Pte
William James Barton
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 27/02/1893 |
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Place of birth: Whitby, Ontario, Canada |
General information
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Profession: Clerk |
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: 745617 |
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Enlistment date: 31/12/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Whitby, Ontario, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 2nd Bn. (Eastern Ontario) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Mosselmarkt, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 18A |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private William James Barton served in the Canadian Infantry 2nd Battalion, part of the 1st Canadian Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division. The Division participated in the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele (31 July 1917-10 November 1917). It attacked on the 6th of November 1917. The attack was part of the last push to Passchendaele, known as the Second Battle of Passchendaele (26 October-10 November).
On the 6th of November 1917 the 1st Canadian Division launched an attack to the Northwest of the village of Passchendaele, with the 2nd Canadian Division on their right and the 63rd British Naval Division on their left. The 1st Canadian Division’s advanced with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions Canadian Infantry of the 1st Canadian Brigade. At 6.00 a.m. the allied artillery put down a creeping barrage, behind which the troops advanced. The assault was confined to the Bellevue-Meetcheele spur as the ground to the left was to boggy. Little opposition was encountered and the men reached their first objective near Mosselmarkt round 6.52 a.m. They captured the Mosselmarkt Blockhouse without much resistance surprising the German defenders. By 7.45 a.m. the Battalion had taken their second objective at Goudberg and started consolidating the line. Vegetebale Farm fell to the Battalion. It was reported that not many prisoners were taken but that there were lots of dead Germans. The last objective was reached around 9.30 a.m. A German counter-attack loomed in the afternoon, but was dealt with by artillery fire.
Private William James Barton was killed in action during the attack on the 6th of November 1917 on Mosselmarkt. His remains were never identified and he is remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.
On the 6th of November 1917 the 1st Canadian Division launched an attack to the Northwest of the village of Passchendaele, with the 2nd Canadian Division on their right and the 63rd British Naval Division on their left. The 1st Canadian Division’s advanced with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions Canadian Infantry of the 1st Canadian Brigade. At 6.00 a.m. the allied artillery put down a creeping barrage, behind which the troops advanced. The assault was confined to the Bellevue-Meetcheele spur as the ground to the left was to boggy. Little opposition was encountered and the men reached their first objective near Mosselmarkt round 6.52 a.m. They captured the Mosselmarkt Blockhouse without much resistance surprising the German defenders. By 7.45 a.m. the Battalion had taken their second objective at Goudberg and started consolidating the line. Vegetebale Farm fell to the Battalion. It was reported that not many prisoners were taken but that there were lots of dead Germans. The last objective was reached around 9.30 a.m. A German counter-attack loomed in the afternoon, but was dealt with by artillery fire.
Private William James Barton was killed in action during the attack on the 6th of November 1917 on Mosselmarkt. His remains were never identified and he is remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.
Sources 3
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Circumstances of death http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-e.php?q2=28&q3=2260&sqn=676&tt=1057&PHPSESSID=pf868q7td101us1usidkvu8pl1 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 490 - 21). http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/search.aspx Sources used |
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War diaries: 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4871, Microfilm reel number: T-10669 - 10670, File number: 208). https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng Sources used |