CASEMORE, William Roy

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Lucknow, Ontario
Regimental Number
651723
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
32 years
Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        5th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             13th Infantry Brigade
                                             4th Canadian Reserve Battalion
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   651723
RESIDENCE:                    Whitechurch – Ontario.
DATE OF BIRTH:             July 4, 1886
                                             Whitechurch - East Wawanosh Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           July 26, 1918                       32 years
CEMETERY:                     Nottingham General Cemetery – Nottingham –
                                             Nottinghamshire – England
                                             1775 C
PARENTS:                         Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Casemore – Wingham – Ontario
Occupation:                        Farmer                                  Religion:     Church of England
Enlistment:                         Lucknow – February 19, 1916 into 160th Bruce Battalion
Enlistment Date:                29 years     4 months

Private Casemore departed Canada on the SS Metagama and arrived in England on October 28, 1916. He is based at Witley Camp located in Surrey. On February 23, 1918 he was struck off of service with the 160th Battalion and assigned to the 4th Reserve Battalion. While he was at Witley Camp he was granted a good conduct badge.
Private Casemore whilst on leave was found deceased on the railway tracks of the Great Central rail line at the Basford Station in Nottingham on July 26, 1918 and was buried at Nottingham General Cemetery on August 1, 1918.
This was an unusual case as Private Casemore had received leave with another comrade. Thay had arrived at Nottingham that same day and had planned to sleep at the YMCA. Private Casemore was last seen that evening leaving a hotel bar with a young woman and it was noted Private Casemore was sober. It was known at that time he had 3 Pounds -10 shillings on him.
A guard on a passing train at 05:00 hours on July 27th noticed a hat on the tracks, stopped his train and found Private Casemore in between the rails. Upon investigation, it was noticed that he had been there for some time, but the photographs he had in his possession were strewn about, with one 90 yards away. It seems that marks between the rails indicated Private Casemore had tried to drag himself, after possibly being hit by one train and then struck by a second. The investigators found 7 shillings and a groat on his person.
Private Casemore was then transferred to Hyson Green mortuary and injuries found there were broken legs, broken arms and a fractured skull which seemed to suggest being struck by a train, but there were fingermarks on his clothing and it seemed to warrant further investigation. That investigation is still open on the books.
I contacted officials in Nottingham and they had no additional information to provide other than what you have already read above.