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        Godfrey MILLS enlisted, aged 20, at the start of the First World War, and was assigned to the 52
        Battalion Canadian Infantry.    He was soon promoted to Company Sgt Major and    was awarded the
        Military  Medal  in  1916.    His  Battalion  was  in  action  in    France  and  during  an    attack    west  of
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        Monchy-le-Prex  in  1918,  Godfrey  Mills    was killed. He  was  unmarried  and  gave  his  mother  of  7
        Avenue south, Kenora, Ontario, as his next of kin.

        In Memoriam: Buried in Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt, France.
        ______________________________________________

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        Frank TOSSELL, 20  Battalion, the London Regiment
        1894-1st July 1916

        In 1911, Master-baker William Tossell and his wife, Mary had a very successful    combined business of
        Baker’s shop and Post Office in Foots Cray  High Street. Assisted by their eldest son, George, and
        daughter Violet, who worked behind the Post Office counter, they came in almost daily contact with the
        people of the village.

        Their 16-year-old son, Frank, first served as an apprentice draper’s assistant with Jones & Higgins of
        Sidcup, and later he found employment with Chieseman Brothers of Lewisham, a large department
        store  in  Lewisham  High  Street.  Frank’s  outgoing,  engaging  personality  was  ideal  for  gaining  the
        confidence  of  the  hundreds  of  female  customers  who  daily  visited  and  purchased  items  from  his
        department.    He was known to have earned the affection of all who came in contact with him. When
        war was declared in 1914, Frank (who was now 19-years-old) was one of the first to enlist and was
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        assigned to the 1 /20  Battalion, The London Regiment.

        For the first two years Frank’s charm kept him safe and he went through some of the fiercest fighting
        without even a scratch.    Since enlisting, he was only able to get leave for about four days.    In 1916,
        Frank’s  Regiment  took  part  in  the  disastrous  Battle  of  the  Somme  with    the  battles  continuing
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        throughout  the  summer  and  by  15   September  the  London  Regiment  was  in  the  Battle  of
        Flers-Courcellete.    Despite  the  intense  preliminary  bombardment,  and  some  notable  successes,  the
        principal objectives were not gained. On the very first day of the fighting, Frank’s luck ran out and he
        was tragically killed.

        The Kentish Times printed a very sensitive and kind tribute: “the village of Foots Cray has paid heavily
        in the toll of brave young lives laid down in their country’s cause, and the latest to make the great sacrifice
        is the son of the best known and respected tradesman, Mr. W. Tossell, with whom, and Mrs. Tossell, the
        greatest sympathy is felt.    Private Frank Tossell was only 22-years-of-age and being a bright, likeable lad,
        his parent’s grief is very deep.”

        Mr. Frank Chieseman,    on behalf of Chieseman Bros., wrote a very sincere letter of condolence: “I
        learn from some of my staff that your dear son, formerly with us, had met with misfortune, in a brave
        charge.    The news has cast a gloom over the staff.    His bright, cheerful, intelligent manner had made us
        all love him, and while his sense of duty made him a soldier, and a brave, fearless one, his nature was far
        different and more suitable for love and peace.    I would that our news was incorrect but fear this it is not
        so. We sympathise with you and yours in your very sad loss, and assure you that his memory will be here
        held in respect and love for many a long day.”

        In Memoriam -    Frank Tossell is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Belgium along with 72,203
        others who have no known grave.
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