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During the fighting at Hill 70, the 15th Battalion suffered 225 casualties, among the wounded or killed were 13 officers. The Battalion’s war diary states that a “General Macdonnell” praised the battalion for its brave fighting in the face of “numerous determined counter attacks.” The 15th Battalion had seen action at the Somme and Vimy Ridge, and would go on to fight at Ypres and Passchendaele.

Somewhere among the parade is James Hester, of East Whitby, Ontario. Hester enlisted on June 10, 1915, lying about his age out of fear they would reject him for being too old. He claimed he was five years younger. Hester served at the Somme, at Vimy Ridge, as well as Ypres and Passchendaele. He was honourably discharged and returned home in May 1919. He would spend his civilian life working for Fittings Ltd. of Oshawa, Ontario, and died in Ottawa in 1952 at the age of seventy-five.

Do you have an ancestor who served in the Great War? Submit their story and it could be included on this Great War Album website.