HOOD, William Allen

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Harriston, Ontario
Regimental Number
928889
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
21 years 3 months
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        3rd Canadian Infantry Division
                                             9th Infantry Brigade
                                             43rd Battalion  -  Cameron Highlanders of Canada
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   928889
RESIDENCE:                    Clifford – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            May 17, 1897
                                             Howick Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           August 28, 1918                   21 years     3 months
CEMETERY:                     Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery – Haucourt –
                                             Pas de Calais – France
                                             VI     E     4
PARENTS:                         Mr. William and Jane Hood – Clifford - Ontario
Occupation:                        Farmer                                  Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         Harriston – May 31, 1916
Enlistment Age:                 19 years

Private Hood departed Canada in late April of 2017 and arrived in Liverpool on May 7, 1917 and went to the 25th Canadian Reserve Battalion. In March of 1918 he transferred to the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion based at Bramshott – Hampshire.
At the end of March, he went to the 47th Battalion before being Taken on Strength by the 43rd Battalion in early April 1918.
During the night of August 27/28, the Battalion was to be relieved by the 4th CMR. However, early on the morning of August 28th information arrived stating the 3rd Division would press the attack and make good the crossing of the Sensee River. For this the Battalion would come under command of the 8th Brigade.
The Battalion would jump off from the Road line in front of Vis-en-Artois and would carry Remy Wood lying just north of the village of Remy.
All Companies of the 43rd had been reduced to a strength of 40-50 men because they had been heavily shelled by the enemy artillery all night and had been in close contact with the enemy since 10:00 hours the previous morning.
“A, B & C” Companies would attack with “D” Company in Reserve. The jumping off point was the Sunken Road running north from Vis-en-Artois toward Boiry.
By the time the advance was to begin the 9th Brigade on the left would have assaulted the village of Boiry and Artillery Hill and the systems of trenches defending these areas. The enemy was still holding the Long Wood which was only 700 yards from the Battalion flank with machine guns and were sweeping the area constantly. Because of this the Battalion assembled on the reverse side of the hill.
At 12:30 hours the barrage began to fall and roll forward toward the enemy positions whith the three Companies following the barrage. They were suffering heavily but moved forward to their objectives. By 1:20 pm “A & C” Companies had carried all the ground on the west bank of the Sensee Riverfromthe southern edge of Haucourt Wood up to Remy. “B” Company had moved right through Remy Wood and taken a position 150 yards on the eastern side of it. “D” Company had moved to a German trench about 100 yards on the west side of Remy.
The objectives had been carried during the first push but no losses had been over 50%. One officer was now remaining with each Company. A” Company had 38 men remaining, “B” Company had 18 men remaining and “D” Company had 14 men remaining. The 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles sent 2 Lewis guns and a platoon to support “B” Company.
“D” Company had moved through the Wood to hold the eastern end. Lewis guns were set up so they could sweep the Bridgehead at Remy, the eastern bank of the Sensee River along with the northern slope of 70 Ridge which ran from Vis-en-Artois to Remy Wood.
The remmnants of the 43rd Battalion until relieved by the 10th Battalion retained their positions and no enemy troops got beyond them. There was miscommunication with the orders and they did not get relieved. “C” Company before nightfall moved forward into an old enemy trench running north-west from Remy village. In the meantime, “A & C” Companies had extended their lines to within 400 yards of the Cambrai Road.
Private Hood was a casualty of the heavy enemy artillery barrage that fell onto their positions during the night of August 27/28th or he fell in battle during the fighting of August 28th.