Source: Operation Picture Me via The 18th Battalion Facebook Group. Peace Souvenir: Activities of Waterloo County in the Great War, 1914 – 1918.
Family Search: When William Gladstone Zimmerman was born on 8 November 1896, in Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, his father, William Edgar Zimmerman, was 26 and his mother, Mary Jasper, was 26. He married Helen Manson Ramsay on 18 September 1919, in Preston, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He lived in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada in 1911. He registered for military service in 1915. In 1915, at the age of 19, his occupation is listed as shoemaker in Preston, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He died on 21 October 1992, in Cambridge, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 95, and was buried in Parklawn Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Military Medal per London Gazette no. 303364. November 2, 1917. Transferred to R.A.F.
Born 8 November 1896, Private William Gladstone came from a family with two other siblings. His father, William Edgar Zimmerman (1879-1950) and his mother, Mary (Jasper) Zimmerman (b. 1870) had three children. Lillie Grace (1892-1968) being the oldest and Levi Gerald (1898-1985) being the youngest.
On 25 November 1915 the 5’10” shoemaker from Preston travelled to Galt to enlist with the 111th Battalion. He was 19-year-old and had no prior military experience. He passed his physical and was weighed in at 143 pounds. He wound gain 12 pounds during his war service.
He trained with the 111th Battalion and filled out is will on 10 August 1916 as he, along with the rest of the Battalion, expected to be shipped overseas soon, and this, along with him assigning a portion of his pay where bureaucratic prerequisites for a soldier about to leave for overseas service. His witnesses were a J. Moss, a manufacturer, and Lieutenant Franklyn Arthur Herman, chemical engineer. Private Zimmerman left his estate to his mother.
Embarking at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 29 September 1916 he, along with the rest of the Battalion arrived at Liverpool, England on 6 October 1916 aboard the SS Tusoani. He then was transferred to a series of posting with reserve battalions and his “corp” trade was as a signaler.
On 6 June 1917 he arrived, finally, at Etaples France at the 2nd Canadian Infantry Base Depot and five days later he joined the 18th Battalion at Barlin, France where the Battalion was engaged in training.
Private Zimmerman served uninterrupted with the 18th Battalion and during this time period he was cited for “bravery in the field” and was awarded a Military Medal 2 November 1917. There is no known record as to what action precipitated this recognition one can be confident if was for actions between June and October 1917.
He earned a well-deserved rest with 14 days leave to England effective 4 February 1918.
Though lacking detail, he was tasked with attending a “Ceremonial Parade” at Paris, France from the 9th to 19th of July 1918.
During this time this man submitted a request to transfer to the Royal Air Force and this transfer was granted with effect on 31 August 1918.
However, his service with the RAF was to be short live as it appears he never left Canadian service as his service record shows that he was appointed the rank of Acting-Sergeant on 7 September 1918. As the war coming to an end the need for more men for the RAF was probably sufficiently fulfilled by those currently in the training programs.
His medical examination for service with the RAF shows he is 5’ 11.75” tall and weighs 165 pounds. He is of good physique and is a teetotaler. For some reason they list his previous occupation as a clerk, perhaps Zimmerman did not feel that shoemaker would stand him in good stead during the application process. He had an enlarged thyroid and reported suffering from slight seasickness. He was rated a good nervous system “mentality” but a “fair” overall mentality. He was considered fit as an observer or pilot.
He did, however, have an issue of supplies made out to him on 23 September 1918 at Hampstead Station but he would be back with the Canadian Army shortly after this equipment’s issue.
With the war’s end Private Zimmerman was struck off strength on 24 January 1919 and was discharged at London, Ontario on 21 February 1919 where he then returned to Preston giving his address as Box 491 Preston, Ontario.
Not waiting long after the war to begin a new life, the now civilian William was married to Helen Ramsay on 18 September, 1919 at Waterloo, Ontario and had three children, Helen, Laureen and Jean.
He worked at Savage Shoe and attended King Street Baptist Church and died at Cambridge Memorial Hospital on 21 October 1992 leaving five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He is interred at Parklawn Cemetery, Cambridge, Ontario.
Obituary
8 Nov 1896 – 21 Oct 1992
Son of William Edgar Zimmerman and Maria Jasper
Of 437 Garden St., Cambridge, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1992, at Cambrige Memorial Hospital, in his 96th year.
Beloved husband of the late Helen Ramsay.
[Married:18 Sep 1919, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada]
Dear father of
Helen (Mrs. Robert Jacobi) of Oakville.
Laureen Zimmerman and
Jean (Mrs. William Robertson), both of Cambridge.
Also survived by five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Mr. Zimmerman was born in Waterloo township and lived all his life in the Cambridge area; retired from Savage Shoe, was a member of King Street Baptist Church.
Cambridge and a veteran of the First World War, serving overseas with the 111th Battalion.
Friends will be received at the Barthel Funeral Home, 506 Queenston Rd., Cambridge, today (Thursday), 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be at King Street Baptist Church, Cambridge, Friday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m. Interment in Parklawn Cemetery.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 