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Obituary (in part):
Mr. Middleton was born in Hermitage, England on June 1st, 1881, his parents being well-to-do farmers. Of an adventurous disposition, young Middleton enlisted in the Royal Marines in 1897, stepping up his age by three years in order to do so. Splendidly built and of a fine physique, Mr. Middleton was selected as guard of honour and stood on duty at the bier of Queen Victoria as her body lay in state in 1901. He also served a spell of duty on the Royal Yacht when Edward VII was still Prince of Wales.

Mr. Middelton left the marines in 1905 and came to Canada a year later. He was married in Montreal June 30th, 1906 and held a good position with the Dominion Transport Company. He enlisted for active service for the First World War on August 15th 1915 with the 69th Battalion and later transferred to the 14th.

On the Somme drive of 1916 Mr. Middleton had the unenviable distinction of being wounded three times in one day. He was invalided back to England and later returned to active service as dispatch rider. While serving in that capacity he was shot by a sniper who had hidden in a tree and then bayonetted in the leg. He managed to deliver his dispatches but was so weak from loss of blood that he had to be assisted from his horse. He received an honourable discharge on April 13, 1919 after four and a half years of service. At that time he held the rank of Sergeant.