Pte
William James Young
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 29/03/1879 |
|
Place of birth: Pharis, Ballymoney, Ireland, United Kingdom |
General information
|
Last known residence: 18 Atkins Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|
Profession: Thelephone lineman |
|
Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
|
Country: Canada |
|
Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 799804 |
|
Enlistment date: 28/01/1916 |
|
Enlistment place: Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|
Units: — Canadian Infantry, 19th Bn. (Central Ontario) (Last known unit) — Canadian Infantry, 15th Bn. (48th Highlanders) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 18/01/1918 |
|
Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
|
Age: 38 |
Cemetery
|
Étaples Military Cemetery Plot: XXXI Row: F Grave: 22 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Last known residence | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of wounding |
My story
William James Young was born on 29 March 1879 in Ballymoney, Atrim, Ireland, where he grew up with his sister on his parents' farm. On 27 April 1904, he married Margaret Donald Wood, with whom he had five children. In October 1910, the whole family emigrated to Toronto, Canada. There he was able to work as an electrician for the Bell Telephone Company.
On 28 January 1916, aged 36, William volunteered for service in the Canadian Army. With the 134th Battalion (48th Highlanders), he left for Europe, where he was eventually assigned to the 19th Battalion (Central Ontario), which belonged to the 4th Brigade of the 2nd Canadian Division.
In the final phase of the Battle of Passchendaele, the Canadians were deployed to take the ruins of the mythical village. Passchendaele and the surrounding hills were taken after fierce fighting from 6 to 10 November 1917. After remaining in reserve at Vlamertinge, the 4th Brigade was transported by train to Ypres on 8 November to relieve the 5th Brigade at Vienna Cottages, along the Ypres-Roulers railway line just south of Passchendaele.
There on the front line on 9 November 1917 at Vienna Cottages, William was badly wounded. He was evacuated and transferred to St John's Ambulance Brigade Hospital near Etaples in France, where his right leg was amputated. Later, his left leg was also removed. William eventually succumbed to septic poisoning on 18 January 1918. He was buried at the age of 38 in the nearby Etaples military cemetery, Plot XXXI, Row F, Grave 22.
On 28 January 1916, aged 36, William volunteered for service in the Canadian Army. With the 134th Battalion (48th Highlanders), he left for Europe, where he was eventually assigned to the 19th Battalion (Central Ontario), which belonged to the 4th Brigade of the 2nd Canadian Division.
In the final phase of the Battle of Passchendaele, the Canadians were deployed to take the ruins of the mythical village. Passchendaele and the surrounding hills were taken after fierce fighting from 6 to 10 November 1917. After remaining in reserve at Vlamertinge, the 4th Brigade was transported by train to Ypres on 8 November to relieve the 5th Brigade at Vienna Cottages, along the Ypres-Roulers railway line just south of Passchendaele.
There on the front line on 9 November 1917 at Vienna Cottages, William was badly wounded. He was evacuated and transferred to St John's Ambulance Brigade Hospital near Etaples in France, where his right leg was amputated. Later, his left leg was also removed. William eventually succumbed to septic poisoning on 18 January 1918. He was buried at the age of 38 in the nearby Etaples military cemetery, Plot XXXI, Row F, Grave 22.
Sources 3
|
Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 10668-34). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
|
War diaries: 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4882, Microfilm reel number: T-10679, File number: 240). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
|
War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150, 1992-93/314; Volume Number: 137). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 3
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/497973 |
|
The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/497973 |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5803619 |