Pte
Weldon Leilond Cole
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 08/09/1897 |
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Place of birth: Havelock, New Brunswick, Canada |
General information
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Profession: Farmer |
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Religion: Baptist |
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: 742836 |
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Enlistment date: 01/03/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Valcartier Camp, Quebec, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 26th Bn. (New Brunswick) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Grün, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 26 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Weldon Leilond Cole was born on 8 September 1897, the son of Charles and Mary Ann Cole. His mother died when he was 14 years old. His father died four years after the end of the war. Weldon worked as a farmer, when he enlisted at Valcartier, Quebec, on 1 March 1916 and was assigned to the 115th Overseas Battalion. In May 1917, he was transferred to the 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion (New Brunswick), 5th Canadian Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France .
On 3 November 1917, the 26th Battalion left for Ypres, where they were to take part in the capture of Passchendaele Ridge. On a chilly morning on 6 November, the Canadians launched their attack on Passchendaele. The task was entrusted to the 1st and 2nd divisions. The barrage was extremely intense. To give the German machine guns as few shooting opportunities as possible, the Canadians followed the barrage closely. The 2nd Division, on the right, advanced towards the ruins of Passchendaele. The 27th, 28th and 31st Battalions of the 6th Canadian Brigade moved into the village. The 5th Canadian Brigade protected the right flank, with the help of the 26th Battalion, and advanced south of the Broodseinde-Passendale road, towards Tiber and Grün. Headquarters was in a pillbox at Hillside Farm. By 8.45am, the village and the eastern ridge beyond were in Canadian hands. That evening, the 26th Battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles).
Weldon Leilond Cole, aged 20, was killed during the Battle of Passchendaele. To date, Weldon has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, panel 26.
On 3 November 1917, the 26th Battalion left for Ypres, where they were to take part in the capture of Passchendaele Ridge. On a chilly morning on 6 November, the Canadians launched their attack on Passchendaele. The task was entrusted to the 1st and 2nd divisions. The barrage was extremely intense. To give the German machine guns as few shooting opportunities as possible, the Canadians followed the barrage closely. The 2nd Division, on the right, advanced towards the ruins of Passchendaele. The 27th, 28th and 31st Battalions of the 6th Canadian Brigade moved into the village. The 5th Canadian Brigade protected the right flank, with the help of the 26th Battalion, and advanced south of the Broodseinde-Passendale road, towards Tiber and Grün. Headquarters was in a pillbox at Hillside Farm. By 8.45am, the village and the eastern ridge beyond were in Canadian hands. That evening, the 26th Battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles).
Weldon Leilond Cole, aged 20, was killed during the Battle of Passchendaele. To date, Weldon has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, panel 26.
Sources 4
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150; Volume: Box 1854 - 29). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War diaries: 25th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4933, Microfilm reel number: T-10735, File number: 418, File part: 1). 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/ Sources used |
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War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150, 1992-93/314; Volume Number: 165). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/922920 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5526572 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=44efd905-a729-42fc-a31e-8d6c79f4c643 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/922920 |