BX May 14, 1915

Corporal Blacker Was Wounded – Official Word Received This Morning of Another Brantford Casualty in Recent Fighting

Rowland Blacker, 20 Dundas St., this morning received a telegram from the adjutant-general at Ottawa, apprising him of the wounding of his brother, Corporal William Blacker, in the recent fighting at Langemarck. No details were given, but particulars, as usual were promised as soon as received in Canada.

Corporal Blacker is a single man and at the time of his enlistment was employed as a painter at the Massey Harris works. He served for four years with the Fifth Somerset Light Infantry. He was associated for three years with the Dufferin Rifles.

BX January 15, 1916
 
Brantford Veterans Returned
 
Four more Brant County veterans, invalided home from the great conflict now raging in Europe, arrived in Toronto yesterday, about 9.30 a.m., along with 13 others from different points in Ontario, and after greetings were extended by the citizens of Toronto, they were taken to the convalescent home, College Street, where after a little ceremony, passes were issued, the men then coming home.  The four Brant County men were Corp. William Blacker, 20 Dundas Street, who was shot through both thighs and was helpless on the battlefield for 48 hours before he was rescued; Pte. A. Cullum, 4th Battalion, Paris; Gunner R. Murray, 3rd Reserve Battery, Paris, and Pte. Edward Stanton, 4th Battalion Paris.
 
William Blacker  
 
Shot through both thighs by an explosive bullet at Ypres, April 23, and lying helpless for forty-eight hours on the battlefield, Corporal William Blacker, a young fresh-faced lad of the 4th Battalion, attributes the fact that he is alive today to the courage and heroism of a British regular. "I had lain on the field for two days without anything to eat or drink and unable to move," said Corporal Blacker. "I know I would have died there if it hadn't been for a captain in the Yorks. He picked me up and carried me back to a dressing station. An explosive bullet passed through both thighs. I was taken to a hospital in France and later moved to England."

Corp Blacker is now at his home here, and is delighted to be back in Brantford again.

BX January 10, 1916

Is Coming Home

Official word was received on Saturday by Rowland Blacker, 20 Dundas Street, East that his brother, Corporal William Blacker, who left Brantford with the 1st Contingent, sailed from England December 31, on the Allan liner “Scandinavian.”  He was wounded at Langemarck on April 22 last and is now being invalided home.

BX January 17, 1916

German Gas is Excruciating – Corporal William Blacker, Wounded, and Lay for 48 Hours on Field – Offered Commission – Is Home for Ten Days, After Which He Must Report Back, and May Accept Commission With an English Regiment – His Experiences 

Shot through both thighs by an explosive bullet and left lying for 48 hours upon the battlefield, alone helpless and suffering from the diabolical gas of the Germans, Corporal William Blacker returned on Friday last to his home, 20 Dundas Street East. A sturdy young fellow who has not yet attained his majority, Blacker has a record of which any man in Canada might be proud.

Answering the Empire's first call he enlisted and went to Valcartier, to England and finally to the front with the Fourth Battalion. There time passed uneventfully enough until the great battle of Ypres, where so many Canadians sustained wounds of honor or laid down their lives for their country. Here Corp Blacker was shot down, one explosive bullet piercing both thighs and for two days and two nights he lay helpless and alone, suffering not only from his wound, but also from the horrors of German gases.  He was finally rescued by a British officer and carried to a French hospital and sent to the American Women's Hospital, Paignton, Devonshire, England, where he remained for six months, and from where he went to Lady Northcote's Convalescent Home, Eastwood Park. He sailed to St. John and then Quebec, where he obtained his discharge papers, and finally came to Brantford, via Toronto. He is home only for ten days, after which he must return to Eastwood Park for six months more of treatment. Corporal Blacker stated that he had been offered a commission in the English army at the end of this period, but had not yet decided whether to accept.

The above information was given by Corporal Blacker to The Expositor Saturday. He is a rosy cheeked young fellow, sturdily built and with but a slight limp remaining to tell of his wound. He is, in short, a typical Canadian soldier.

"The Brantford boys at Shorncliffe are all well and happy," said Blacker. "They hope to come home soon. Our reception in England and France left nothing to be desired, when wounded one is assured the best of care. The word 'Canadian' is all they want to hear."

Concerning the horrible poisonous gas of the Germans Corporal Blacker said; "It is just like a heavy weight on your chest, like fire burning up your lungs or someone striving to pull them out, it is simply excruciating.

"The war will last until summer, at least," he continued “German atrocities?  Yes, I've seen them, things that couldn't ever be printed. The killing of non-combatants is mild compared to some things that take place over there. A large number of Brantford boys were wounded along with me on April 23; some of them have died, some have returned. Some are still in hospital, and others have gone back to the front for another dose."

Corporal Blacker expressed his pleasure in getting back to Brantford once more, and at the splendid enlistment which was going on. "If all the Brantford boys acquit themselves as well as the first lot did, they need never fear to return home.  
There have been a few fellows who have come back from the front claiming to have been wounded, when as a matter of fact they've never even seen the trenches, having been turned down for some cause or another, in England. There are not many of this sort, though thank goodness," stated the corporal.

"Of my chums of the Fourth Battalion, most have done their share. There’s Corporal Herb Orr, returned already; Corporal Coppin, also returned; there's A.H. Adams, wounded and back at the front again. Harry Houlding has been wounded three times and is still at it. A. Atkins has been wounded and was preparing to go back to the front when I left England.

"For Freddie Miller – Captain Miller, as he is now – there can be nothing but praise and respect from everyone. He's one of the pluckiest officers of the Fourth Battalion – been wounded twice and still in the fight. Life in England is about the same as before the war, except that there aren't nearly so many slackers to be seen. Life in the trenches is of course, chiefly mud. I received a letter from General Alderson after I was wounded. He said that Canadians were fit to rank with the finest soldiers of the world, and told of how proud he was of us. I've only done my share, but what I have done I wouldn't have missed for $2,000."