DELONG, William George

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             50th Battalion - Calgary
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   696744
RESIDENCE:                    Irricana – Alberta 
DATE OF BIRTH:            June 8, 1891
                                             Goderich – Goderich Township –County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           June 25, 1917                       26 years
CEMETERY:                     La Chaudiere Military Cemetery – Vimy –
                                             Pas de Calais – France
                                             X     F     4
PARENTS:                         Mr. Richard and Clara De Long – Goderich – Ontario
Occupation:                        Farmer                                  Religion:     Church of England
Enlistment:                         Medicine Hat – Alberta – May 5, 1916
Enlistment Age:                 24 years     11 months

Private De Long had departed Canada at some point in late September 1916 on the SS Saxonia and arrived in England on October 13, 1916.
Private De Longwhile based at Seaford - Sussex he was taken on strength by the 21st Battalion but then transferred to the 50th Battalion on February 26, 1917 and joined his unit in the field on March 16, 1917.
The Battalion was in front of Lieven and during the afternoon an attempt was going to be made to try and advance the front. Two patrol parties were sent out at 5 pm. No. 1 went forward via the Sunken Road and upon reaching Canada Trench they then pushed out to both flanks. No. 2 proceeded from the left flank following Candle Trench and when they reached Canada Trench they worked their way right joining up with No. 1 Party. By 5:30 pm they were occupying a line from the Souchez River to the point where they had contact with the 47th Battalion. The only opposition was enemy rifle and machine-gun fire from the Lens / Arras Road and from the base of the Signal Tower. As well blocks had been placed in Candle and Columbia Trenches.
By 7 pm the Battalion had consolidated their positions when a heavy enemy bombardment began onto the old front line trenches but then at 7:40 pm the enemy artillery fire was shortened and began falling on Canada Trench. Then at 9:30 pm the enemy artillery shifted their fire to the local supports of the Battalion using heavy caliber and incendiary shells.
During this period heavy casualties were taken and it is thought that this was when Private De Long was  
killed in the trenches.