839131 Pte. William Veitch Hope was born in Chesley, located in the Township of Bruce, Ontario, in November 9th, 1896. He was one of eight children born to Andrew and Margaret Hope.


At the turn of the Century his father was working as a molder but eventually bought a farm in Grey County's Derby Township. Sixteen year old William was working on the farm when hostilities broke out in 1914.


The 147th Battalion C.E.F. was authorized in November of 1915 and recruited in the county throughout the winter. In May of 1917 the unit mobilized in Owen Sound to finalize the administration and organization of the unit, just prior to their departure for Camp Niagara later that month. As the conditions in that Camp were wanting the unit moved to the new training facility of Camp Borden in late June.


It was while the unit was undergoing training at Camp Borden that 19 year old William attested to the 147th Battalion, on June 27th, and was assigned to "A" Company.


The unit received their orders to proceed overseas in September and while en-route to Halifax, there was an outbreak of diphtheria and they were detained in Amherst, Nova Scotia, for over a month. The unit finally sailed for Great Britain, on November 14th 1916.


On January 1st, 1917 the 147th Battalion ceased to exist when it became the nucleus for the 8th Reserve Battalion, whose task it was to supply reinforcements to the 58th Battalion and the 4th C.M.R. William was taken on strength of the 4th C.M.R. on April 21st, 1917.


William served with the unit through the Battle of Hill 70 and was promoted to Lance Corporal on October 23rd 1917 - three days before the Canadian Corps launched their attack towards Passchendaele. Surviving the battle he served through the winter and fell under the Command of 3rd Division Ordnance section in the spring. On his return he was promoted to Corporal and appointed as the units' armourer. He served in this position for the remainder of the war.


839131 Private William Veitch Hope was struck off strength of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on March 19th, 1919 and eventually move to the Province of Saskatchewan.




Biography credit: George Auer, with thanks.