Pvt. William Ambrose Driscoll #81228 was born to Dennis and Mary Driscoll on Nov 15, 1882 in Merrickville, ON area. He was the ninth of eleven siblings which included Nancy, John, Mary, Theresa, Margaret, Julia, Patrick, Elizabeth, Richard and Dennis. His family lived in Montague Township where he lived beside his Uncle Thomas family in District 84 and with his grandmother Margaret on their family farm. His father died in 1906 and his mother died in 1928 where they are buried in St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Merrickville. Pvt. Driscoll enlisted on Dec. 23, 1914 in Winnipeg, MB at the age of 32 and assigned to the 32nd battalion. He listed his mother Mary of Merrickville, On as his next of kin, occupation as a carpenter and religion being Catholic. He was 6’1, 38”chest, 182 lbs., single, grey eyes and brown hair. His mother also received his pay and a $180 gratuity after his death being a dependent of him. His medals, decorations, scroll and plaque were also sent to her. His sister, Julia, of 327 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB was also to be notified of his death.
Pvt. Driscoll sailed on Feb 23, 1915 from Halifax on the SS Vaderland and arrived in England still with the 32nd battalion. On March 24, he forfeited one day of pay due to absenteeism without leave. Pvt Driscoll was hospitalized on May 22-July 7, 1915 due to illness. On July 10, 1915, he forfeited 2 months of pay due to being drunk. Pvt. Driscoll was assigned to the 8th battalion on July 17, 1915 in England. He was assigned to the 2nd Field Company as a carpenter on Oct. 16, 1915. He received leave from Feb 9-17, 1916. He was imprisoned for 14 days for being absent from duty for two hours on July 31, 1916.
The 8th battalion was given the task of taking three trenches in a day. Despite heavy artillery initally, all four companies went over the top at 12:25pm in three waves and quickly overrun the first trench. They brought in the rolling barrage for support and then moved into the second trench. Communication became disjointed and it became unclear who was located where. A reserve battalion was brought in to help secure the second trench. However, the next morning, it was discovered that most of the 8th got to the Regina Trench and secured it. After taking the second trench, German machine gun nests were secured and then used on the Germans to take the third trench. During this battle, which is considered to be one of the most successful battles of WWI for Canadian troops, Pvt Driscoll was shot and killed at some point.
Pvt. Driscoll died on Sept. 26, 1916 near Courcelette while with the 8th battalion. He is memorialized on the Vimy Memorial. The Vimy Memorial overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge. Located north of Arras in France, the Vimy Memorial is Canada’s largest overseas National Memorial. It commemorates more than 11,000 men of the Canadian Expeditionary Force killed during the First World War in France and who have no known grave. Many of them died in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.He is also listed on the headstone with his parents in St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Merrickville. He is commemorated on page 80 of the Book of Remembrance.
Pvt. Driscoll sailed on Feb 23, 1915 from Halifax on the SS Vaderland and arrived in England still with the 32nd battalion. On March 24, he forfeited one day of pay due to absenteeism without leave. Pvt Driscoll was hospitalized on May 22-July 7, 1915 due to illness. On July 10, 1915, he forfeited 2 months of pay due to being drunk. Pvt. Driscoll was assigned to the 8th battalion on July 17, 1915 in England. He was assigned to the 2nd Field Company as a carpenter on Oct. 16, 1915. He received leave from Feb 9-17, 1916. He was imprisoned for 14 days for being absent from duty for two hours on July 31, 1916.
The 8th battalion was given the task of taking three trenches in a day. Despite heavy artillery initally, all four companies went over the top at 12:25pm in three waves and quickly overrun the first trench. They brought in the rolling barrage for support and then moved into the second trench. Communication became disjointed and it became unclear who was located where. A reserve battalion was brought in to help secure the second trench. However, the next morning, it was discovered that most of the 8th got to the Regina Trench and secured it. After taking the second trench, German machine gun nests were secured and then used on the Germans to take the third trench. During this battle, which is considered to be one of the most successful battles of WWI for Canadian troops, Pvt Driscoll was shot and killed at some point.
Pvt. Driscoll died on Sept. 26, 1916 near Courcelette while with the 8th battalion. He is memorialized on the Vimy Memorial. The Vimy Memorial overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge. Located north of Arras in France, the Vimy Memorial is Canada’s largest overseas National Memorial. It commemorates more than 11,000 men of the Canadian Expeditionary Force killed during the First World War in France and who have no known grave. Many of them died in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.He is also listed on the headstone with his parents in St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Merrickville. He is commemorated on page 80 of the Book of Remembrance.