Circumstances of Casualty: Died of Wounds. He was employed on Telephone Line Maintenance during the Somme offensive, and at about 10.20 o’clock on the night of October 12th, 1916, was mortally wounded while working with other comrades in a dugout which came under heavy shell fire. He was wounded in the left breast, leg, and arm, and rendered unconscious. His wounds were immediately dressed, and upon regaining consciousness he complained of his right side and stomach. He was carried out and placed in an ambulance and taken to No. 9 Casualty Clearing Station where he died the next morning.
BX October 24, 1916
Mrs. Milton Postill of Paris has received the news from Ottawa that her son, Sapper Vernon Frank Postill, had been officially reported wounded on October 13. Sapper Postill was a member of the 84th Battalion and was drafted into the engineers since going overseas. His many friends will anxiously await further news.
BX November 1, 1916
High Praise for Sapper Postill – Superior Officer Tells How Paris Member of Engineers Was Wounded
PARIS, November 1. – Mrs. Postill has received the following letter from France explaining the nature of the wounds received by her son, Sapper V.F. Postill, from the superior officer:
France, Oct. 16
Dear Mrs. Postill,
It was with very great regret that I learned of your son, V.F. Postill, having been wounded last night. I always considered him one of the best, if not the best man in my section. He has worked well and faithfully while under my command, and has borne all hardships with the greatest cheerfulness. He was doing valuable work at one of our test stations when it was struck by a shell. He was hit in the chest (a flesh wound) and in the wrist and leg (slightly). I am sure he will recover rapidly, so you need have no fear on that score. Your son is very highly thought of by everyone, and his leaving us will be a great loss to the section. Please accept my sympathy, and write me if I can give you any further information.
Sincerely yours,
Lieut. H.W. Dawson, C.E.
Motor Air Line Section
Canadian Corps. Signallers, C.E.F.
BX November 2, 1916
Sapper Postill Dies of Wounds – Paris Young Man’s Name Added to List of Fallen Heroes – Was Lineman in City
(From Our Own Correspondent)
PARIS, Nov. 2. – Another Paris boy has made the supreme sacrifice in the great struggle now on in Europe. Yesterday morning Mrs. Postill received word that her son, Sapper Vernon Frank Postill, had succumbed to his wounds. The telegram stated that he was wounded on October 13 and died October 14. Deceased enlisted with the 84th Battalion. On arrival in the Old Country he was drafted to the 37th Battalion, and had been in the trenches about five months. Sapper Postill was in his 21st year, and was born in Northfield Center. He had resided in Paris for about four years and for some time was in the employ of the Bell Telephone Company here. He was a young man of great promise and had a host of friends here who will learn of his death with sincere regret. His father was killed by lighting some four years ago. Besides his widowed mother, he leaves three sisters and two brothers: Maggie, Alma, Edna, Lloyd and Welby, to mourn his loss, who will have the sympathy of the community in their bereavement.
BC December 16, 1916
Sapper Vernon Frank Postill, following the report that her son. Sapper V.F. Postill, had been wounded on Oct. 13, 1916, Mrs. Postill received word that he had died from the same the following day. Deceased enlisted with the 84th Batt., and he had been at the front about five months. Sapper Postill was in his 21st year, and was born in Northfield Centre. He had resided in Paris about four years and for some time was in the employ of the Bell Telephone Co., here, and held in high esteem by a wide circle of friends. Besides his widowed mother three sisters and two brothers are left to mourn his loss, who will have the sympathy of all in their bereavement.
