Private Elmer McFalls - Killed in Action at Passchendaele

If you've visited Exeter, Ontario you'll recognize the Town Hall clock tower on Main Street; a landmark since 1887....

Exeter Town Hall clock tower. Photo by Mary Jane Culbert.

The company responsible for building the Town Hall was Ross & Taylor, owned by John W. Taylor. Taylor was the uncle of Myron Manford Culbert's wife, Effie Pearl Taylor. At one time, John W. Taylor was Reeve of Exeter and Justice of the Peace so not only did Taylor build the Exeter Town Hall, he worked there on Council as well. 

The clock tower isn't the only impressive feature of the building. In front of the Town Hall and the library stands a 10-foot high War Memorial Cenotaph constructed of Canadian grey granite.

War Memorial Cenotaph in Exeter, Ontario. Photo by Mary Jane Culbert.

This memorial contains the names of the fallen heroes of Exeter and Usborne Township and Stephen Township. One of those names is Elmer McFalls, the great-grandson of John Culbert and Mary Ward.

PRIVATE ELMER McFALLS

Regiment Number: 654816

Private Elmer McFalls was born 19 February 1897 in Usborne Township, Huron County, Ontario to Elizabeth "Lizzie" Whiteford and Alexander McFalls. (Elmer's name is misspelled as Eylmer on his birth registration.) Elmer's parents farmed at Lot 13, Concession 2, Usborne Township, about a mile east of Exeter.

Elmer had two younger brothers, Garnet Clifford McFalls and Percy Alexander McFalls.

Elmer was a single, 19 year old hardware clerk living in Exeter when he enlisted on 13 May 1916 in Exeter. At the time of his enlistment, he'd been training in the hardware business with George Hawkins.

I don’t have a photo of Elmer but his Attestation Papers state that he stood 5’ 9.5” with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair.

 

Elmer went overseas with the 161st Huron Battalion. He served with the Army’s Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) in Company B, 58^th Battalion. On 4 December 1916, 157 men from the 161st Huron Battalion were taken on by the 58th Battalion. They arrived as reinforcements in France.

Killed in Action

Private Elmer McFalls was killed in action during the fierce fighting at the Battle of Passchendaele on 23 October 1917. He was 20 years old.

Elmer's parents received the tragic news via a telegram they received on Sunday, November 11th, 1917, exactly one year before Armistice was signed to end World War One.

Elmer McFalls' obituary in the Exeter Advocate, Thursday, 15 November 1917, page 1.

 

Eye-witness Earl Southcott says he "saw Elmer McFalls killed just as they were going "over the top." He was wounded as he was going over." Source: Exeter Advocate, 15 November 1917, page 1.

In the Canada, War Graves Register (Circumstances of Casualty) 1914-1948, Elmer's death date is listed as October 23rd yet on his grave marker, the date is October 24th.

Private Elmer McFalls is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, located 5 1/4 miles northeast of Ypres (Ieper), Belgium. Grave reference: XIV. G. 4.

Elmer McFalls' grave marker in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium. Photo via the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, courtesy J. Elliott/J. Rutledge, The Men of Huron WW1 Project

Although he’s buried in Belgium, Elmer’s name is inscribed on the McFalls family headstone in Exeter Cemetery.

Although Elmer McFalls is buried in Belgium, his name is inscribed on this family headstone in Exeter along with the names of his parents, Elizabeth Whiteford & Alexander McFalls, his brother Garnet McFalls, and Garnet's wife, Velma Bilyea. Photo by Mary Jane Culbert.

Elmer's name is also inscribed on the Exeter War Memorial Cenotaph.

Elmer McFall’s name is inscribed near the base of the Exeter War Memorial Cenotaph. Photo via the Canadian Virtual War Memorial courtesy of Marg Liessens

Source: The Huron Expositor, 16 January 1920, page 1.

On 5 September 1933, twenty-six years after Elmer's death, a son was born to Elmer's brother, Garnet McFalls and Garnet's wife, Velma (Bilyea) McFalls. Garnet & Velma named their boy Elmer Alexander McFalls. Could it be that the baby was named in honour of his uncle, Private Elmer McFalls?

Private Elmer McFalls' Family Tree:

John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-grandparents)
Rebecca Culbert & William Whiteford (grandparents)
Sarah Elizabeth “Lizzie” Whiteford & Alexander McFalls (parents)