John Thyne McWilliam #639862 was born on July 29,1899 in Mains Parish, Forfarshire, Scotland, son of James and Elizabeth McWilliam. He emigrated from Liverpool aboard SS Canada as part of a group of Scottish schoolboys, destined for Brockville, ON to be farm labourers. The ship arrived in Halifax on April 10, 1911. Among the boys was his brother James McWilliams, age 12. The 1911 census shows John as a labourer living with the family of Robert and Elizabeth Baird on Lot 2 COncession 10 Ramsay Township near Appleton. John attended school at SS#11 in Appleton in 1914. His brother James Ross McWilliam 639588, enlisted in Kingston on March 22, 1917 and was killed in action near Cambrai on Sept. 27, 1918.
John enlisted with the 156th battalion at Merrickville, ON on March 12, 1916, a month after his brother James Ross. He gave his residence as Appleton, and occupation as farm hand. He was described as a single man, age 16, 5’3” tall, weighing 118 pounds, fair complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair, with 2 scars on his upper right arm. He had no previous military experience and listed his religion as Presbyterian. He listed his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth McWilliams of 82 Church St. Broughty Ferry, Scotland, as his next of kin. He also bequeathed all his possessions to her in his will dated Oct. 23, 1917.
While in training in May, he forfeited one day’s pay, but the infraction was not given. The local paper showed him as Private McWilliams of Kemptville, visiting “Overlook” in Appleton in early July 1916 while he was in training. He embarked from Halifax aboard SS Northland and arrived at Liverpool on Oct. 28, 1916. He was transferred to the 120th Battalion at Bramshott on Nov 1 then transferred back to the 156th Battalion at Camp Witley on Jan. 9, 1917. He was then sent to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot at Seaford on Sept. 24, 1917. On Dec 26, he was granted a leave from Seaford with a Free Railway Warrant, then sent on command to the regimental headquarters at Seaford on Jan. 11, 1918. He reverted to the rank of Private while at Seaford on April 19, 1918. He was admitted to Barnwell Military Hospital at Cambridge on April 24 as ill and discharged back to duty on June 24. He reported as ill on July 2, 1918, and diagnosed with influenza and broncho-pneumonia on July 3 when admitted as dangerously ill to No.14 Canadian General Hospital in Eastbourne. He died there on July 9, 1918.
John McWilliam died of illness on July 9, 1918 age 18 years old. He was buried in Seaford Cemetery, Sussex, England, grave reference 600. This is on the Alfriston road, was opened in 1897, and belongs to the Urban District Council. It contains 253 burials of the 1914-1918 War, almost all are in four of the plots on the North side, and a War Cross is erected on that side, close to the Chapel. The 36th (Ulster) Division was at Seaford in July and August, 1915; the B.W.I.R. was encamped here; the 10th Canadian Stationary Hospital was at Seaford in November, 1916-January, 1917, and the place then became one of the main Canadian Training Centres. There are 25 burials of the 1939-1945 war including 6 unidentified Merchant seamen.His British War Medal, Victory Medal, Memorial Plaque and Scroll, and Silver Cross were all sent to his widowed mother, Mrs. Lizzie McWilliam, Broughty Ferry, Scotland. She also applied for a war service gratuity for the death of her two sons but was denied.
John enlisted with the 156th battalion at Merrickville, ON on March 12, 1916, a month after his brother James Ross. He gave his residence as Appleton, and occupation as farm hand. He was described as a single man, age 16, 5’3” tall, weighing 118 pounds, fair complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair, with 2 scars on his upper right arm. He had no previous military experience and listed his religion as Presbyterian. He listed his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth McWilliams of 82 Church St. Broughty Ferry, Scotland, as his next of kin. He also bequeathed all his possessions to her in his will dated Oct. 23, 1917.
While in training in May, he forfeited one day’s pay, but the infraction was not given. The local paper showed him as Private McWilliams of Kemptville, visiting “Overlook” in Appleton in early July 1916 while he was in training. He embarked from Halifax aboard SS Northland and arrived at Liverpool on Oct. 28, 1916. He was transferred to the 120th Battalion at Bramshott on Nov 1 then transferred back to the 156th Battalion at Camp Witley on Jan. 9, 1917. He was then sent to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot at Seaford on Sept. 24, 1917. On Dec 26, he was granted a leave from Seaford with a Free Railway Warrant, then sent on command to the regimental headquarters at Seaford on Jan. 11, 1918. He reverted to the rank of Private while at Seaford on April 19, 1918. He was admitted to Barnwell Military Hospital at Cambridge on April 24 as ill and discharged back to duty on June 24. He reported as ill on July 2, 1918, and diagnosed with influenza and broncho-pneumonia on July 3 when admitted as dangerously ill to No.14 Canadian General Hospital in Eastbourne. He died there on July 9, 1918.
John McWilliam died of illness on July 9, 1918 age 18 years old. He was buried in Seaford Cemetery, Sussex, England, grave reference 600. This is on the Alfriston road, was opened in 1897, and belongs to the Urban District Council. It contains 253 burials of the 1914-1918 War, almost all are in four of the plots on the North side, and a War Cross is erected on that side, close to the Chapel. The 36th (Ulster) Division was at Seaford in July and August, 1915; the B.W.I.R. was encamped here; the 10th Canadian Stationary Hospital was at Seaford in November, 1916-January, 1917, and the place then became one of the main Canadian Training Centres. There are 25 burials of the 1939-1945 war including 6 unidentified Merchant seamen.His British War Medal, Victory Medal, Memorial Plaque and Scroll, and Silver Cross were all sent to his widowed mother, Mrs. Lizzie McWilliam, Broughty Ferry, Scotland. She also applied for a war service gratuity for the death of her two sons but was denied.