Meet Private and Mrs. Woolley

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A member of the 18th Battalion Facebook Group added photographs to the Group pertaining to Private Benjamin Woolley, reg. no. 123108. A photograph of Private Woolley with his wife, Lilly. They are recorded to have lived at 1041 Frances Street, Lodon, Ontario.

He enlisted with the 70th Battalion, CEF, on September 14, 1915 at London, Ontario and subsequently was shipped overseas, eventually ending up with the 18th Battalion. He was killed on action April 9, 1917 during that Battalion’s involvment with the assault on Vimy Ridge and is buried with  12 other members of the Battalion, all perishing on that day.

The photographs featured here are a portrait of Private Woolley and his wife, Lilly, and the sweetheart pin she wore in rememberance of him while he was away overseas. These pins were ornate enamel jewellery signifing the bearer to have a connection with a soldier serving with the unit the pin represented.

Thanks to the efforts of Private Woolley’s family members, we can see who he was and glimpse into a minute aspect of his life.