Feb 13, 1892
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Born at Williamstown Ontario
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Aug 7, 1914
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Shown on pay sheet for 59th Stormont
& Glengarry Regiment
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Nov 10, 1914
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Promoted to rank of Sgt
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Jun 7, 1915
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Discharged on enlistment with the 59th
Battalion CEF
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Jun 8, 1915
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Attested into the 59th Battalion (2nd
Draft) at Cornwall Ontario
Ø Number 454156
Ø Next of kin given as John Cattanach (father) of Williamstown Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Student
Ø Previous military experience given as 59th Regiment’s
Canal Guard for 10 months with rank of Sgt
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Assigned to "A"
Company
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Nov 12, 1915
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Embarked the SS Missanabie at Montreal Quebec
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Nov 23, 1915
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Disembarked at Plymouth England and proceeded to
West Sandling Camp near Hythe, Kent
Absorbed into the 39th Battalion
Promoted to rank of Acting Sgt
While in England
with the 39th Battalion, he was employed as a Bayonet Instructor
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Sep 7, 1916
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Reverts to rank of Pte at own request in order
to proceed to France
Transferred to the 21st Battalion
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Sep 8, 1916
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Arrived at Canadian Base Depot, Havre France and
TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
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Sep 18, 1916
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Joined the 21st Battalion in the
field
The
Battalion had just been relieved from the front line on the Somme where they had suffered
405 casualties in the previous 3 days
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Sep 19, 1916
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Appointed to rank of L/Cpl to replace RJ Hickey
who had been promoted
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Oct 28, 1916
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Promoted to rank of Sgt to replace Sgt GJL Jones
who was declared medically unfit for further service
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Dec 5, 1916
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Admitted to No 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance)
with Laryngitis
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Dec 8, 1916
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Transferred to Division Rest Station at No 4 CFA
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Dec 27, 1916
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Returned to duty from hospital
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Jan 17, 1917
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Admitted to No 5 CFA then transferred to No 22
CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with a slight shrapnel wound to head
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Jan 18, 1917
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Transferred to No 22 General Hospital at Camiers
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Jan 22, 1917
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Transferred to No 6 Convalescent Depot at
Etaples
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Jan 23, 1917
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Transferred to No 5 Convalescent Depot at Cayeux
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Mar 7, 1917
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Discharged to Canadian Base Depot at Havre and
posted to “A” (for men recuperating from wounds)
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Mar 12, 1917
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Awarded the Military Medal per the London
Gazette #29981
This was awarded for his actions during the Calonne
Trench Raid, January 17, 1917 and the citation reads "For marked courage and devotion to duty during the attack
on the German lines. Single-handed he succeeded in over coming a large number of the
enemy, and by his own personal courage and coolness set an excellent example to his
section. Auth A.F.W. 3121."
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Mar 31, 1917
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Left CBD to rejoin 21st Battalion
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Apr 2, 1917
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Rejoined Battalion from Hospital
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Jun 27, 1917 |
Military Medal sent to his
mother, Mrs John Cattanach at Williamstown Ontario, by the OMFC(Overseas Military Force of
Canada) for "Safe Keeping"
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Aug 20, 1917
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Admitted to
No 11 General Hospital at Dannes Camiers with shrapnel wound to neck
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Nov 1, 1917
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Transferred to No 4 General Hospital at Dannes
Camiers
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Nov 3, 1917
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Transferred to No 6 Convalescent Depot at
Etaples
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Nov 5, 1917
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Discharged from No 6 Convalescent Depot at
Etaples to the Details Camp
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Nov 9, 1917
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Arrived at CC Rein C (Canadian Corps
Reinforcement Camp) and left immediately to join unit
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Dec 31, 1917
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Granted 14 days leave
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Jan 20, 1918
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Returned from leave
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Jan 25, 1918
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Admitted to No 58 CCS for dental care then
discharged to CC Rein C
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Feb 8, 1918
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Rejoined unit from CC Rein C
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Apr 2, 1918 |
Killed in Action
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Above is from the 21st
Battalion War Diary
Below is a map from the War Diary
showing the Company placements. I
have marked in red the area where I believe Sgt Cattanach would have been killed. If it wasn’t in that spot, it would be in
the general area. This area can be cross
referenced to a map of today at Google maps here Just zoom into the area between Agny and
Beaurains, due south of Arras. Much of this
area is still an undeveloped green space and the trench should be easily located today.
Above is from the
book "The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders 1783-1951" by Lt Col
W.Boss, CD, published in 1952
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In 1924 his fiancé,
Isabel MacIntosh from Lancaster Ontario, visited his grave in the Dury Crucifix
Cemetery
In the above letter
the family was informed that the wood cross had been replaced with a permanent granite
headstone. The date is barely readable, 21 July, 1927. Below on the left is an
early photo of the new headstone, with a more recent photo on the right
Dury Crucifix
Cemetery
Pas de Calais, France
The cemetery is located just off the D956 Hwy south east of Arras
Above is a family
plot in St Andrew's United Church Cemetery, Williamstown Ontario, honouring Bill
Cattanach's sacrifice in The Great War
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Apr 25, 1918
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Awarded Bar to Military Medal per London Gazette
#30652
This was for his actions during
the raid by the German forces on March 4, 1918 and the citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion
to duty. In connection with a hostile raid on a large scale when the enemy succeeded
in entering our trenches under cover of an intense artillery barrage and the use of the
liquid fire. This NCO proceeded across "No Man's Land" through the intense
barrage, and bombed inflicting casualties. His great determination and disregard for
personal safety not only assisted materially in our success, but was a great example to
his comrades. AFW 3121 7-3-18"
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Feb 9, 1920
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Memorial Cross sent to Mother at Williamstown
Ontario
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Mar 29, 1923
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British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to
father at Williamstown Ontario
Each year on August 20th, the Book of
Remembrance in the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa is turned to page 382 which shows his
name.
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During the
Remembrance Day ceremonies in 2008, Veteran's Affairs Canada conducted a vigil each night
for the week leading up to November 11. This vigil consisted of projecting the names
of every Canadian soldier who is listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on
various buildings and monuments across Canada, and in London England. The photo
below shows William James Cattanach's name being projected on the outside wall of
Canada House in London England.
Below is from the
Communiqué, the Battalion's post war newsletter, dated August 1935, and notes that he was
a runner of some fame. As seen at the bottom of the page, he once competed against
the famous Tom Longboat
Above
is a Cablegram sent by his sister, Jessie, to their brother in the 4th CMR to see if he
could find any of the details surrounding his death
Below
is from the flyer produced for the Williamstown Ontario Annual Fair in 2008 and the medal
that Bill Cattanach earned that day
Pictured is the cup
mentioned in the letter above. The inscription reads:
W.J. CATTANACH
A Coy
59th BATTALION
24 July 1915
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