Roy Lumley was born in Wheatley, Essex, Ontario, on March 4, 1894, the son of Richard Henry Lumley (labourer) and Sarah Elizabeth (nee Brown) Lumley, of 241 Exmouth Street, later Water Street, Sarnia. His siblings included William Albert (born 1880); May C. (born 1884); Ida May (born 1885); Frank (born 1888); George (born 1890); Laura Jane (born 1892, died in 1904); Mabel (born 1896); Dewey Admiral (born 1901); and Ella (born 1906). Prior to enlisting, Roy was an employee of the Cleveland Sarnia Saw Mills Company. Roy enlisted September 7, 1915 in Sarnia, with the 70th Battalion. At the time, he listed that he was a labourer and that he was single. He became a member of the Army, Canadian Infantry, Eastern Ontario Regiment, 21st Battalion, with the rank of Private. On April 15, 1917, Roy Lumley would lose his life, the result of fatal wounds he had received while fighting at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, France. Roy Lumley would later be officially listed as, Died of Wounds. At No. 23 Casualty Clearing Station.

In early June of 1917, Roy’s mother Sarah in Sarnia would receive a letter written by the nurse who was caring for her son the day after Roy entered the hospital. At the same time, Sarah received a second letter from a comrade of her son, which he penned only the day before the young hero died. The writer apparently had been at the hospital only a short time and, on leaving, was hopeful of his Roy’s recovery. The letter reads as follows:

 France, April 14th, 1917

Mrs. R.H. Lumpley, 241 Exmouth St., Sarnia

Dear Madam,

I am droppig you a few lines at your son’s request as I know him quite well. I saw him after he was wounded and he was alright then, and likely he is in England by this time. He went through the hospital on the 11th and I dropped you a card at that time. I hope Madam that you will take no offence at me writing, for your son and myself were in the same battalion in London, Ont., and you don’t need to worry for he is all O.K., and hopes to be alright soon. He was very cheerful when I saw him and we had quite a chat together while they were dressing his wounds. He can thank his knife for saving his life. I hope you get a letter soon from him and hope he gets well.

One of his chums, Pte. W.C. Hopwood, B.E.F. France

(Note: the reference in the letter to Roy’s knife was taken by his friends to mean that it was used to cut him out of wire entanglements).

In mid-June of 1917, Roy’s parents, Richard and Sarah, living on Exmouth Street at the time, received a personal letter of sympathy from Hon. A.E. Kemp, minister of Militia and Defence for Canada. Twenty-three year old Roy Lumley is buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, Grave III.D.11.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D, 2G