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William John Dempster was born in Gananoque 13
December 1882, the son of William and Mary (nee Daly, of Chelsea, W
Michigan). Before the war, he worked as a barber and married Alice
Finch of Gananoque. One daughter predeceased him, and his daughter
Margaret was born soon after he went overseas. William enlisted 12
November 1914 at age 31 and served in the infantry, 21st Battalion
(Eastern Ontario Regiment).
Private
Dempster arrived in France in September 1915 and fought at the St Eloi
Craters in April 1916. He received a gunshot wound in the leg 13 June
1916 during the final days of fighting at Mount Sorrel and spent over a
month in hospital. He then moved with his unit to the Somme where he
was promoted to sergeant less than a week before his death. Promotions
often occurred quickly because of the high casualty rate amongst those
who led the infantry platoons into battle, the sergeants and junior
officers. Of the fewer than 700 men in Sergeant Dempster's unit who
began the attack early on 15 September, within a few hours 405 had been
killed or wounded.
Sergeant
William Dempster's brother Hugh wrote their mother on 17 September
1916:
"Dear Mother-
Just a line to let you know that I am fine and dandy,
but have some very bad news for news for you. Willie got hit by a
shell, and I heard of it, so went to see him on the 17th, and it was
quite true, for he had died and was buried, so I went to where he was
buried and got his kit bag and saw him, and, dear mother, he died with
a smile on his face. He was a hero and a soldier. What few of his
platoon were left told me that he was the best sergeant they ever had,
and was leading his men like a soldier should do. I don't forget,
mother, that it is very hard for you at home. I saw Willie on the
evening of the 10th, and was with him a long time. They went in the
trenches on the llth.
Well, mother, I don't know how poor Alice takes it,
for it was very hard for me to see my own brother dead on the
battlefield of the Somme, but better than all, his old chum told me
that very few soldiers could handle a rifle and a bayonet like he
could. His poor chum feels very bad for they were always together. It
is pretty hard when it comes to one of our own, too, but before the
battle was over, there were thousands of dead lying on the battlefield.
I can see them every day by the hundreds. Well, dear mother, I hope you
won't take it too hard, or the rest of the family and poor Alice, for I
had something to take when I saw him. I tell you, mother, he was
fighting for his King and Country, and for dear old Canada, he was
fighting to protect wives, mothers, fathers and children from the rule
of those Infernal Germans.
I know it will be a consolation to you to know that
Willie lived a good life. He went to church every time he could and
told me he went to Communion, so I am sure that anyone who dies a hero,
not a coward, their place is right in heaven, for you know the Lord
hates a coward. He was with his men till they nearly got the third line
of German trenches; they had taken two lines, the first and second, and
captured several hundred prisoners.
Well, dear mother, I got his barber clippers, comb,
pipe, belt, one of his crucifixes, cap, badge, two little buttons, hat,
shoulder badge, and numbers, housewife, needles, thread, some of his
instruction books, two little wallets, and a few little bronzed leaves
that he had got from some church that was shelled to pieces, and I will
send them to you, so you can give them to Alice; give all of them some
little thing. His chum told me the priest was there. I haven't seen the
priest yet, but am going to.
The Battalion lost nearly all the officers they had.
Well, dear mother, I will close for this time, hoping to hear from you
soon. I remain, your son,"
HUGH
DEMPSTER
The
fighting from 15 to 22 September forced the Germans back almost a
kilometre, a major achievement by Great War standards, but at the cost
of 7,230 Canadians killed or wounded. The centre of the attack now is
marked by a memorial made of Canadian granite located near the village
of Courcelette.
Sergeant
Dempster is commemorated on Page 76 of the First World War Book of
Remembrance but has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the VIMY
MEMORIAL along with the names of 12 other Gananoque men who died in
France but whose bodies were never recovered or identified.
Dedicated
on behalf of his widow, Alice and her husband, Fred Nelson Jr., who
served his country from 1914-1918. His sacrifice is also remembered by
the congregation of St John's Roman Catholic Church.
Taken from the "Gananoque
Remembers (A tribute to the men who gave their
lives for our freedom)" by Geraldine Chase and Bill Beswetherick
Text reproduced
with permission
Images supplied by Al Lloyd
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From his service file
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Dec 13, 1882
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Born in Gananoque,
Ontario to William and Mary (nee Daly) Dempster
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Nov 12, 1914
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Attested into the
21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø
Number 59253
(temporary number 172)
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Next of kin given
as William Allan Dempster, Charles St., Gananoque, Ontario
o
This was later
changed to Alice Dempster, wife, Charles St., Gananoque, Ontario
o
There is note to
also notify Miss N.E. Dempster, Casualty Department, Militia and Defence
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Previous
occupation given as Barber
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No previous
military experience given
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Religion given as
Presbyterian
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Posted to
“B” Company
o
This was later
reorganized into “A” Company
The battalion
trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in
the Kingston Armouries
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS
Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling
Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training
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Jun 13, 1915
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Forfeited 1
day’s pay for being absent
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Sep 3, 1915
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Appointed to the
rank of Lance Corporal to replace Cpl Williams
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Sep 13, 1915
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Promoted to the
rank of Corporal
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St.
Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Nov 8, 1915
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Proceeded on
course at the Bombing School
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Nov 14, 1915
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Rejoined the
battalion from course
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May 29, 1916
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While the
battalion was resting in the “A” Camp near Dikkebus
(Dickebusch), Belgium, Private Dempster was sent out on a work party
and received a bullet wound to his left leg and was evacuated to the
No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid
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Jun 2, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance and admitted to the No. 2 Divisional
Rest Station there to recover from his wound
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Jun 14, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 12 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further treatment
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Jun 26, 1916
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Discharged from
hospital care and rejoined the battalion in the No. 33 to 38 trenches
on the Ypres Salient near Verbrande Molen, Belgium
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Jul 20, 1916
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Appointed to the
rank of Lance Sergeant to replace L/Sgt McKibbon 59731, who had been
invalided to England
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Aug 11, 1916
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Promoted to the
rank of Sergeant to replace Sgt WJ Stinson, 59923, who had been
invalided to England
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Sep 15, 1916
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The 21st
Battalion was assigned the objective of capturing the strongly defended
German Headquarters in the sugar factory south of Courcelette, France
as their part in the battle of the Somme.
At 6:25 am, following a short artillery
barrage, the men went over the top, jumping out of their trenches east
of Pozieres to begin their attack.
Sergeant William John Dempster was instantly
killed as he was climbing out of his trench by a burst of enemy
artillery. He was
later buried by his comrades in the field near where he fell.
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When the war
ended, his identifiable remains could not be located and his name is
now etched on the walls of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy
Ridge, France for those killed during the war in France and have no
known grave.
Following the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal,
Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were
sent to his widow, Mrs. Alice Dempster, Charles St., Gananoque, Ontario
A
second Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. Mary Dempster, at
the same address
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William John Dempster is honoured on the war
memorial in Gananoque, Ontario
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