Clare William Malley signature

Clare William Malley, a drug clerk, signed up in Kingston, Ontario on this day in 1917. He was born in Deseronto on August 18th, 1895, the eldest child of William James Malley and Ada (née Moodie). His younger brother Arthur had signed up in April 1916. Clare had previously served in the 34th Battery of the Canadian Field Artillery (CFA).

Malley joined the 73rd Battery of the CFA with the regimental number 343972. He was six feet tall, with a dark complexion, black eyes and black hair. His unit travelled to England on the SS Lapland, arriving on February 24th, 1918. His service record shows that he went overseas in June 1918 and suffered a gunshot wound to the right arm on October 7th. He was sent back to England to recuperate.

Malley left Liverpool for Halifax on the troopship Royal George and was demobilized in Canada on March 27th, 1919. He married Elizabeth Laughlin on 26 July 1926 in Belleville, when he was still working as a druggist in Deseronto. He died in 1963 and was buried in Deseronto Cemetery. Elizabeth lived until 1996 and was also buried in Deseronto.