William James Dean

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

27183

Unit at enlistment:

15th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Date of death:

May 25th, 1916

Cemetery:

Harley Cemetery - Harley, Ontario, Canada

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Brant

Birth city:

Burford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Miner

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

Cause of Death: Acute Peronitis
Location: Brantford, Ontario

BX May 26, 1916

A Military Funeral

Lieut.-Col. Cutcliffe received a telegram this morning from headquarters at Toronto instructing him to arrange for a military funeral for Private. William James Dean, the returned soldier, late of the 15th Battalion, who died in the Brantford General Hospital yesterday.

BX May 26, 1916

Died of Wounds in Hospital – Private William James Dean’s Injuries Received at Front Had a Fatal End

Another Canadian boy, in the person of William J. Dean, who died at the Brantford General Hospital last evening about 8 o'clock, has paid the supreme sacrifice by giving up his life for the empire.

Private Dean left here with the 4th Battalion, 1st contingent, and upon his arrival at Salisbury Plains was transferred to the 15th Battalion. He was through the big battles at Langemarck and Givenchy, and part of the battle of Festubert, where he was seriously wounded by shrapnel and by being blown up and covered with sandbags, which caused internal injuries.

After some months spent in the hospitals in England and France, he was returned to Canada to the convalescent hospital at London. He returned on January 1, 1916 and after spending some time in the hospital at London he recovered sufficiently to enable him to canvass for war books, which occupation he followed in this city and surrounding towns until Wednesday, when he again took worse and had to be removed to the hospital. An operation was performed in the hope of saving his life, but to no avail, and he passed quietly away last night.

Private William James Dean, although he was able to be about, suffered considerably from internal injuries, which he bore with all the patience and fortitude of a British soldier. He had not yet received his discharge, and had orders to report at the hospital at London on June 1, to be further examined.

Previous to coming to Brantford to enlist, he lived with his father at Hawtrey, near Delhi, Norfolk County. While in the city, he resided with his uncle, Mr. Newton Crandall, 334 Marlboro Street.

The funeral, which will be with military honors, will take place on Monday morning at 9 o’clock from his uncle’s residence, to the Colborne Street G.T.R. station, where the remains will be placed on the 10.40 train for Harley for interment. The body will be taken to the station on a gun carriage, followed by the soldiers. A firing party will accompany the funeral to Harley to pay the last tribute to one who had done his duty.

BX May 29, 1916

Military Funeral for Private William James Dean – Firing Party Detailed to Give Hero Fitting Burial – Returned Veterans Were Pallbearers

With fitting solemnity and full military honors the remains of the late Private William James Dean, returned soldier, who passed away at the Brantford General hospital on Thursday last, were laid to rest in Harley cemetery this afternoon. A large number of friends and fellow soldiers including “A” Company of the 125th Battalion, in charge of Lieut. H.B. Preston, the band of the 125th, and about 15 returned heroes, in charge of Sergt.-Major Santschi of the 215th Battalion, gathered this morning at the residence of the deceased uncle, Mr. Newton Crandall, 334 Marlboro Street, where a short but impressive service was held conducted by Capt. (Rev.) A.E. Lavell, chaplain of the 125th Battalion.

The coffin was placed on a gun carriage, which was drawn by men in khaki. The cortege proceeded via Marlboro Street and Clarence Street to the Colborne Street G.T.R. station. Leading the sad procession was the chaplain and following him the firing party of 14 men in charge of Sergeant Howell, the men marching with reversed arms. They were followed by the band which in solemn tones rendered the “Dead March in Saul.” The gun carriage containing the coffin, upon which were placed the cap and belt of the deceased hero came next and was in turn followed by about 15 returned soldiers bearing the floral tributes, which were very beautiful. The chief mourners and soldiers came next and they were followed by several prominent citizens, including Ald. J.S. Dowling and J.H. Spence, members of the Soldiers Aid commission, and others, who gathered to pay their last respects to one who had done his duty.

When the station was reached more solemn music was rendered, and the coffin and gun carriage placed aboard the 10.40 train for Harley. The returned soldiers, members of the firing party, and mourners, accompanied the body on the train while Lt.-Col. Cutcliffe, Capt. Lavell, and Major Shultis motored out, the chaplain having charge of the services there also. The remains were first taken to the home of another uncle at Harley, where a brief service was held at one o’clock, the regular funeral service taking place in the church there at 2 o’clock.

The remains were later interred in the cemetery adjoining, the firing party the last tribute to a soldier by firing three volleys over the grave. The pall-bearers were all returned soldiers, members of the Fourth Battalion with which the deceased hero enlisted and left this city. They were: Sergt. C. Jones, in charge, Privates George Knowles, Thomas Webb, Leonard Phillips, T.J. Jones and H. Smith.

Besides his father, four brothers, Arthur of Vanessa, Ernie and Norman of Detroit, and Harry at home, and two sisters, Lily of Tillsonburg and Olive of Saskatchewan, are left to mourn his sad loss. To these the sympathy of a large number is extended.

Hundreds of citizens were present at the station here and devoutly bowed their heads while the remains of a hero who had witnessed and engaged in several of the big battles in Europe, and had received wounds while fighting on behalf of themselves and the Empire, were placed aboard the train.

BX June 1, 1916

Funeral for Returned Hero

The funeral of the returned hero soldier, Private William James Dean on Monday, was one of the largest ever held here. Friends and relatives from far and near came to pay their last respects to one who had nobly done his bit. Six returned wounded soldiers were pall-bearers, and six followed behind the gun-carriage carrying beautiful flowers. The 215th platoon marched up from Burford to pay their respects to the deceased hero. Many friends here express their deepest sympathy with the family and relatives.

BX January 3, 1916

Good Times and Rough Times Had – Private William James Dean, Norwich, Who Returned Wounded From the Front

On Friday the citizens of London turned out again to meet a little party of warriors from Western Ontario, who have returned from the front after being broken in the struggle for freedom.

Among them was Private William James Dean of Norwich, Ont., who was in the 15th Battalion, and enlisted at Brantford. He was wounded at Ypres and Festubert. His father lives at Lafayette, Ont. Private Dean generally expressed the sentiment of the men who returned when he briefly said:

“We’re glad we went. We had good times and we had rough times, but no matter how we fared, we’re glad we went.”

This was the characteristically modest expression of a man who had offered his life for his country and did not regret the wounds received in his country’s service.