FITZER, CORP. F.E. Reg # 754286
Francis ‘Frank’ Edward Fitzer was born April 22, 1891 in Magnetawan to Adam Fitzer and Margaret Smith.
At the time of the 1901 census, the Fitzer family was identified as living in Croft Township. At the time of the 1911 census, Francis was identified as living with his brother and sister-in-law on Lot 1, Concession 6 Croft Twp. Francis was identified as a lumberman.
At the time of the signing of his Attestation papers on February 17, 1916 in Sault Ste. Marie, Francis, going by the name Frank identified that he was a bartender
In his discharge papers, Corporal Frank Edward Fitzer was identified as having enlisted in the 119th Battalion in Sault Ste. Marie and as having served in France and Belgium with the 3rd Bn of the Machine Gun Corp
Frank arrived in England on August 19, 1916 on the S.S. Matagami.
On June 18, 1917 he was appointed A/Corporal with the 119th Battalion of the Machine Gun Corp.
On March 28, 1918 he arrived in France.
In April of 1918 he was confirmed to the role of Corporal in the field (France)
On October 2, 1918 he was wounded while with the 3rd.
In January or 1918, Frank returned to England with the 3rd Battalion.
Frank was discharged on May 16, 1919 as part of Demobilization.
A more detailed reference to the wound suffered by Frank is in the summary below left that shows that the gunshot wound was actually received September 29, 1918.
During the period from August 22 to October 11, 1918, Canadian infantry and machine gun battalions participated in battles at Canal du Nord and Cambrai, suffering significant casualties. Infantry units recorded 4367 men killed in action, 1930 missing and 24,509 wonded during this time. Machine gun battalions, much smaller in size, nevertheless paid a heavy price, with 282 men killed in action, 23 missing and 1,502 wounded. (From First World War Veterans of Guysborough County).
September 29, 1918, the day in which Frank Edward Pfizer was wounded was part of the battle of Canal du Nord. The summary of the days events by Government Canada site related to the Last 100 Days is as follows:
“On the left, Canadian troops take some 250 prisoners and 20 machine guns in the village of Sancourt, then reach the village of Blécourt and take 80 prisoners there before having to withdraw. On the right, Canadian troops push forward to the junction of the Arras and Bapaume roads, and two battalions fight their way to the outskirts of Neuville St. Rémy, a suburb of the town of Cambrai. In exceedingly bitter fighting, the Canadian Corps suffers 2,089 casualties.”
