Campbell River Genealogy Society
~ LOST FAMILIES FOUND ~
WILLIAM EDWARD HUCK <
Service Personnel Information 1914–1918
| Attestation Paper | |
| Service/Regimental Number: | 703202 |
| Present Address: | Whaletown, British Columbia |
| Birthplace: | Walkerton, Ontario, Canada |
| Date of Birth: | 28 March 1880 |
| Next of Kin: | Mrs. W. E. Huck (wife) |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Trade or Calling: | Farmer |
| Previous Service in a Military Force: | None |
| Date of Enlistment: | 3 January 1916 |
| City and Province of Enlistment: | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Digitized Personnel Record: | Library and Archives Record Link |
| Description on Enlistment | |
| Height: | 5 ft 10 ins |
| Chest: | 37 1/2 ins |
| Complexion: | Light |
| Colour of Eyes: | Light Brown |
| Colour of Hair: | Light Brown Bald |
| Religion: | Church of England |
| Considered Fit for Duty by: | F. C. Dunlop, Medical Officer |
Military Service Record 1914–1918
| Force: | Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force |
| Division (battalion or company): | 102nd Battallian (Comox-Atlin) |
| Unit: | Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) |
| Rank: | Corporal |
| Honours and Awards: | |
| Photograph: | Not currently available |
| Date of Death: | 20 October 1916 |
| Age (at death): | 36 |
| Country of Burial: | France |
| Cemetery: | Vimy Memorial |
| Grave Reference: | N/A |
| Location: | Pas de Calais: Canada’s most impressive tribute overseas to those Canadians who fought and gave their lives in the First World War is the majestic and inspiring Vimy Memorial, which overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge, about eight kilometres northeast of Arras on the N17 towards Lens. |
| Book of Remembrance: | WILLIAM EDWARD HUCK’s name can be found on page 106 of the 1916 First World War Book of Remembrance |
His Story
William Edward Huck (Ed) was born in Walkerton, Ontario, on 28 March 1880. His parents were George Huck and Mary Ann Selvedge (m. 1875). He had an older brother, George (b. 1876) and three younger siblings – Ella May (b. 1882), Harold (b. 1883), and Norman (b. 1887). In C1881 George and Mary and George and Edward were living in Walkerton, Ontario. George was an egg packer. In C1891 George and Mary and four children were still in Walkerton. Wm. Edward married Mabel Wells on 17 August 1903 in Wellington Co., Ontario. Ed was not found in C1901, but in C1911 he was working as a painter in Vancouver, B.C. In C1911 Mabel (incorrectly transcribed as Muriel) and the four older children were in Elma, Ontario. The whole family moved to B.C. seeking a better life. A fifth child was born in Vancouver in 1914 before Ed moved his family to Cortes Island.
Ed attested on 2 January 1916 in Vancouver with the 102nd Battalion (Comox-Atlin). Three others of our Cenotaph men were also in this battalion. He went overseas on the Empress of Britain in June 1916. In September 1916, he was promoted to Lance Corporal, and in October (two days before he died) he was promoted to Corporal. Ed was Killed in Action on 26 October 1916 in the Regina Trench. The War Diary for the day reads: “In the early morning “B”, “C” & “D” Companies, with some Details came out of the front line, leaving “A” Company to hold same, and proceeded to Tara Hill, returning in the afternoon to the trenches where they took over the front line from “A” Company. The latter with some Details proceeded to Albert. A very cold wind prevailed. Casualties numbered 6 killed and 10 wounded.”
Family Bits: Ed’s parents were both of German extraction. In c1901 George and the three youngest children were still living in Walkerton. George Jr, his wife and daughter were living in Windsor. Mabel was living in Whaletown when Ed signed up. She and the children stayed on the island until 1923 when they moved to Vancouver where she died in 1963. Much of the family information comes from an account written by Doreen Thompson, Ed’s granddaughter.