Headstone

ERVINE, William Henry

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
London, Ontario
Regimental Number
1075058
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
22 years 2 months
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             11th Infantry Brigade
                                             54th Battalion  -  Kootenay
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   1075058
RESIDENCE:                    Goderich – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            April 17, 1897
                                             Goderich – Goderich Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           May 30, 1919                       22 years     2 months
CEMETERY:                     Goderich Maitland Cemetery – Goderich – 
                                             County of Huron – Ontario 
PARENTS:                         Mr. William and Elizabeth Ervine – Goderich – Ontario
Occupation:                        Mechanic                              Religion:     Church of England
Enlistment:                         London – March 31, 1916 into the 4th Pioneer Division
Enlistment Age:                 18 years     11 months

Private Ervine traveled to Halifax and then departed Canada for overseas and arrived in Liverpool on September 22, 1916. He originally transferred to the 67th Battalion in mid December and then was Taken on Strength by the 54th Battalion in early May 1917 and joined them already in the field on May 12, 1917.
On August 1, 1917, he was admitted to No. 12 Canadian Field Ambulance with the effects of gas poisoning and discharged on August 8, 1917. He then is posted to Brigade Salvage.
On October 10, 1918 he is evacuated to No. 11 Canadian Field Ambulance with influenza and discharged on 
   October 13, 1918.
During the night of November 1st, patrols are sent out and when they report back they say that Marley seems to be abandoned. The infantry was ordered to establish themselves in the Blue Objective during the daylight. Patrols then advance into Marley and when they do so they encounter very heavy enemy machine gun fire and there were hidden enemy nests on the streets and in the buildings. There was considerable close and heavy fighting in and around the streets. The town was secured at 7 am and shortly after advance patrols were making their way further into the town.
The Battalion is located at Le Briquette / Marley They are taking part in the battle for Valenciennes
Then on November 2, 1918, he is evacuated with gun shot wounds to both thighs to No. 13 Canadian Field Ambulance, then transferred to No. 23 Casualty Clearing Station and then moved to No. 22 General Hospital based in Camiers on November 4, 1918. He is invalided wounded back to England and became a patient at St. Andrew’s Hospital at Dollis Hill in London from November 7 – December 10, 1918. Then he was transferred to Princess Patricia Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Cooden Camp in Bexhill from December 10, 1918 – January 28, 1919.
Private Ervine then returns to Canada on S.S. Caronia on April 5, 1919. He was then discharged from the service of the Canadian Corps on April 8, 1919. Our research indicates Private Ervine returned to Goderich and passed away a very short time following his return from overseas.
It was during this extreme street fighting where Private Ervine received his wounds.