Victor was a Sapper in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Basically, that means he was a trench-digger. He was digging a trench near Loos at the beginning of the Hill 70 battle when he was killed by an explosive.
Hill 70 was part of a series of battles to take back the mining area of Lens from the German forces. It began on the field, and ended in hand-to-hand fighting in the nearby town of Lens. The Canadians lost over 1500 men during this battle which lasted from 15-25 August 1917.
This is what Hill 70 looks like now. Behind me is an industrial complex, a day care, and a crematorium, and across the highway is a very peaceful field.
Victor was buried in the Maroc British Cemetery in the village of Grenay. The cemetery was started by French troops in 1915 but became a commonwealth cemetery the following year.
Victor is buried there in plot III.G.16.
It is a peaceful cemetery right in the middle of the town.
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