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CWM 19920166-1604
CWM 19920166-1604

Private

Wilson, William Ernest

Unit

54th Canadian Infantry Battalion

Branch

Infantry

Service Component

Canadian Expeditionary Force

Service Number

443675

birth

1874/01/01

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

death

1916/11/21

France

grave

Contay British Cemetery, Contay, France

Gender

Male

William Ernest Wilson was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on 1 January 1874. He was the son of William and Frances Wilson.

A farmer, Wilson enlisted in the 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Kootenay) in Vernon, British Columbia, on 28 August 1915.

Wilson died at No. 9 Casualty Clearing Station on 21 November 1916, after being wounded in the arms, thighs and face by a shell. He received those wounds on 18 November, the last day of the Battle of the Somme, as the 54th Battalion attempted to capture Desire Support Trench. Although the attack was successful, the battalion suffered 238 casualties, roughly 47% of its fighting strength of 512 officers and men.

William Ernest Wilson is buried in Contay British Cemetery, Contay, France.

The Canadian War Museum’s Collection includes the following artifacts for this recipient