William Wills - Lest We Forget

William Wills was born October 10, 1885 at Barrow, Lancashire, England.  He was the son of James & Isabella Wills, of Lancashire, England.  In 1915 William was working as a bridgeman for the CPR at Revelstoke. 

William Wills signed his enlistment papers July 6, 1915 at Vernon. His regimental number was 443340. He was one of about one hundred men from Revelstoke who signed up with the 54th Battalion the spring and summer of 1915. He was 29 years old, single, 5’ 6” tall with dark hair and grey eyes. His religious affiliation was Anglican.

William Wills suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs in September of 1916. He was sent to the Northern General Hospital in Leeds, England, and died there on January 20, 1917. Both of his legs had been amputated, and he developed sepsis and bronchitis. He was 31 years old. At the time of his death he was a Lance Corporal serving with the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Pioneers. He is buried at the Bleasdale Churchyard, Lancashire, United Kingdom.

The name of William Wills is inscribed on the Courthouse and Cenotaph plaques.