2562454 Pte. William Sweyn Weatherston
Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery
Averdoingt
Pas de Calais
France
Born in Toronto in April 1876, William was a resident there on Wilcocks Street, with his parents living in the Prince George Hotel on King and York Streets, Toronto, when he signed on in August 1917.
With his trade noted as "Gentleman" - denoting a monied family - William with previous military experience with the Queen's Own Rifles, attested into the 1st Battalion, 1st Canadian Overseas Regiment, on August 10th, 1917, in Toronto.
The 1st Battalion, 1st C.O.R. supplied 249 men to the 4th CMR between June and November 1918, and William joined the 4th CMR in the field on August 12th, 1918.
At the time of his loss, just 14 days later, on August 26th, the 4th CMR had been part of a costly but successful attack on Monchy-le-Preux, near Arras. When the action finished on August 29th, 4th CMR losses amounted to 4 officers killed, 11 wounded, 22 other ranks killed, 214 wounded.
Pte. William Weatherston is one of 20 men of the 4th CMR known to lie at rest in Ligny-St.Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoingt, France.
Headstone image with thanks to Yvo Henniker-Heaton, biography excerpt courtesy of 4cmr.com
Prince George Hotel image, credit: John Chuckman's Toronto Postcards Collection blogspot.