Source: Gathering Our Heroes
Family Search: When Private William James Merriam was born on 5 July 1890, in Harwich, Kent, Ontario, Canada, his father, William James Merriam, was 37 and his mother, Margaret McDougall, was 36. He lived in Kent Centre, Kent, Ontario, Canada in 1916 and Thamesville, Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada in 1923. He registered for military service in 1916. In 1916, at the age of 26, his occupation is listed as labourer in Kent Centre, Kent, Ontario, Canada. He died on 12 February 1983, in Chatham, Kent, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 92, and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Thamesville, Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada.
Private William James Merriam, reg. no. 889827
This man enlisted with the 186th Battalion and was attested at Camp Borden on 1 July 1916 with the regimental number of 889827. He was a unmarried labourer practicing the Methodist faith.
Arriving in England on 7 April 1917 aboard the SS Lapland, he was transferred to the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion on the same date.
He served in England until he was transferred to the 18th Battalion. Leaving for the 18th Battalion on 27 August 1917, he transited through No. 2 Canadian Infantry Base Depot and joined the 18th Battalion “in the field” on 5 September 1917.
He served with the 18th Battalion until he contracted pleurisy and bronchitis, requiring treatment in England. He was sent to the medical facilities on 27 February 1918 and was transported to England aboard the A.T. Newhaven on 13 March 1918.
He did not return to the 18th, and was sent to Canada on 12 December 1919.
He was discharged due to demobilization on 21 January 1919 at London, Ontario.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 