He fought all over France, with much time in the front lines. Incredibly, he claimed to have crossed France seven times on foot with full gear, as did, all the men with whom he served. He was blown up three times; once he was so deeply buried in the earth he had to be dug out by his comrades.

He was sent to Canada to convalesce but subsequently sent back to the trenches. Lionel suffered lung damage as a result of being gassed and died of lung cancer in 1957.