11082 Sgt William Frederick Outhwaite, 4th Bn CEF.
From Lappin Ave, Toronto, William was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, on 30 March 1890. A traveller by trade, he had seen previous service in the UK whilst serving for over three years as a Territorial in the Lincolnshire Regiment and also was a member of the ‘Halton Rifles' after emigration to Canada. He joined the Canadian Army at Valcartier on 22 September 1914 and was posted to the 4th Bn CEF (Central Ontario Regiment) soon rising, due to previous service, to the rank of Sergeant.
After spending some time in the UK, he arrived in France in February 1915 and, by the time of his death, he was serving in the vicinity of Essars/Givenchy. Although the day previous to his death was marked by the explosion of a mine at ‘The Duck's Bill' and a heavy artillery bombardment preceding a German assault, the actual day upon which William died was described in the Battalion War Diary as simply ‘Quiet all day - weather fine and hot'. He has no known grave and is, therefore, commemorated on the Vimy Memorial.
16 June 1915
Research by David O'Mara, Croonaert Research Services.
