William Watson Prior

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

55686

Unit at enlistment:

19th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers' Plot, Brantford, Ontario

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Cheshire

Birth city:

Chester

Address at enlistment:

9 Elgin Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

9 Elgin Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Mechanic

Employer:

Massey-Harris Co.

Religious denominations:

Methodist

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

BX October 20, 1915

They Meet As Man To Man – Brantford Officers Delighted to Come Across the Local Boys at the Front

War is war, but when Brantford officer meets Brantford private near the field of battle, it is not as officer to private, but as Brantford boy to Brantford boy.

Mrs. G. Prior, 9 Elgin Street, has received the following interesting letter from her son, Pte. W. Prior, bearing out this point. The letter reads:

October 1, 1915

Dear Mother,

I received your letter and was pleased to hear you are all well at home. Since writing my last letter we have been in the trenches for seven days. We came out of the trenches on Monday night and marched to our rest camp. The following day we went to the baths and on our way we met Lieut.-Col. Colquhoun, Major Jones, Capt. Towers and last but not least, Bill Dawson. “Mac” was very glad to see us and he got off his horse and shook hands with the boys. Capt. Miller was also with them. We resumed our journey to the baths and had a good wash and a change of clothes. After three days rest we were moved to a farm just behind the firing line. I suppose we will stay here for three days and then go back into the trenches. I have written to Ern and yesterday I got an answer. He has been promoted to Company Sergeant-Major.

I have received the papers and tobacco you sent me.

Last night I saw an exciting air fight. Two German machines came flying over our heads. The British guns started to fire at them and at the finish two of our machines chased them back to the German lines. It is wonderful how they conceal the artillery from aircraft. One thing I have noticed that during an artillery duel, as soon as an aeroplane goes up the firing ceases. Well, I mustn’t tell you too much, as all our letters are censored, and perhaps by the time the censor gets through with this there will not be much left. So I will close, with love to all.

Your affectionate son,
Will

BX November 25, 1915

Mud Is Soldiers’ Principal Enemy – Pte. William Prior Tells of Being Up To The Knees in the Trenches

Though there are plenty of Germans in front, mud is the principal enemy of the Brantford soldier boys at the front at the present time. Pte. Will Prior, writing to his mother, Mrs. G. Prior, from somewhere in Belgium, says of the sea of mud:

We have been in trenches for seven days, and talk about a time! We were up to the knees in mud. The trenches are in bad shape, and in places we are in full view of the enemy. We came out last night and by the time that we arrived in billets, well; I wish you could see me now. My great coat is a mass of mud, as are my trousers up to the knees. I only changed my socks three times yesterday.

He extends thanks for gifts of cigarettes, socks and a shaving glass and suggests a further supply of underclothes would be acceptable.

BX December 8, 1916

Pte. William Prior Badly Wounded - Foot has Been Made Crooked and he Must Now use Crutches

That he has been left with a crooked foot is the word Pte. Will Prior sends to his mother Mrs. M. Prior, 222 Market Street. However his wound is nearly healed and he considers himself lucky to have a foot at all, considering the nature of his wounding. He states that he will not be able to put his foot to the ground this year, but is practicing with crutches. In a later letter he tells of eight of the patients at the V.A.D. hospital, St. Anselm's, Walmer, Kent, where he is going down town one afternoon, all on crutches, and he comments on how funny it was. In his letter he mentions that Jack May has been wounded.

BX August 16, 1917

Returned soldiers

In all probability the following men will leave for Brantford on Friday next, Aug. 17. J. Draper, 118 Arthur Street; J.A. Merrell, 22 Lewis Street; G.J. Patte, 25 Ade Avenue; W. Prior, 222 Market Street; W.S. Taylor, 11 Aberdeen Avenue; D.W. Wilders, Farringdon Hill P.O.

BX August 18, 1917

Invalided Men Return Home – Six Veterans Arrived in the City – Given Hearty Welcome

Bearing the marks of wounds administered by the merciless Hun, yet cheery and pleased that the opportunity had been theirs to have a part in the struggle for the cause of humanity, six of Brantford’s sons returned to this city yesterday afternoon and evening. They were J.A. Merrell, Lewis Street; W. Prior, Market Street; W.S. Taylor, Market Street; J. Draper, Arthur Street; D.W. Wilders, Farringdon Hill, and G.J. Patte of Ada Avenue. The first three mentioned came to Brantford by the 4 o’clock train, the next two by the evening flyer and the last was met at Toronto by his father and driven here by automobile. All the men were met by representatives of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission and the Great War Veterans Association, also a deputation from the City Council and scores of citizens. When it was learned that G.J. Patte was coming to the city by auto the secretary of the Soldiers Aid Commission and that of the G.W.V.A. and others lined up their autos and started for Cainsville where they sprang a surprise on the returning soldier on crutches. W.S. Taylor lost his left arm in the terrible struggle but is pleased to know that he had done his bit and also that his life had been saved. The others too, have suffered but in patience, they have long suffered and content to do their duty no matter what the cost.

BX May 9, 1916

To Help Seeding Work on Farm – Mrs. George Prior Promised Farmer to Help if Son Enlisted

In less than a week’s time a well known Brantford woman, Mrs. George Prior, 9 Elgin Street, will be ploughing and seeding on a farm in Brant County. Many sacrifices have been made during this all absorbing struggle, but it is doubtful if many can surpass the one Mrs. Prior is making.

Mrs. Prior has two sons and close to two dozen relatives now at the front. She herself, since war broke out, has been one of the best recruiters in the county, so it will readily be apparent that Canadian mothers are just as capable of sacrifice as the English women.

She believes in practicing what she preaches. Since the departure of her sons for overseas she has done excellent recruiting work throughout the county for the 125th Battalion and is now bending her energies towards filling the ranks of the 215th Battalion. It was only Saturday evening that she brought in two recruits from the county.

Last fall while recruiting throughout the county Mrs. Prior promised one farmer that if his son enlisted she would come out and help him out with his spring seeding, and it is now to fulfill this promise that she is going. She received word on Saturday that he could use her services and she leaves this afternoon.

One of Mrs. Prior’s sons, Sergt. Ernest Prior, who left with the first contingent, was wounded a year ago this month. Another son left with the second contingent.

BX March 29, 1979

William Watson Prior

Prior, William Watson – At the Brantford General Hospital on Thursday, March 29, 1979, in his 86th year, William Watson Prior, dear brother of Mrs. George (Jessie) Swain, Toronto and Anice Prior, Brantford; predeceased by brothers, Edward, Ernest, Herbert and John and sister, Lillian; also survived by nieces and nephews. Mr. Prior was a life member and secretary for many years of Branch 90 and Zone B3 and was a 32nd degree member of the Scottish Rite Association; member of Murton Lodge of Perfection, Hamilton; member of the Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix; life member of Reba Lodge A.F. and A.M. No. 515; member of Mocha Shrine Temple, London. Mr. Prior was severely wounded in 1916 while serving in France and Belgium with the 19th Battalion and a signaler with the headquarters staff. Mr. Prior was a retired employee of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and life member of the Quarter Century Club and was an adherent of Marlboro United Church. Visitation at the McCleister Funeral Home Ltd., 30 Brant Avenue, from Saturday afternoon. Funeral service in the chapel Monday at 1.30 p.m. Interment in Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers’ Plot. Rev. Stephen Shantz of Marlboro United Church officiating.