DODDS, William Frederick

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Glenboro - Manitoba
Regimental Number
1000784
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
27 years 7 months
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        2nd Canadian Infantry Division
                                             6th Infantry Brigade
                                             27th Battalion - City of Winnipeg
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   1000784
RESIDENCE:                    Glenboro – Manitoba.
DATE OF BIRTH:            March 13, 1890
                                             Glenboro - Manitoba
DATE OF DEATH:           November 6, 1917               27 years     7 months
CEMETERY:                     Tyne Cot Cemetery – Zonnebeke –
                                             West-Vlaanderen – Belgium
                                             LVIII     D     29
PARENTS:                         William and Jeannette Dodds – Wroxeter - Ontario
Occupation:                        Farmer                                  Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         Glenboro – Manitoba – February 19, 1916
Enlistment Age:                 25 years     11 months

Private Dodds sailed from Canada with his unit December 15, 1916 and would have arrived in England shortly after Christmas. While stationed at Bramshott - Hampshire he was Taken on Strength with the 14th Reserve Battalion. Then in April while based at Dibgate he transferred to the 27th Battalion and Private Dodds went to France on June 1, 1917 and joins his unit in the field on June 7th.
This day was the beginning of the third step against Passchendale. The 3rd and 4th Canadians Divisions were off the front lines as their numbers had been depleted from the advances of October 26th and 30th. The 1st & 2nd Divisions were rested and fresh and were now in the front positions. At this point the Canadians found themselves well forward on the Passchendale Ridge and as you advanced up the drier the battlefield became. The 2nd Division would take Passchendale on this day. The advance onto Passchendale village by the 2nd Canadian Division was successful and the 27th Battalion from Winnipeg had the honours of liberating this vital position. There was bitter and very bloody hand to hand fighting and when it was over nothing was remaining of the town. It was brick and rubble with nothing standing.
During this day of attacking the Canadian advance was 1,000 yards and the 1st & 2nd Division casualties numbered 2,238 with 734 men killed.
The Battalion was the centre assaulting force on the attack against Passchendale and the weather was dull with winds from the north-east.
Zero hour was set for 6 am and this is when the Canadian barrage began 150 yards in front of the assaulting waves of advancing infantry. The enemy artillery replied for about one minute and it unfortunately fell mostly on the rear of the front line. During the advance to Passchendale there was considerable enemy machine-gun opposition from the right and there was also heavy rifle fire coming from the houses on the main street of the village.
The first assaulting wave stayed at the intermediate objective and the second wave then “leap-frogged” and at the final objective the procedure was repeated.
By now the only enemy resistance was from sporadic enemy snipers and by 7:40 am all objectives had been achieved. The remainder of the day was spent consolidating their positions.
The casualties numbered 253 men either killed, wounded or missing.
It was during this advance against Passchendale where Private Dodds gave his life in action. He was originally listed as missing but it was determined he was in fact killed in action during the advance at Passchendale.