Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Grave: | Petit-Vimy British Cemetery | D. 14. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.118 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 58D GQS | |
| 4. Memorial: | Liverpool Masonic Hall War Memorial | Col.1. Hope St. | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
The majority of this legend is courtesy of Geoff Cuthill of the Province of West Lancashire, to whom the project is grateful.William was born on 25 July, 1872, in Liverpool, England, the son of James and Susan Casey who, at the time of the war, were caterers of 17 Hope Street, Liverpool and looked after the catering for Liverpool Masonic Hall directly opposite. The 1871 census, the previous to his birth shows the family resident at 113 Walton Road. His father, James, was born in 1839, at Preston, and his mother, Susannah, a year later, in Liverpool. William was baptised at St Peter’s Church, Liverpool on 10 March 1873 with his birth date given as 25 July 1872. The family lived in Walton Road with his father’s occupation given as Baker. In 1881, the family resided at 83 Rice Lane, Walton, Liverpool, and William had five sisters and one brother, the elder sisters, Hannah, Caroline, and Sarah, all working for their father’s confectionary business, the other children being, Minnie, Robert, and the only one younger than William, Ada.
In the 1891 Census return his father James Casey is in residence at Liverpool Masonic Hall, 22 Hope Street as house steward and caterer, with his wife, son Robert and two daughters Minnie and Ada. Also residing there are four domestics. This gives a snapshot on how busy the Hall was at this period. It is thought James is at the Exchange Vaults, 2 Pembroke Place working as an Inn Barman.
William married Emily Atkins at St Catherine, Liverpool on 23 May 1904, described as a 32 year old bachelor of 110 Vine Street. His profession is Refreshment Contractor, and the son of James Casey, of the same profession. His bride is age 26 of 42 Uxbridge Street, the daughter William Arthur Atkins, a Plumber.
The 1911 census return has William and his family living at 10 Craigburn Road, Tuebrook, a 38 year old ‘Refreshment Caterer” who has been married for seven year with three children. His wife, Emily, is age 33 and the children are Doris 6, James L 4 and Cyril R 2, with Lillian Atkins, 21 sister in law, employed as a Cafe Waitress.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment) |
PRINCESS PATRICIA'S CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY 1914-1919 Published 1923 |
| Action : The Arras Offensive and associated actions |
9 April - 16 June 1917. The Arras Offensive consisted of a series of linked attacks starting with the Anglo Canadian assault on the dominant Vimy Ridge feature through the battles in the Scarpe River valley and up to the assaults on the Hindenburg line in the summer of 1917.
Detail :
A married man on his enlistment, his wife, Emily, was living at the family home, 35 Knockland Road, Tuebrook, Liverpool, William, though enlisted at Regina, Saskatchewan, on 4 January 1916, occupation given as Waiter, aged 43 years, 4 months.
He was of dark complexion, 5’6½”, 36-inch chest, hazel eyes and dark brown hair, with religion stated as Presbyterian, although a later form stated he was Church of England. Taken into the 68th Battalion, William embarked as Private 105698 aboard the SS Olympic for England, arriving on 7 June, and taken onto the strength of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment), although he was later seconded for a short spell with the 3rd Canadian Division Salvage Co.
On 18 October 1916 he was admitted to No 2 Australian General Hospital at Wimereux with a lacerated wound to his ankle and abscess on right leg. The wound, probably caused by shrapnel, was serious enough for William to be evacuated to England and moved to Northamptonshire War Hospital at Duston, before moving again to the Canadian Hospital at Epsom in Surrey.
On recovery and further training, William arrived back in France on 22 April 1917 to rejoin PPCLI, and two months later was killed in the field on Wednesday 13 June 1917, aged 45 years. The Canadian casualty report has ‘Killed by concussion about 9.15 a.m. on 13 June 1917, while sleeping in a funk hole in the trenches.
His death was reported in the local Liverpool Echo newspaper on 21 June 1917 saying simply; Casey- June 13 Killed in action W J Casey (Canadian LightInfantry) Masonic Lodge “Excelsior” 3580, the dearly loved husband of Emily Casey, 35 Knoclaid-road Tuebrook.
William and is now buried in grave D.14 at Petit-Vimy British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France, and the words: "I THANK MY GOD UPON EVERY REMEMBRANCE OF YOU" were added to his headstone by request of his wife Mrs Emily Casey of 35 Knockland Road, Tuebrook.
William is further commemorated at Parish Church, St. John the Baptist, Green Lane, Tuebrook, Liverpool.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Excelsior No. 3580 E.C. | West Lancashire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
15th November 1913 | 7th January 1914 | 16th May 1914 |
William James Casey was initiated a member into Excelsior Lodge No 3580 on 15 November 1913, age 41, a Railway Contractor with his residence given as 10 Craigburn Road, Tuebrook. His occupation is in all probability connected with catering for the railway.. He was passed to the degree of a fellow craft on 7 January 1914, and raised as a master mason on 16 May, his Grand Lodge Certificate issued on 18 August 1914.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley