Lieutenant Lorne Henry Rehder
Lorne Rehder was born in Paris, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rehder. He had a sister, Kathleen. The family attended St. Paul’s Methodist (now United) Church in Paris where Lorne was active in the Sunday School. Lorne graduated from Paris High School and continued his studies at Toronto University, where he graduated in 1916 with a B.A. degree. He was also a hard worker on behalf of the YMCA.
Lorne took out his commission with the 125th Brant Battalion in November, 1915 and went overseas with the battalion in August, 1916. As a 23-year-old university student, he led the 10th Platoon of the Paris contingent. He transferred to the 54th Battalion while in England and went to France in April, 1917. In August 1918, the 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion was heavily involved in the Battle of Amiens, advancing through or near Beaucourt-en-Santerre, France, as they pushed east of the Luce River. This was part of the major Allied offensive starting August 8th to break German lines. The battalion followed the initial Canadian assault, moving into captured territory behind the front lines, facing intense fighting. The fighting for Beaucourt in August 1918 led to the creation of the Beaucourt British Cemetery, where many 54th Battalion soldiers are buried, including Lieutenant Lorne Rehder. On August 8, 1918, he was killed by an enemy shell.
The Beaucourt British Cemetery, where Lorne is buried, was established by fighting units immediately after the village's capture. It contains the graves of 76 identified Canadian soldiers. These men were casualties of the fighting around the village of Beaucourt during the Battle of Amiens, which began on August 8, 1918. The first day of the battle was particularly costly for the entire Canadian Corps, with a total of 1,036 Canadians killed across their entire front of advance on August 8 alone. The capture of Beaucourt was part of this larger offensive during "Canada's Hundred Days," an impactful campaign that ultimately led to the end of the war but cost the Canadian Corps 45,835 casualties overall.