Source: Blog comment from relative.
Note that the date of birth and death according to the government documents do not match that of the grave stone.
BRYCE–
In Calgary on Feb. 13, William Wilson Bryce, aged 61 years, on Nanton. Services by the Rev. Dwight Powell with be held at the United Church at Nanton, Thursday afternoon at 3.30. SNODGRASS Funeral home in charge.Source: Calgary Herald. February 16, 1954. Via Thomas Brown.
Summary of Service for Private William Wilson Bryce, reg. no. 770063
| Date | Event | Remarks |
| September 10, 1890/83 | Born Paisley, Ontario | The attestation papers show a birth year of 1890 and this headstone shows 1883. The reason for this discrepancy is unknown. |
| February 3, 1916 | Enlisted in 124th Battalion. | Enlisted in Toronto, Ontario. Living at 187 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario. He is single with the trade of carpenter. |
| July 8, 1916 | Canada | Absent with out leave. Forfeits one day pay. |
| August 1, 1916 | Canada | Assigns $20.00 per month pay to his father Thomas Bryce. |
| August 7, 1916 | Embarks for England | |
| August 18, 1916 | Arrives England | |
| October 10, 1916 | Transferred to Overseas Service | Transferred to 18th Battalion. |
| October 11, 1916 | Arrives Canadian Base Depot, France. | |
| November 5, 1916 | Attached to No. 2 Canadian Entrenching Battalion[i] | |
| November 15, 1916 | Attached to 4th Field Company, Canadian Engineers[ii] | |
| November 26, 1916 | Returns to No. 2 Canadian Entrenching Battalion | |
| January 22, 1917 | Attached to Headquarters, 1st Canadian Division | |
| March 4, 1917 | Returns to No. 2 Canadian Entrenching Battalion | From other soldiers’ service records, it appears that Private Bryce’s skills as a carpenter led him to be “loaned” out to other units to effect work relating to the needs of the entrenching battalion, the Canadian Engineer Company, and the headquarters of the 1st Division. |
| March 5, 1917 | Joins 18th Battalion in the field.[iii] | One of 21 other ranks arrived as replacements that date. |
| May 9, 1917 | Gassed[iv] | Note that there may be an minor error in the service record. The reporting unit is indicated as the 4th Field Company, Canadian Engineers. The next report was from the 4th Canadian Field Ambulance. It may be that the report dated Ma7 12, 1917 came from the 4th C.F.A. but was entered incorrectly as coming from 4th Canadian Field Company, Canadian Engineers. |
| May 9, 1917 to September 26, 1918 | Various medical units and reserve units in England | After an extensive recuperation time, rest, and training Private Bryce is taken on strength with the 18th Battalion. A notation on a medical card classifies his gassing as severe which would account for the long recuperation time. |
| October 4, 1918 | In the Field[v] | Private Bryce arrives in the field with the Battalion. It is located at the Buissay Switch, Hindenburg Support Line. |
| November 10, 1918 (Day before war ends) | G.S.W. left forearm in the CIPLY area of action[vi]. 6th Canadian Field Ambulance | Private Bryce was one of ten soldiers to be wounded that day. |
| November 17, 1918 | General Canadian Hospital, Rouen, France | |
| December 1, 1918 | Uncertain. Probably #6 General Hospital, France | Interesting notation indicating Private Bryce was a carpenter and ranch owner. |
| December 12, 1918 | Canadian General Hospital, Basingstoke, England | |
| February 8, 1919 | Dental Examination | Two teeth noted as extracted. It is unclear if that was during the examination or prior to. |
| April 7, 1919 | Medical Examination | Western Ontario Medical Hospital, London, Ontario |
| April 12, 1919 | Further dental examination | More detailed report of state of dental health. |
| March 11, 1919 | Invalided to Canada | |
| April 15, 1919 | Discharged from service medically unfit. | Discharged in London, Ontario having suffered from a G.S.W. to left forearm. Indicates some loss of use of arm due to enemy machine gun bullet. Note that the discharge document indicates he was wounded November 9, 1918. The service record indicates November 10 is the correct date. |
[i] From Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force: Entrenching Battalions. “Wire training and reinforcing units for personnel destined for engineer, pioneer and infantry units in the field. They were trained as infantry battalions but they also provided working parties on Royal Engineer work, trench repairs, wiring, road making to front line, carrying parties for front line, burial parties and clearing battlefield etc. In short, they performed labour battalion duties in the Canadian Corps, the Canadian labour battalions being employed in railway duties elsewhere. The entrenching battalions were abolished in September 1917 when the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp was formed.”
[ii] From Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force: Field Companies and Battalions, Canadian Engineers. “Throughout most of the war, each division had three field companies of engineers and one pioneer battalion. In April 1918, however, a major reorganization took place and, as a result, each division had an Engineer Brigade consisting of three engineer battalions and a pontoon bridging transport unit. Each of the battalion was composed of a headquarters and four companies, three of which were organized for general engineering work and the fourth for tunneling and mining. The nucleus of each new battalion was provided by one of the field companies and one third of a pioneer battalion.”
[iii] War Diary Entry March 5, 1917: 18th Canadian Battalion relieved in the front line by: – 8th Canadian Battalion[ii] in frontage held by A Company south of A.16.a.5 ¼ + ½ . Company guides led in relieving Battalion and completion of relief was notified by code word “BIRD” . 2 o.r.s wounded this morning now reported “Died of Wounds.”[iii] MAJOR G.V. NELSON, D Company commander was killed by a shell during the relief of Battalion. 21 o.r. arrived as reinforcements. 6 o.r.s admitted to hospital.
[iv] The 18th Battalion War Diary entry for that date makes no mention of being subject to shelling. “Before day-break Lieut. J. McAmmond, who was in Command of our right Platoon, under great difficulties established communications with the 19th Battalion, both through advance Posts in T.24.c. and along Winnipeg Road (t.23.d.) During a break in communication a Pigeon Message was sent to Brigade Headquarters. Pigeons were released and flew a distance of approximately 6 miles, to ECOIVRES, where they were trapped and message wired to Brigade, the whole proceedings occupying 23 minutes.”
[v] The War Diary records on October 4, 1918: “During the day battalion Hdqrs. was moved to a more suitable location in x.14 central. All Battle stores, Bombs, Flares, etc. were formed into Company Dumps. A canteen was established to-day near one of our Company Hdqrs. enabling the men to keep well supplied with cigarettes and various eatables. Parties were sent forward to reconnoitre the MARCOING LINE in squares x.23, 17, and 12c. During there was heavy enemy bombing in the area. Lieut. H.N. Bawden proceeded on leave. Fourteen O.R.s arrived as reinforcements.”
[vi] November 10, 1918 War Diary Entry: “At 04.00 hours the Battalion pushed forward and established posts in CIPLY and HYON meeting very little opposition. Rear details moved up from FRAMERIERES and reached CIPLY about 10.00 hours. There was considerable scattered shelling of village and vicinity till 15.00 hours, when the enemy guns were silenced by our batteries. 4 O.R.s proceeded on leave. 3 O.R.s returned from leave. 1 O.R. returned from hospital. 10 O.R.s wounded, 1 O.R. Killed in Action.”
Date of Birth: Paisley Headstone – 1884. Nanton Headstone – 1893. Attestation Papers: September 10, 1890.
Date of Death: Paisley Headstone – 1968. Nanton Headstone – 1954. Per service records – February 15, 1954. Per obituary February 13, 1954.
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 