Regimental number: 880490. Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 10374-14; Item No. 313967, PDF:- Address: Wheatley, County of Kent and Mersia County. Next of Kin: P.J. Willan of Wheatley, ON. Father. Single. Attestation : 15/03/16 at Chatham,  On. 

Apparent Age: 18 yrs. Height: 5’ 8 1/2’” , Girth: 36”, Weight: 148 #, Complexion: Medium, Eyes: Brown. Hair: Brown. Medical “Fit” at Chatham, ON.    

Pte. Willan had joined the 186^th Bn. in 1916. From Camp Borden he trained from 15/03/16 to April 1917, He passed the routine exam and the Medical Board 5/03/17, His “WILL” bequeathed to his father, Mr. Thomas Willan in France 16/06/17. Reported real estate 

Departed Halifax NS. aboard the S.S. Lapland 25/03/17 unit sailed on 28/03/17 and Debarked at Liverpool 7/04/17. 

Private Willan left for overseas with the 186th battalion Mar. 26, 1917,

He arrived at Bramshott at the Segregation Camp 7/04/17. Transferred to the 4^th Cdn. Reserve. TOS to the 4^th Reserve taken to the 18^th Bn. in France 16/06/17

He marched to Lens and went into action at Hill 70 for the first time.  He  was severely wounded Aug. 21, 1917 and died of wounds Aug. 24 1917.

Clifford Died of Wounds 24 August, 1917. Information found on the CVWM photo of Clifford, as follows:

“Ordered to the front for the first time on 18/08/1917. Three days later while enroute a shall landed on the road and he received multiple shrapnel wounds, several oyjers were killed. He died three days later never seeing battle.” 21/08/17.

Pte. Clifford Charles WILLAN, DOD: 24/08/17 age 18 years. Son of Thomas J. and Alice Willan of Leamington, ON. 

Clifford is Buried at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Grave ref: V.E.2, Pas de Calais – France.

The Memorial Cross: – Nil. (indicates his mother was not living). Thomas J. Willan of Wheatley, ON. received the Memorial Scroll 27/05/31 and the Memorial Plaque 28/11/1921.

There is a photo of Pte. Clifford Charles WILLAM. “ Clifford was ordered to the front for the first time”.

“He received multiple shrapnel wounds. He died three days later never seeing battle. From: He Grave His Tomorrow – For Our Todays.                    

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Cenotaph	Chatham and Kent County Cenotaph - Chatham
Sources	Chatham Daily Planet (28-08-1917), LAC, CVWM

Height	5'8 1/2"
Weight	148 lbs. lbs
Eye Colour	Blue
Age	18 yrs.
Complexion	Medium
Hair	Brown
Race	White
Birthplace	Essex County
Religion	Prebysterian
Last Place of Employment	Farming near Wheatley
Marital Status	single
When Enlisted	Mar. 15, 1916
Where Enlisted	Chatham, ON
Next of Kin	Father: Thomas J. Willan, Wheatley

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