Pte
Gordon Leslie Williams
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 12/09/1896 |
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Place of birth: Chester, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Penobsquis, New Brunswick, Canada |
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Profession: Plumber |
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Religion: Methodist |
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: 709335 |
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Enlistment date: 28/10/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Mounted Rifles, 5th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 30/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Woodland Plantation, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXVIII Row: B Grave: 21 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Gordon Leslie Williams was born in September 1896 in Chester, Cheshire, England. His father, William, worked there as a plumber. Shortly before the outbreak of the First World War, the entire family emigrated to Canada. The Williams family settled in Penobsquis near Sussex, New Brunswick, where both father William and Gordon found work as plumbers.
In the autumn of 1915, the 19-year-old Gordon enlisted in the Canadian Army. After basic training he embarked for Europe, where he was assigned to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, part of the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division. The Mounted Rifles — mounted infantry — were by then fighting exclusively dismounted in the trenches of Europe.
At the end of October 1917, the 3rd Canadian Division was once again deployed in Flanders, where the Allied offensive — intended to break through towards the coast — had bogged down into a war of attrition over the heights east of Ypres. With winter approaching, a breakthrough seemed unlikely, and although the French and Belgian allies openly doubted the continuation of the offensive by mid-October, this realisation had not yet reached the British high command. The Canadians were tasked with capturing the heights around the shattered village of Passendale. In the first two phases, on 26 and 30 October, the troops had to fight their way out of the mud by reaching higher ground. Once that slope was consolidated, Passendale could be taken.
The Ravebeek cut through the front; the shallow ditch had been transformed by constant bombardments into a kilometre-wide swamp. Advancing through the waterlogged valley was nearly impossible. In many places only one battalion could attack due to the lack of firm ground.
The Canadians not only had to contend with the swampy terrain at the foot of the ridge, but also faced a well-organised German defence. Despite heavy losses and harsh conditions, the German position at Bellevue — the focal point of the German defence on a spur of the ridge west of Passendale — fell on 26 October 1917. The Canadians thus succeeded in establishing themselves on the hillside.
On 30 October 1917 the advance was renewed. At first light the Allied artillery unleashed its deadly barrage. At ten to six the 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions advanced once more. The 3rd Division attacked with the 8th Brigade on the left and the 7th Brigade on the right. From Bellevue they continued along the spur towards the Goudberg, north of Passendale.
The 8th Brigade attacked with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Their objective was the Goudberg. In front of this height, however, lay an almost impassable obstacle: Woodland Plantation, a shattered copse through which the overflowing Paddebeek ran. The terrain had been transformed into an impenetrable swamp. At the last moment it was therefore decided to advance via the “slightly” drier ground around the foul-smelling marsh. “A” and “B” Companies on the right, “C” and “D” on the left.
Yet even this flanking advance proved extremely difficult. Without adequate artillery support and struggling through the mud, the mounted infantry became easy targets. Source Farm, Vapour Farm and Vanity House at the foot of the Goudberg were captured despite heavy casualties. The survivors dug in. The 5th Mounted Rifles had begun the attack with about 600 men; by ten o’clock half were dead or wounded. In the afternoon German counter-attacks threatened to overwhelm the battalion. The 2nd Mounted Rifles rushed to assist. Although Vanity House had to be abandoned, the positions were ultimately held with the greatest difficulty. The losses were appalling. Many never returned from the Goudberg.
Near the farm on the Bornstraat, just in front of Woodland Plantation, stood a German bunker in 1917. During the attack of 30 October, the Canadian Army Medical Corps established a dressing station here. It soon became overcrowded and wounded men had to be treated outside. To make matters worse, a shell struck the position, killing many wounded and medical personnel instantly. When the battalion was relieved the following day, it had suffered some 400 casualties in only a few days.
Gordon Leslie Williams, only 21 years old, was killed on 30 October 1917. He was initially buried near the dressing station along the Bornstraat in front of Woodland Plantation. After the war he received his final resting place at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXVIII, Row B, Grave 21.
