William Falconer Battersby MC

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit at enlistment:

Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Date of death:

March 25th, 1918

Cemetery:

Vimy Memorial - Pas de Calais, France

Awards or decorations:

Military Cross

Commemorated at:

Park Baptist Church, B.C.I. High School Memorial Plaque

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Oxford

Birth city:

Tavistock, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

224 Sheridan Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

224 Sheridan Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Mining Engineer

Religious denominations:

Presbyterian

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Gallantry medals:

Yes

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

London Gazette: 29824
Date: November 14, 1916
Honour or Award: Military Cross
Name: William Falconer Battersby (Lieutenant)
Unit: Borden Battery Machine Gun Service

Details: For conspicuous gallantry in action. He fought and handled eight machine guns with great courage and skill inflicting heavy casualties on two enemy field gun batteries.

BX November 7, 1916

Military Cross For Lieutenant William Falconer Battersby – Local Officer with Borden Machine Gun Battery Honored for Gallantry

Lieutenant William F. Battersby, a Brantford officer who enlisted nearly two years ago, receiving a commission with the Borden Machine Gun Battery, had received the Military Cross for his gallant conduct while with the battery on the attack of the Canadians on Courcelette.

Lieut. Battersby, who is a son of Mrs. A.C. Battersby, Sheridan Street, at the time war broke out, was a mining engineer in the Porcupine district. He came back to Brantford, heard of the formation of the Borden Machine Gun Battery at Montreal and promptly joined it. For nearly two years he has been with that battery, which is equipped with armored motor cars and armed with machine-guns. This battery has received very high commendation for its work at Courcelette, having been mentioned in despatches. It was during this same period that Lieut. Battersby earned the decoration which has been awarded to him.

Circumstances of Casualty: “Killed in Action” This officer, while in charge of an armoured car on the road between Licourt and Marchelpot, was instantly killed by enemy overhead shrapnel.
Location of Unit at Time of Casualty: Villers Bretonneux.

BX April 3, 1918

Major Battersby Killed in Action – Local Officer Had Played a Part in Stemming Hun Drive

Official word has been received of the death in action of Major William Battersby, M.C., son of Mrs. A.C. Battersby, 224 Sheridan Street, of this city. The date of Major Battersby’s death is given as March 25, showing that he met a glorious end facing the enemy in the big drive recently. He belonged to the Borden Machine Gun Battery, and had been serving in France almost three years. He left Brantford as a lieutenant, joining up in the fall of 1914, and immediately qualifying at the special course at Hamilton with Lieut. Kenneth Bunnell, Mort Paterson and others from the 38th. Joining the battery shortly after the New Year, Lieut. Battersby arrived in England early in the year 1915, and got to France soon after. He had a most distinguished service in the field, getting his promotion to captain, also winning the Military Cross at Courcelette in the fierce fighting of 1916. He was later promoted to major.

It is believed that Major Battersby participated in the heroic work by a Canadian battery, which was told of in yesterday’s special despatch from a Canadian correspondent at the front. The Borden or Eaton Machine Gun Battery were mentioned as being the most likely unit to have taken the part spoken of, in which the enemy was held up until all the gunners died at their posts. The machine guns were used mounted and dismounted all through the German advance, wherever positions could be taken up until all were surrounded by the advancing hordes. Their work enabled the safe withdrawal of many of the British heavy batteries, and formed an epic of the big battle recently fought.

While only the bare official announcement has been received by the relatives here, the date of March 25 shows that Major Battersby met death in the recent world battle. He was 38 years old.

The family of the late major understands that he has recently been in command of the first Motor Machine Gun Brigade and was doubtless in command at the time he was killed with his men. A message of condolence signed by Premier Borden on behalf of himself and colleagues was received last night by Mrs. Battersby. Four brothers mourn the loss of a very gallant officer and brother, George of the Massey-Harris office in this city, Jackie and Charles, New York, and Arthur of the Canadian West. Mr. William Bennett of this city is an uncle.

BC April 3, 1918

Another Hero Called Home – Major William Falconer Battersby, M.C., Dies Fighting for the Cause - Had a Distinguished Military Career and Was Universally Respected

Brantford is called upon to mourn the loss of another of her hero sons, in the person of Major Battersby. The news that he had fallen while fighting for Empire and the cause of human liberty reached his mother, Mrs. Battersby, Sheridan Street yesterday afternoon in the following telegram:

Ottawa, April 2,

Deeply regret to inform you that Major William Falconer Battersby, M.C. Artillery, officially reported killed in action, March 25, 1918.

From Premier

Mrs. A.C. Battersby:

My colleagues and I send deepest sympathy in the great bereavement you have sustained in the death of Major Battersby.

R.L. Borden

A Fine Career

Major Battersby was the third son of Mrs. Battersby and was born in Tavistock. His parents removed to Brantford when he was still an infant and he lived here until he was about twenty years of age, graduating at Queen's University as a mining engineer. He was with the Big Dome Mine in South Porcupine at the outbreak of the war and promptly came here to enlist. He signed up with the Dufferin Rifles under Col. Genet, and secured his commission. He then joined Borden's Armored Motor Car Battery in Montreal, and went overseas in the early part of 1915. He went to France two months later and speedily rose to captain and then major. His heroic conduct at the battle of Courcelette in 1916 won for him the Military Cross. At the time of his death he was in temporary command of the First Motor Machine Gun Brigade. He was 38 years of age and unmarried. His promptness in offering his service at an early period of the war was characteristic of his exceptionally fine nature. A true son loyal to his friends and filled with the spirit of patriotism he has given his splendid life for the great cause and there will be many to mourn with the sorrowing mother and brothers, Charles and John in New York, Arthur in the West, and George with the Massey Harris Company, this city. Also Mr. W. Bennett, broker, this city an uncle, and between whom and the deceased there were very close ties.

BX January 8, 1915

Lieutenants William Falconer Battersby and James Halliday Rattray Left for Montreal

Lieutenants William Falconer Battersby and James Halliday Rattray, both mining engineers, and both supernumerary lieutenants in the Thirty-Eighth Dufferin Rifles, left yesterday for Montreal, where they will join the Montreal armored motor car machine gun battery, there being organized. Both are Brantford boys, and both mining engineers who have practiced their profession in various parts of Canada and elsewhere. They have been in Brantford their old home, for some time past, although not actively engaged in their profession, and have many friends here who will wish them success.