Private Charles Leonard McKie
Charles McKie was born in Paris, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter McKie. The family lived in Upper Town. He had three older brothers and a sister. The family attended Paris Presbyterian Church. Charles was employed in the sweater department of Penmans Ltd when the war began. Charles was married and had an infant daughter. He was 18 years old when he enlisted with the 76th Battalion.
On arrival in England, he was drafted to the signaling corps and crossed to France. He was killed in action on September 15, 1916 in a battle near Combles, France which was a heavily fortified German hub. It overlooked key routes and was a supply depot and resting place for German troops. It was captured later in the month by British and French troops.
Private Charles McKie’s name is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial in Pas de Calais. His is one name out of 11,000 Canadian soldiers who were posted missing, presumed dead in France.