Ira did five years of service with the 57th Reg. Peterboro Rangers, mustering out in 1900. In 1916 he joined the 121st Battalion and shipped off to Vernon Camp, BC. He went overseas on the Empress of Britain and arrived in Liverpool on August 24th. The 121st was absorbed into the 16th reserve Battalion and then further absorbed into multiple groups in January 1917. Ira joined the 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion and on February 17, 1917 and joined the frontline with the 54th. He fought with the 54th through 1917 and 1918.
Stages at the Gentelles Wood on August 7th 1918, he pushed forward with the 54th when the Battle of Amiens started to 0400 hrs on August 8, 1918. Ira lost his life on the 8th and was buried in a temporary grave. At the end of the war he was moved to his final resting place.