DEMERY, PTE./SAPPER WILLIAM VICTOR Reg. # 657921
William Victor Demery was born at Poverty Bay, Croft Twonship in 1879 and was baptized in the Lutheran Church in Magnetawan. William married Mary Paul of Ahmic Harbour. After marriage William and Mary and their children lived in Croft Township between Ahmic Harbour and Dunchurch.
The summary which follows is built on a report entitled ‘Sapper William Victor Demery’, from Anglo-Celtic Roots, Quarterly Chronicle, Volume 23, Number 3, Fall 2017, pages 26-31.
Sapper William Victor Demery
William enlisted April 24, 1916 at Burks Falls to the 162nd CEF. He departed from Halifax on November 1, 1916 arriving in Liverpool 2 weeks later on November 11, 1916. Two weeks later he transferred to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion and on November 29, 1916 went to the Western Front.
On August 28, 1917 he was admitted to the 5th and then the 10th Canadian Field Ambulance with a leg inflamation. He rejoined his Unit on September 15, 1917.
In June 1918 he was assigned to 2nd Divisional Pontoon Bridging Transport Unit, Canadian Engineers, CEF. These units were formed when the Canadian Engineers were reorganized in 1918 and were relatively small units. Each unit “was composed of three officers and 69 other ranks and each was equipped with six pontoons, three trestle wagons and 225 feet of “medium bridge”. They performed both bridging and field park duties.”
In January 1919, the unit was stationed in Troisdort, about 15 kilometres northeast of Bonn, Germany. The men were involved mainly in exercising and grooming the animals and caring for equipment—bridges and wagons. On 15 January, William was admitted to the 14th Canadian Field Ambulance with pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin. Two days later, when he was admitted to No. 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, the diagnosis was changed to bronchial pneumonia. He died a week later and the cause of death was identified at the time as influenza. He was buried in Popplesdorfer Cemetery (Grave 5, Plot B, Row A), with the Canadian chaplain, W. Fisher, presiding.
Extract from chaplains' journal, No 1 CCCS (Canadian Casualty Clearing Station)
His death clearly marked the men of this small unit. His death and funeral were noted in the unit’s war diaries—exceptional for an ordinary solider. On 24 January, the diary notes “Word in by late runner of death of T/VR Demery W. V. from pneumonia, Bonn 1st Cdn CCS (Canadian Chaplin Services), arranging for funeral.”19 The next day “2 officers & 40 O.R.s [Other Ranks] attend funeral of T/VR Demery W. V. at Bonn. This is first funeral of the unit since formation.”20
William Victor Demery, "C" Co 162nd Overseas Battalion, C.E.F. Camp Niagara, August 1916.
