Would be grateful for any information ! In Memory of Sapper JEFFREY MCVICAR STRATHY 285, 2nd Div. Signal Coy, Canadian Signal Corps who died on 14 September 1916 Remembered with honour VIMY MEMORIAL JEFFREY McVICAR STRATHY March 29, 1892 - September 14, 1916 Sapper, Canadian Engineers, Signals and Royal Flying Corps. Born Montreal, son of R.L.F. Strathy, educated Toronto, Welland, Owen Sound, Victoria, B.C., P.SS.; Port Arthur P.S., and C.I.; Applied science 1909-1913, B.A.SC. (Electrical Engineering, Honours); Westinghouse Co., Hamilton; 96th Regiment. He enlisted in October 1914 in the 2nd Divisional Signal Company, and went overseas in May 1915. Reaching France in September he was attached to the 6th Infantry Brigade on the front south of Ypres and in the Saliant, and served through the Battle of St. Eloi. At the beginning of September 1916 he joined the 70th Squadron of the Royal Canadian Flying Corps on probation for a commission as an Observer. Two weeks later he was killed in action. He was on a reconnaissance with three other machines in the direction of Cambrai, and as they were returning they were attacked by a number of German planes. Shortly afterwards his machine was seen to fall in a vertical dive over the enemy lines, one of the wings breaking. "University of Toronto Roll of Service 1914-1918"
Cpl J M Strathy (285) was the observer in Sopwith 1½ Strutter A897 of No 70 Sqn RFC, flown by 2Lt John Hugh Gale, from Oxford, when they were killed in action on 14 September 1916. They were on a reconnaissance mission from Fienvillers aerodrome when engaged by enemy aircraft south of Bapaume and shot down. The Strutter was seen to nose dive and then break up in the air. Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke of Jasta 2 was credited with a victory over a 'Sopwith' at 08:15; it was the 23rd of his eventual 40 victories. The crew of A897 have no known grave, and are commemorated on the Arras Memorial. Royal Flying Corps Canada was a training organisation; Cpl Strathy would have served in the RFC itself. Gareth
