Dyer, Frederick

Frederick Dyer was born on 12 May 1893 in Richmond, England. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Dyer.

Frederick, his parents and his younger brother, William, immigrated to Canada in 1903 and settled in Wirral (now Lashburn), Saskatchewan, where the family farmed. Two years later, Frederick’s sister, Ivy, was born.

Dyer enlisted in the 9th Canadian Mounted Rifles in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, on 3 May 1915. After initial training in Canada, the unit left for England on SS California, embarking in Saint John, New Brunswick, on 23 November 1915. The ship arrived in England on 3 December 1915. After further training, Dyer was transferred to the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles and joined the unit in France on 29 January 1916.

Dyer was wounded in the left leg and right foot by a shell near Ypres on 6 May 1916. Although his wounds were not considered serious, he received treatment at multiple hospitals in France and England, and only rejoined his unit on 3 September 1916. Dyer was promoted to lance corporal on 21 January 1917 and then to acting sergeant on 24 March 1917. He was killed in action at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917. The Circumstances of Casualty report states the following regarding his death: “During the military operations in the vicinity of Vimy Ridge, he was wounded in the right leg above the knee by enemy fire. He received first aid but died from the effect of his wounds shortly afterwards.”

Frederick Dyer is buried in Bois-Carré British Cemetery, Thélus, France.