Cole, Walter Frank: Service no. 53184 later Lieutenant

Family Search: When Lieutenant Walter Frank Cole was born on 12 July 1879, in Guildford, Surrey, England, United Kingdom, his father, Charles Cole, was 28 and his mother, Emily Wheeler, was 33. He married Hattie Victoria Hudson on 17 August 1904, in Walkerville, Sandwich, Essex, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 3 daughters. He immigrated to Canada in 1900 and lived in St Mary’s Church, Guildford, Surrey, England, United Kingdom in 1891. He registered for military service in 1914. In 1914, at the age of 35, his occupation is listed as a steelworker, Canadian Bridge Company. He died on 28 August 1918, in Vis-en-Artois, Pas-de-Calais, France, at the age of 39, and was buried in Haucourt, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Text from page of the Southwestern Ontario Memorial Album:

In strange land were your latest honors won —
In strange wilds, with strange danger all beset;
With rain, like tears, the face of day was wet,
As rang the ambushed foeman’s fatal gun;
And as you felt your final duty done,
We feel that glory thrills your spirit yet, —
When at the front, in swiftest death you met
The Patriot’s doom and best reward in one.

LIEUT. W. F. COLES, WALKERVILLE

Enlisted as a private with the 18th Batt’n. October 1914. Earned his Lieutenancy on the battlefield. After two years’ service he was wounded in action, but later returned to France. Killed in action August 28th, 1918, at Arras, and buried in the British Cemetery at Visen Artois. Lieut. Cole was a popular Sergeant in the old 21st Batt’n. being connected to them for 15 years as Second Lieutenant No. 4 Company.

From his bereaved Wife and Children.