838403 Pte. William John Wesley Stoddart was born on July 9th, 1897, in Markdale, Ontario.
A son for William and Eliza Stoddart, William enlisted with the 147th (Grey) Battalion, on December 28th, 1915. Arriving in England on board the S.S. Olympic, on November 20th, 1916, he was taken on strength with 4th CMR in the field on March 3rd, 1917.
On August 23rd, 1917, William was attached to the 8th Canadian trench mortar battery. Wounded in the right arm on December 2nd, 1917, he consequently spent six days in hospital. Upon his release, William was sent back to 8th Canadian trench mortar battery, where he remained for the rest of the war.
After the war ended, William spent three months in a hospital in England, due to illness and was subsequently discharged on July 20th, 1919.
After the war, William moved out West, taking up residence in Edmonton, Alberta. There he worked for the Federal Government for the rest of his life. During WW2 he served in the Veteran's Guard (as seen above, with his mother).
William died in an Edmonton hospital on March 30th, 1975. Pansey, his wife of 50 years, died 18 days later.
William Wesley Stoddart was survived by two sons, a daughter, eight brothers (five of whom would serve in WW2), and one sister.
Credit and many thanks go to Shaun Stoddart for the above image and biography on his great uncle.