BORN HULL 26/02/1897. HIS GUARDIAN, MRS JANE SHEPHERD, LIVED AT 659 SPRING BANK, 19 BRUNSWICK AVENUE, ST GEORGES ROAD AND AT 2 PRETORIA STREET, HAWTHORNE AVENUE, HULL.
HE WAS EDUCATED AT WHEELER STREET COUNCIL SCHOOL AND WORKED AS A GROCER’S ASSISTANT. HE EMIGRATED TO CANADA IN MARCH 1914 AND WORKED AS A CARPENTER. (HDM 29/09/1919). HE JOINED THE 10TH CALGARY RIFLES, A TERRITORIAL REGIMENT. HE WAS DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 9 INCHES TALL, 35-37 INCH CHEST, BLUE EYES, BROWN HAIR, TATOO ON RIGHT FOREARM, CHURCH OF ENGLAND RELIGION.
HE ENLISTED A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE START OF THE WAR AND SERVED IN FRANCE FOR OVER THREE YEARS.
IN SEPTEMBER 1916, HE WAS AWARDED THE MILITARY MEDAL FOR BRAVERY IN THE FIELD. HIS CITATION READS; – “FOR CONSPICIOUS BRAVERY, FEARLESSNESS AND DEVOTION TO DUTY. IN THE MOUQUET FARM, COUCERLETTE AREA, 26TH & 27TH SEPTEMBER 1916, HE REPEATEDLY CARRIED MESSAGES, BETWEEN ZOLLERN AND HEADQUARTERS, UNDER HEAVY BARRAGE AND MACHINE GUN FIRE, WITH APPARENTLY NO THOUGHT FOR HIS OWN SAFETY.”
HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, ON 29/09/1918, AGED 21. SHOT THROUGH THE BODY BY MACHINEGUN FIRE, WHILE HIS PLATOON ADVANCED NEAR HAYNECOURT. HE NEVER REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS.
HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 18/10/18, WITH HIS PHOTOGRAPH. *
