Pte
William Cecil Davis
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 08/08/1895 |
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Place of birth: Egremont, Ontario, Canada |
General information
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Last known residence: Lindsay, Kawartha Lake, Ontario, Canada |
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Profession: Bank cleck |
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Religion: Church of England |
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: 839098 |
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Enlistment date: 17/05/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Owen Sound, Grey County, Ontario, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Mounted Rifles, 4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Wolf Copse, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXX Row: E Grave: 17 |
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
William Cecil Davis was the second son of William James and Margaret Davis. He was born on 8 August 1895 in Egremont, Ontario, Canada. William lived in Lindsay, Kawartha Lake and worked as a bank clerk. He enlisted in the Canadian army on 17 May 1916. His older brother also did so several months earlier, in January 1916. William initially joined the 147th Battalion, but was transferred to the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion (8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division) in January 1917. A month later, his older brother John Albert was also transferred to the same battalion.
William fell on 26 October 1917, the starting day of the Second Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 3rd Canadian Division's starting line that day stretched from Wolf Farm, just in front of Wolf Copse to Waterfields. The 8th Canadian Brigade was in the vicinity of Wolf Farm and Wolf Copse. That day's objective was near Fürst Farm and Friesland. The 3rd Canadian Division attacked with the 9th and 8th Brigades. The 9th Brigade did not reach the objectives, but managed to hold the positions around Bellevue and Laamkeek. The 8th Brigade also advanced under difficult conditions. They managed to take Wolf Copse, but then had to retreat some 270 metres to maintain contact with 63rd Division, who were to their left.
22-year-old William Cecil Davis did not survive the attack. His brother was also wounded a few days later, on 29 October, but survived. William's body and that of others was recovered near present-day Bornstraat No 7. He was reburied with the others at Tyne Cot Cemetery (plot XXX, row E, grave 17).
William fell on 26 October 1917, the starting day of the Second Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 3rd Canadian Division's starting line that day stretched from Wolf Farm, just in front of Wolf Copse to Waterfields. The 8th Canadian Brigade was in the vicinity of Wolf Farm and Wolf Copse. That day's objective was near Fürst Farm and Friesland. The 3rd Canadian Division attacked with the 9th and 8th Brigades. The 9th Brigade did not reach the objectives, but managed to hold the positions around Bellevue and Laamkeek. The 8th Brigade also advanced under difficult conditions. They managed to take Wolf Copse, but then had to retreat some 270 metres to maintain contact with 63rd Division, who were to their left.
22-year-old William Cecil Davis did not survive the attack. His brother was also wounded a few days later, on 29 October, but survived. William's body and that of others was recovered near present-day Bornstraat No 7. He was reburied with the others at Tyne Cot Cemetery (plot XXX, row E, grave 17).
Sources 4
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Census of Canada, 1911, (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG31-C-1, T-20326 to T-20460). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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Circumstances of Death Registers, First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150, 1992-93/314, 145-238). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 145-147. 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 2360 - 31). https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462516 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=7e03af34-005f-4c31-88ab-bca2f028be2c |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5825893 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/462516 |