Private David Reid Peel

David Peel was born in Paris on September 17, 1888, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Peel. He had one brother and one sister. He was educated in Paris and worked at Penmans No. 1 mill as a hosiery border. He married Carrie Shortseed in 1912 and they had two young sons, Robert and Harry. The family lived at 46 Mechanic Street in Paris.

David enlisted at 28 years of age in 1916 with the 215^th Battalion, and went overseas in April, 1917. In England, he was drafted to the Princess Pats and went to France. The Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) played a significant role in the Battle of the Scarpe, part of the larger Second Battle of Arras, which included the capture of Monchy-le-Preux in late August 1918. The main attack on Monchy-le-Preux by the Canadian Corps took place on August 26, 1918. The Canadian Corps had been moved north after their success at the Battle of Amiens earlier in August. The objective was to breach the German's strong Fresnes-Rouvroy defence system and advance towards the Drocourt-Quéant Line. The attack began at 3:00 a.m. on August 26, under pouring rain, with the infantry following a heavy artillery barrage. PPCLI advanced alongside the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) on their right flank. The 3rd Canadian Division successfully captured Monchy-le-Preux by 7:40 a.m. The PPCLI faced heavy opposition, particularly from machine-gun and rifle fire, but fought off German counterattacks and established their line in captured trenches east of the village.

The fighting was intense, and the PPCLI suffered heavy casualties during this period, with at least 46 men dying on August 26 alone. One of those men was Private David Reid Peel. He was killed in action on August 26, near the start of the battle while taking part in the attack northeast of Monchy-le-Preux. He was hit in the head and instantly killed by an enemy rifle bullet. He is remembered at the Vimy Memorial in Pas de Calais. His name is one of over 11,000 names of Canadian soldiers who were posted missing, presumed dead in France.

The actions at Monchy-le-Preux were an important chapter in "Canada's Hundred Days," the final Allied offensives that led to the end of the First World War.