In the autumn of 1915, the 19-year-old Gordon enlisted in the Canadian Army. After basic training he embarked for Europe, where he was assigned to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, part of the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division. The Mounted Rifles — mounted infantry — were by then fighting exclusively dismounted in the trenches of Europe.
At the end of October 1917, the 3rd Canadian Division was once again deployed in Flanders, where the Allied offensive — intended to break through towards the coast — had bogged down into a war of attrition over the heights east of Ypres. With winter approaching, a breakthrough seemed unlikely, and although the French and Belgian allies openly doubted the continuation of the offensive by mid-October, this realisation had not yet reached the British high command. The Canadians were tasked with capturing the heights around the shattered village of Passendale. In the first two phases, on 26 and 30 October, the troops had to fight their way out of the mud by reaching higher ground. Once that slope was consolidated, Passendale could be taken.
The Ravebeek cut through the front; the shallow ditch had been transformed by constant bombardments into a kilometre-wide swamp. Advancing through the waterlogged valley was nearly impossible. In many places only one battalion could attack due to the lack of firm ground.
The Canadians not only had to contend with the swampy terrain at the foot of the ridge, but also faced a well-organised German defence. Despite heavy losses and harsh conditions, the German position at Bellevue — the focal point of the German defence on a spur of the ridge west of Passendale — fell on 26 October 1917. The Canadians thus succeeded in establishing themselves on the hillside.
On 30 October 1917 the advance was renewed. At first light the Allied artillery unleashed its deadly barrage. At ten to six the 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions advanced once more. The 3rd Division attacked with the 8th Brigade on the left and the 7th Brigade on the right. From Bellevue they continued along the spur towards the Goudberg, north of Passendale.
The 8th Brigade attacked with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Their objective was the Goudberg. In front of this height, however, lay an almost impassable obstacle: Woodland Plantation, a shattered copse through which the overflowing Paddebeek ran. The terrain had been transformed into an impenetrable swamp. At the last moment it was therefore decided to advance via the “slightly” drier ground around the foul-smelling marsh. “A” and “B” Companies on the right, “C” and “D” on the left.
Yet even this flanking advance proved extremely difficult. Without adequate artillery support and struggling through the mud, the mounted infantry became easy targets. Source Farm, Vapour Farm and Vanity House at the foot of the Goudberg were captured despite heavy casualties. The survivors dug in. The 5th Mounted Rifles had begun the attack with about 600 men; by ten o’clock half were dead or wounded. In the afternoon German counter-attacks threatened to overwhelm the battalion. The 2nd Mounted Rifles rushed to assist. Although Vanity House had to be abandoned, the positions were ultimately held with the greatest difficulty. The losses were appalling. Many never returned from the Goudberg.
Near the farm on the Bornstraat, just in front of Woodland Plantation, stood a German bunker in 1917. During the attack of 30 October, the Canadian Army Medical Corps established a dressing station here. It soon became overcrowded and wounded men had to be treated outside. To make matters worse, a shell struck the position, killing many wounded and medical personnel instantly. When the battalion was relieved the following day, it had suffered some 400 casualties in only a few days.
Gordon Leslie Williams, only 21 years old, was killed on 30 October 1917. He was initially buried near the dressing station along the Bornstraat in front of Woodland Plantation. After the war he received his final resting place at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXVIII, Row B, Grave 21.
Sources 6
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Col. Nicholson G.W.L., Canadian Expedition Force 1914-1919 - Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War, (Ottawa, Queen's Printer, 1962), pg. 320-323. Sources used |
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Cook T., Shock Troops: Canadians fighting the Great War 1917-1918. Volume II (Toronto, Penguin Canada, 2008) 345-355. Sources used |
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McCarthy C., Passchendaele: The Day-By-Day Account (Londen, Arms & Armour, 2018) 153-154. 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 10390 - 51). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War Diaries: 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4949, Microfilm reel number: T-10760, File 473). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/465196 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=b5318306-084d-4f89-8450-e9a9fae10ece |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/598884 |