We Remember

Walter Fewson

Walter Fewson
Rank: 
Private
Regimental number: 
55613
Unit at enlistment: 
19th Battalion
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
No
Date of death: 
February 23rd, 1916
Cemetery: 
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery - Poperinge, Belgium - IV.D.29.
Commemorated at: 
St. John's Anglican Church, Steel Company of Canada
Birth country: 
England
Birth county: 
East Yorkshire
Birth city: 
Hull
Address at enlistment: 
14 Richardson Street, Brantford, Ontario
Next of kin address: 
14 Richardson Street, Brantford, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Machinist
Employer: 
Steel Co. of Canada
Religious denominations: 
Church of England
Marital status: 
Married
Age at enlistment: 
27
Image gallery: 

Letters and documents

Circumstances of Casualty: Died of Wounds. Whilst on a working party behind the lines on the night of February 22nd 1916, he was hit in the stomach by an enemy bullet. He was unconscious when admitted to No. 17 Casualty Clearing Station and succumbed to his wounds at 7.15 o’clock the following morning, without regaining consciousness.

BX March 8, 1916

Former Employee of Steel Company of Canada Gave up Life

That Private Walter Fewson of 58 Walnut Street west, had died of his wounds, was the announcement contained in this morning’s casualty list.

Private Fewson was in C. Company of the 19th Battalion, having left Brantford in November 1914, with a draft from the 38th Dufferin Rifles for the second contingent. Fewson was a married man and followed the trade of machine operator at the Steel Company of Canada plant here.

When he left Brantford, his address was given as 14 Richardson Street and this is the address given in the official announcement this morning, but a change had been made.

January 13, 1916 

“Where Are The Single Men” – A pointed Question Asked by Man on Firing Line in France – Tells of War’s Meaning – Fate of a Belgian Family of Three Wiped Out By the German Shells – Life in the Trenches

“Where are the single men when they hear of these things and no fables either?  We need all the men we can get.”

So writes Walter Fewson, now with the Second Contingent, in the firing line, in an interesting letter on life in the trenches received by A. Smith, 60 Brunswick Street, from his old chum. The letter reads:

December 18, 1915

Dear Arthur

Just a line to let you know that I am still all right. Well, we shall soon have Christmas here, or rather, by the time you receive this it will be over and we will start another year. Time brings many changes. I guess you will be greasing your skates up; we don’t need any – nothing here but mud all mud, but like everything else, you get used to it. I hope the 84th will get all the good things this Christmas. It was our turn last year. Well, by the look of things we shall be having our rest on Christmas Day, out of the trenches, so will have no chance to exchange shots with Fritz. I don’t think there will be any of the truce stuff they had last Christmas. I know if I see one, down he goes, I am sniping now so have lots of chances to pay Fritz compliments. We are expecting some dirty work coming off around here soon. “Let it rip.”

I see by the papers Serbia is a second Belgium now. All the boys are in the pink of condition, and Bill Skinner and Poynter wish to be remembered to you. We get lots of work these days and kick, but of course that is a soldier’s privilege (kicking.)  It was too bad about that guy Perry in our company. He got a nice “blighty” and was on his way across the channel in the Amelia when she went down and he was drowned. The father is out here as well, in our company; pretty tough luck.

I will give you another instance to show you the hard side of war. Just a short distance away from our supports stands a farm house or two. Last week the Germans started to shell one of them, no doubt thinking it was being used as an observation point, or something. Anyhow, there were three people living there, father, mother and daughter, a girl about 18, and this girl was working in the garden at the front of the house when the first shell went clean into the house killing the old man and woman. The daughter rushed up to look for them when shell number two came along and burst near her taking away both legs and an arm, took out one eye, and of course all her clothes were off and her hair as well. After the shelling had stopped, the stretcher bearers carried her away. She was still conscious and told them her father and mother were under the bricks, and her only complaint was that one of her feet was cold. Of course she died later in the day. That is just one instance; it is hard to hear of some of the sufferings of the Belgians. 

Where are the single men when they hear of these things and no fables either?  We need all the men we can get.

Well, I guess I must now close as I have just been warned for a “fatigue” right away. Hoping this finds you all at home in the best of health, as it leaves me at present. I remain, your old chum.

Walt.

P.S. – We had our first taste of gas today; look in the press for news.

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