Feb 26, 1896

Born in Frontenac County, Ontario to Joseph and Rhoda (nee Deyo) Roleau.

Nov 11, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59853 (temporary number 114)

Ø  Next of kin given as Joseph Roleau, father, 98 Lower Bagot St., Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Plumber

Ø  Previous military experience given as 14^th Regiment PWOR, Princess of Wales’ Own Rifles in Kingston

Ø  Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø  Assigned to “A” Company

 The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

Feb 6, 1915

Appointed to the Provisional Rank of Lance Corporal

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Jul 17, 1915

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal with pay to replace L/Cpl JF Tucker 60003, who had reverted to the rank of Private

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Jul 4, 1916

Reverted to the rank of Private at his own request

Sep 15, 1916

During the battle of the Somme, the 21^st Battalion had the objective of capturing the sugar refinery south of Courcelette, France.  This was heavily defended by the German army and used as a headquarters.  It was the first attempt by the Allied Forces to use the new tanks in combat.  3 tanks were assigned to assist the 21^st Battalion, but 2 of them got stuck in the mud and the 3^rd was very slow and arrived after the capture of the factory.  However, it did assist in the capture of the sunken road trench beyond the factory as well as moving on to assist in the capture of the town of Courcelette.

 
During this action, Private Roleau was first reported missing, but his body was later found and buried in a nearby field.  Following the war, his identifiable remains could not be located and as such, his name is listed on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France for those killed during WW1 with no known grave.

 
Following the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Joseph Roleau, 52 Rideau St., Kingston, Ontario

 
The Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. Rhoda Roleau, at the same address

William Roleau is honoured on a plaque in the Kingston, Ontario City Hall

He is also honoured on the Kingston Memorial Wall

2010

For the 7 nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers killed during the war were projected onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres.  At the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across Belgium and Canada.  The image above shows the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010.