Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Vis-En-Artois British Cemetery | II. A. 24. Haucourt | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.119 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 44C GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 18/Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment) |
| Action : The Battle of Amiens and associated actions |
8 August - 17 August 1918. This was the battle that turned the tide of the German advance and started the Allied advances that were to culminate in the Armistice three months later. The impact of the defeat at Amiens on German morale cannot be overstated ? they had done all they could yet still the allies, particularly with US troops starting to be deployed to effect, had absorbed everything and were still capable of attacking and beating them.
Born on July 12, 1879 in Guildford, Surrey, England. Lived in Walkerville, Ontario and worked as a steelworker. Married with 5 children. Sergeant in the old 21st Battalion, being connected to them for 15 years as Second Lieutenant No. 4 Company. Enlisted as a private on November 3, 1914, Windsor, Ontario at the age of 35. Unit:! 18th Battalion - Western Ontario Regiment. Left Halifax on April 18, 1915 aboard the S.S. Grampian, arrived in England on April 29, 1915. Promoted to Sergeant, July 1, 1915.
Embarked for France on September 15, 1915. Earned his Lieutenancy on the battlefield in 1916. August 1917, injured at Boulogne, sent back to England. Returned to France June 4, 1918 to Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp. Despatched to 18th Cdn. BN and joined them in the field on August 17, 1918. Listed as wounded and missing on August 28, 1918 at the Battle of Arras. On that bloody day, the18th Battalion lost 34 soldiers. Confirmed killed in action in the field on September 7, 1918, telegram sent.
LIEUT. W.F. COLES, WALKERVILLE. Enlisted as private with the 18th Batt'n October 1914. Earned his Lieutenancy on the battlefield. After two years' service he was wounded in action, but later returned to France. Killed in action August 28th, 1918, at Arras and buried in the British Cemetery at Visen Artois. Lieut. Cole was a popular Sergeant in the old 21st Batt'n being connected with them for 15 years as Second Lieutenant. No. 4 Company.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Richard Eve No. 2772 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
3rd November 1916 | - | - |
Joining Member of Richard Eve Lodge. Member of Great Western Lodge No. 47, Windsor, Canada.
Discrepancies (Require checks, clarity or further research) :
UGLE records shows "Killed in Action 8th August 1918"
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
Last Updated: 2017-10-02 07:09:36