Gunning, Private Lorne Wilbert

Service highlights

  • Service number: 727236
  • Rank at death: Private
  • Unit: Canadian Machine Gun Corps, 2nd Battalion
  • Born: 4 August 1897, Blanshard Township
  • Died: 31 August 1918, age 21
  • Burial: Ligny St. Flochel British Cemetery, Grave III.C.13
  • Commemorated: cenotaph in Rannoch

A Life and Service Remembered

Lorne Wilbert Gunning was born on 4 August 1897 in Blanshard Township. In the story passed down through his service record, he was known as a farmer, and his obituary noted he had been a student at London Business College, a snapshot of a young man balancing responsibility with plans for something more.

He enlisted in St. Marys on 10 December 1915 with the 110th (Perth) Battalion, as part of 8 (St. Marys) Platoon, B Company. After training and a winter of military routine in places like Stratford, London, and Camp Borden, he sailed from Halifax on 31 October 1916 aboard the SS Caronia, reaching England on 11 November.

The 110th did not remain together. On 1 January 1917, fit men were posted to the 8th Reserve Battalion, but Lorne was not considered fit for front line duty at that time and was transferred to the 2nd Canadian Labour Battalion at Seaford. He arrived in France on 8 February 1917 and later served in a clerical role with Canadian GHQ administration at Rouen, work that kept the army running even when it was far from the trenches.

In November 1917, he was admitted to 10 General Hospital at Rouen with tonsillitis. After discharge, his medical category improved and he was posted to the 18th Canadian Infantry Battalion, joining them as they were finishing their tour at Passchendaele, a place name that carried weight for anyone who served.

In spring 1918, as the Canadian Corps reorganized its machine gun units and demanded more trained manpower, Lorne was drafted into machine gun service. He trained, then on 9 August 1918 he was posted to the 2nd Canadian Machine Gun Battalion, serving with the 2nd Canadian Division at Amiens. Later that month, during the fighting that followed, he was wounded by enemy machine gun fire in the early morning of 29 August 1918, between Vis en Artois and Fontaine les Croisilles. Evacuated through medical stations, he died from his wounds on 31 August 1918.

Lorne was buried at Ligny St. Flochel British Cemetery in France. He was survived by his mother, Ellen, and his brother Clarence. He is commemorated locally at the cenotaph in Rannoch

Major battles and operations

  • Passchendaele (service with the 18th Canadian Infantry Battalion as their tour concluded)
  • Amiens (with the 2nd Canadian Division, August 1918)
  • Arras sector fighting, late August 1918 (wounded between Vis en Artois and Fontaine les Croisilles)

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