Shorncliffe
1916-01-20 — Transferred for employment on headquarters/Q.M. office duties
1916-05-20 — Appointed Acting Sergeant while employed on headquarters/Q.M. duties
1916-06-15 — Reprimanded for neglecting to obey an order
1917-06-22 to 1917-06-23 — Reserve-artillery reorganization: struck off strength of Reserve Brigade and taken on strength of 2nd Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery
1917-09-17 — Reverted to permanent grade of Gunner at his own request before proceeding overseas
1917-09-23 — Struck off strength and proceeded overseas to 5th Divisional Ammunition Column
1917-09-24 — Arrived with reinforcement draft
1917-09-27 — Left base for Canadian Corps Royal Artillery
1917-09-28 — Arrived Canadian Corps reinforcement organization
1917-09-29 — Joined the column
1917-10-22 — Posted to Canadian Artillery Pool
1917-10-25 — Taken on strength of Canadian Artillery Pool
1917-11-17 — Posted to and taken on strength of 6th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery; subsequent discharge documents identify his battery as 22nd Battery
1918-03-30 — Attached for corps employment while serving with 6th Brigade CFA
1918-04-13 — Appointed Acting Bombardier
1918-10-08 — Proceeded on 14 days leave to the United Kingdom
1918-11-02 — Rejoined unit from leave
1919-04-16 — Proceeded to England during demobilization sequence
1919-04-23 — Taken on strength at Witley during demobilization processing
1919-05-17 — Struck off strength on proceeding to Canada
1919-05-19 — Embarked at Liverpool for Canada
1919-05-29 — Discharged on demobilization
Notes
Born at Beauharnois, Quebec, 28 June 1892. At enlistment he was a single Presbyterian student. The enlistment medical recorded height 5 ft 9 1/2 in, minimum chest 33 in with 3 1/2 in expansion; a later medical history records weight 141 lb. His service file records no previous military service. A June 1916 disciplinary entry records a reprimand for neglecting to obey an order.
Additional Service Notes
Bombardier Neil Douglas McChlery, regimental no. 300840, enlisted voluntarily at Montreal on 31 August 1915 with the 35th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. He arrived in England aboard S.S. Missanabie on 27 December 1915 and served with reserve artillery formations at Shorncliffe, including a period as Acting Sergeant while employed on headquarters/Q.M. duties. He reverted to Gunner at his own request in September 1917 and proceeded to France with the 5th Divisional Ammunition Column. After reinforcement and Canadian Artillery Pool movements, he was posted to the 6th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery; his discharge records identify his operational battery as the 22nd Battery. He was appointed Acting Bombardier on 13 April 1918. He returned to England in April 1919, was struck off strength for Canada on 17 May, embarked at Liverpool on 19 May, and was discharged on demobilization at Montreal on 29 May 1919.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
John McChlery is named as next of kin at St-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec on the attestation and personnel records. Other records show Mrs. John McChlery at the same locality and assigned pay to Mrs. John McChlery. The service file pages reviewed do not explicitly establish the relationship, so no parental relationship is inferred.
Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-08-31 02:05:03
by: marc
