| William
Lewis York, MM
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I could find nothing of what happened to his first wife, Lucy. It is possible that she died, or they divorced. It is also possible he simply abandoned his family in Canada and started a new life in the USA
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| The following
research was completed by David Bluestein
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Sjt. York came home to Canada on
April 12, 1919. He was home and with his family again, but things were likely very
different. It seems that the war was determined to take York's life. He managed to outwit its bombs and bullets, but it got him at the end. He didn’t die in the trenches of the Somme or Passchendaele, but he was as much a casualty of the 1914 -18 war as anyone of his friends who died there. This damage must have greatly impacted his family life, evidenced by the following small newspaper article that appeared in the Perth Courier.
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It appears Bill York deeply troubled picked up
and left his family without any word or warning. They were appealing for help from both
authorities and their neighbours. ‘It is thought that he suffered a relapse of shell
shock.’ Did his family ever find him? I’m afraid we will never know. This story continues in a dingy rooming house in downtown Portland Oregon in the United States. It’s a cold Saturday evening in March, the sounds and smells of the city throw up a backdrop to this very average scene. The odd car and bundled-up pedestrians go about their business in the street below. Above them, and Inside a cramped unassuming room a once dignified and proud war hero is about to die. |
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 A street scene Portland Oregon USA
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local newspaper carried the following short article the next day - ‘Fireman of squad wagon No. 1 laboured 20 minutes over the unconscious form of William L. York, Seattle Wash., who attempted suicide by gas in a room at 193 ½ Second street, and the fireman succeeded in reviving the man, who was taken to St. Vincent’s hospital. York had registered at the Japanese lodging house on March 7, several days after another man had committed suicide there. A note had been written by York to his wife indicating ill health was responsible for his act.’ He died later the same day. On Monday the following article appeared - ‘William L. York of Seattle, Wash., who attempted to end his life by gas in a lodging house at 193 ½ Second street Saturday, dies at St. Vincent’s hospital last night. A note left to his widow who resides in Seattle, indicated that he was in ill health.’ Why did he do this? This writer cannot pretend to
understand the complexity or depth of pain this poor soul must have endured, but it must
have been profound to choose to leave your wife and children. |
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