Pte
William Edmundson
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 12/06/1892 |
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Place of birth: Moncton, Westmoreland County, New Brunswick, Canada |
General information
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Profession: Triple valve tester |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 709371 |
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Enlistment date: 29/09/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 26th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Crest Farm, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 25 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXXVII Row: A Grave: 22 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
William Edmundson was born on 12 June 1892 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. He was the husband of Minnie Edmundson. Before enlisting, he worked as a tester of three-way valves. On 29 September 1915, at the age of 23, he enlisted in Sussex, New Brunswick. He was initially assigned to the 104th Battalion. After arriving in the United Kingdom, he was transferred to the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick), 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division.
William was killed on 6 November 1917 during the capture of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) left Potijze at around 11 p.m. on 4 November and moved towards Seine Dump, arriving there around 1 a.m. the following day. There, the men dug in and tried to get some rest before moving out again around 11 p.m. towards the start positions for the attack of 6 November. These start positions ran from the present-day Passendalestraat to near Vienna Cottages and were reached between 2.30 a.m. and 3 a.m. on 6 November. The attack on Passchendaele itself would be carried out by battalions of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, who were to take the village. The men of the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) of the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade were also to attack, taking the right flank. Their objective line ran in an arc from just northeast of the village to just south of the village, beyond Tiber.
Shortly after arriving in the start positions, the men of the battalion came under artillery and machine-gun fire, resulting in the first casualties. The attack commenced at 6 a.m. and was carried out by “A”, “B” and “D” Company, while “C” Company remained in reserve. A bombardment protected the advancing men, and by 6.20 a.m. the extreme right positions were already in the hands of “A” Company. Then, at 6.40 a.m. and 7 a.m., the central and extreme left positions were secured by “B” Company and “D” Company respectively. All Companies encountered relatively little resistance but suffered several casualties, mainly due to machine-gun crews offering the most determined defence. After taking the enemy positions, contact was made between the Companies and the lines were consolidated. Throughout the day, the Canadians were subjected to artillery, sniper and machine-gun fire. Enemy aircraft also strafed the newly captured positions throughout the day. During the night of 6–7 November, several patrols were sent out. A German counter-attack was repelled by artillery. On 7 November, the newly captured front remained relatively quiet, though the Canadians endured several minor bombardments. At 10 p.m. that same day, the battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). During the capture of the enemy positions, 205 German prisoners were taken, but the battalion suffered 42 killed, 206 wounded and 1 missing.
William was hit by machine-gun bullets and died of his wounds before he could be brought to a dressing station. He was killed at the age of 25. His body was found after the war along the present-day Passendalestraat. He was subsequently reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXVII, Row A, Grave 22.
William was killed on 6 November 1917 during the capture of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) left Potijze at around 11 p.m. on 4 November and moved towards Seine Dump, arriving there around 1 a.m. the following day. There, the men dug in and tried to get some rest before moving out again around 11 p.m. towards the start positions for the attack of 6 November. These start positions ran from the present-day Passendalestraat to near Vienna Cottages and were reached between 2.30 a.m. and 3 a.m. on 6 November. The attack on Passchendaele itself would be carried out by battalions of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, who were to take the village. The men of the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) of the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade were also to attack, taking the right flank. Their objective line ran in an arc from just northeast of the village to just south of the village, beyond Tiber.
Shortly after arriving in the start positions, the men of the battalion came under artillery and machine-gun fire, resulting in the first casualties. The attack commenced at 6 a.m. and was carried out by “A”, “B” and “D” Company, while “C” Company remained in reserve. A bombardment protected the advancing men, and by 6.20 a.m. the extreme right positions were already in the hands of “A” Company. Then, at 6.40 a.m. and 7 a.m., the central and extreme left positions were secured by “B” Company and “D” Company respectively. All Companies encountered relatively little resistance but suffered several casualties, mainly due to machine-gun crews offering the most determined defence. After taking the enemy positions, contact was made between the Companies and the lines were consolidated. Throughout the day, the Canadians were subjected to artillery, sniper and machine-gun fire. Enemy aircraft also strafed the newly captured positions throughout the day. During the night of 6–7 November, several patrols were sent out. A German counter-attack was repelled by artillery. On 7 November, the newly captured front remained relatively quiet, though the Canadians endured several minor bombardments. At 10 p.m. that same day, the battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). During the capture of the enemy positions, 205 German prisoners were taken, but the battalion suffered 42 killed, 206 wounded and 1 missing.
William was hit by machine-gun bullets and died of his wounds before he could be brought to a dressing station. He was killed at the age of 25. His body was found after the war along the present-day Passendalestraat. He was subsequently reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXVII, Row A, Grave 22.
Sources 4
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5th Canadian Infantry Brigade. (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, 4886, T-10682, 253). https://library-archives.canada.ca Sources used |
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2831 - 24). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War diaries: 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4934, Microfilm reel number: T-10737 - T-10738, File number: 421). https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng Sources used |
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War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG150, 1992-93/314; Volume Number: 175). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462673 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5850623 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/462673?William%20Edmundson |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=ebc80cac-62d9-47f0-b8c8-09661258b346 |