Roy Iliffe was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, on July 6, 1886, the son of George Iliffe (a pharmaceutical chemist) and Caroline Laura (nee George) Iliffe, both of Warwickshire, England. His siblings included Laura Marion (born 1876); Oliver George (born 1878); Gwendolen Mary (born 1881); Kathleen Margaret (born 1882); and Gladys Myfanwy (born 1884). In 1911, at the age of 24, Roy was living in Warwickshire, England, employed as a bank clerk. He had also lost his mother by this date. Sometime after that, he came to Canada, enlisting September 22, 1914 at Valcartier Camp, Quebec. Single at the time of his enlistment, he recorded his occupation as a clerk. He became a member of the Army, Canadian Infantry, Western Ontario Regiment, 1st Battalion, as a Private.
Approximately eight months after the start of the war, Roy Iliffe would lose his life in the Great War. On April 22, 1915, he would be killed while fighting, on the first day of the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgium. According to Sarnia Observer reports, Roy Iliffe was the first man from Sarnia to lose his life in the Great War. Roy Iliffe would later be officially listed as, Killed in Action. Vicinity of St. Julien. Twenty-eight year old Roy Iliffe has no known grave. He is memorialized on the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Belgium, Panel 10-26-28.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D, 2G