Pte
William Vangheluwe

Information about birth

Date of birth:
24/08/1892
Place of birth:
Roeselare, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

General information

Last known residence:
Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada
Profession:
Blacksmith
Religion:
Methodist

Army information

Country:
Canada
Force:
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
908078
Enlistment date:
11/05/1916
Enlistment place:
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Units:
 —  Canadian Machine Gun Corps, 16th Coy.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
29/10/1917
Place of death:
Bellevue, Passchendaele, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
25

Memorial

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Panel: Panel 32

Points of interest 4

#1 Place of birth
#2 Last known residence
#3 Enlistment place
#4 Place of death (approximate)

My story

William (Willem) Vangheluwe, a blacksmith from Roeselare, Belgium, had probably emigrated to Saskatchewan, Canada, just like his brother Cyriel, shortly before the war. In 1916 he enlisted voluntarily. William was assigned to the 16th Canadian Machine Gun Company.

At the end of October 1917, William and his unit supported the infantry at Passchendaele. On 29 October 1917 his company's positions were attacked by German artillery. William, aged 25, was killed and buried near Bellevue, at the end of what is now a grove of trees, less than 10 km from his native town of Roeselare as the crow flies.

Files 5

Sources 5

Geboorteakten (Stadsarchief Roeselare (SAR), NT.G.ROE.1892.64418).
https://www.stadsarchiefroeselare.be/
Sources used
Overlijdensakten (Stadsarchief Roeselare (SAR), NT.BS2.O.ROE.1925.7).
https://www.stadsarchiefroeselare.be/
Sources used
Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9926 - 39).
https://library-archives.canada.ca/
Sources used
War diaries: 16th Canadian Machine Gun Company (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4984, Microfilm reel number: T-10816, File number: 616).
https://library-archives.canada.ca/
Sources used
War Graves Registry: Commonwealth War Graves (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC): RG150, 1992-1993/314, Box 39-244; Box: 130).
https://library-archives.canada.ca/
Sources used