| Service # | 6648, 1099167 |
| Unit # | 1st, 9th Bn., 256th Bn. |
Regimental number: 6648 , 1099167 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1394 – 13 Date of Birth 07/12/1874. Born in Woolich, England. The son of John and Clara Frances Callery. Prior to the war, he married Lilly Maria and they were living at 112 Lorne Ave., Chatham, ON. He had been working as a section hand for the Canadian Pacific Railroad. William had been a member of the 24th Kent Regt. for 6 years prior to his enlistment at the age of 40.
William joined the first contingent as a private on 22/09/1914, 6648. He went overseas with the 1st Contingent on 21 Sept. 1914. While William was training at the Salisbury Plain, he suffered a wound to his foot. He was rendered medically unfit for active service. He was transferred to the 9th Bn. at Tinworth, then moved to Shorncliffe, and retuned to Canada. It was reported locally that he was invalided home in the spring of 10/04/1915 with a “badly infected right foot, swollen ankles and a severe cold all of which he contracted at Salisbury Plains, England.” Chatham Daily Planet 14/07/1915. “The cold and injured ankle he got tramping around in the mud and disagreeable weather. The broken leg was sustained one dark night on sentry duty when he slipped down a deep hole.” Chatham Daily Planet 11/04/1915.
William was first moved to Tidworthy, the day prior to the 1st Contingent leaving for France. From there he would go to the hospital at Shorncliffe and from that point sent home. Pte.Callery, along with 115 Canadians returned to Canada on the C.P.R. cruiser-liner Metagama. Although Pte. Callery had seen many British and some German wounded while he was at Schorncliffe, “he had learned of the deaths of Lieut. GALLAUGER and Pte. HOLMES and the injury to Pte. MEEHAN”. According to Pte. Callery, “The general opinion is that the worst is yet to come; that the spring will witness the real fighting.
“Pte. Callery thinks his injured foot will keep him out of the service henceforth. He already has served six years with the 24th Kent Regiment.”
William is reported to be one of four Kent County men returning home in December of 1918. They were with a group of 170 from Military District No.1 to return after the Armistice. Chatham Daily Planet 2/12/1918
William John would re-enlist 24 January, 1917 with the 256th Railway Construction Bn. and he returned to England 7 April, 1917. Training at Purfleet Camp before going to France with the 10th Railway Troops, on 1 March, 1917 he was promoted to Corporal and to Sergeant 17 June of the same year.
Gassed in July of 1917 he would continue in service until March of 1918 when he was again designated as medically unfit for active service and was returned to England serving with the RCR at Nipier Barracks, Shorncliffe until going to Borden Camp before returning to Canada 23 November, 1918 arriving in Canada 2 December, 1918. Officially honourably discharged as medically unfit for further service 21 December, 1918.
He continued in service until March of 1918, and then was designated as medically unfit for active service and was returned to England serving with the RCR at Nipier Barracks, Shorncliffe, until going to Bordon Camp before returning to Canada 23 November, 1918 arriving in Canada 2 December, 1918.
He was officially honourably discharged as medically unfit for further service 21 December, 1918.
The CDP 7/02/19 reported that Mrs. William Callery of Wellington St., died at London Hospital. Sergt. Callery had recently returned from the front having served with the original first battalion and who receiving his discharge, enlisted again and saw service with a construction battalion.
William John Callery died 16 February, 1921 at the age of 50 at Victoria Hospital, London, ON. He had been employed by the C.P.R for many years at this point. He was survived by one sister living in England.
Burial in Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham, ON. in ward H, lot 446 a War Grave marker identifies the site. CDP 19/02/1921.
See Attestation record CALLERY W J 6648 copied. LAC-FMF
Listed in I.O.D.E books at C-K Museum, no photo.
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