Product Details

1914-1915 Star 

57931 Pte William John Stockdale 20 BN CEF

Wounded 25 June 1916 at the Bluff Ypres Salient

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1914-1915 Star (impressed 57931 Pte W.J. Stockdale 20/CAN:INF)

Pte William John Stockdale was born in North Bay, Ontario  13 dec 1888. He attested with the 20th BN in Toronto on 12 Nov 1914. He arrived in the UK aboard the SS Magnatic on 15 May 1915 and embarked for France on 14 September 1915. He was wounded (Shrapnel wound in left knee) on 24 June 1916 at the Bluff in the Ypres Salient. The following is the War Diary report for the day Pte Stockdale was wounded:

Fine and mild. Our guns bombarded enemy lines from O.4.a2.4 to I34.d.4. 9.5 for 20 minutes commencing at noon. The effect was good and much material damage was done. We had very short warning of the operation or we could have made more complete preparations. Enemy retaliation was comparatively weak. H.E. and shrapnel. Aircraft was active in the afternoon. Our machines raided enemy observation balloons with good results. All were hastily pulled down and did not reappear. Casulaties CAPT HWA FOSTER, wounded. LT PS HUNTER, shell shock, 1 OR killed, 8 wounded. heavy bombardment on N of Salient, commencing 10 pm.

Pte WJ Stockdale survived the war and returned to Canada in 1917 on the Hospital ship Esquimalt. He died on 11 Feb 1953.

Sold with service file

GVF