Hersee, William, DCM
DCM

Dates:
Dates
23 October 1885 to 3 January 1915

War Service:
Battalion Sergeant Major WILLIAM HERSEE, DCM, of Eaton's Motor Machine Gun Battery, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, was killed in action on 24 March 1918.
He enlisted on 3 January 1915 having previously served for 3 years with the 22/Middlesex and 2 years with the the 97th Regiment, Algonquins, Canadian Militia.

The citation for his Distinguished Conduct Medal reads :
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in going voluntarily to his battery from headquarters to replace a N.C.O. casualty. When an officer was killed he took charge of four guns, keeping them in action, digging out, cleaning, and resetting them as they became buried by shell fire, although his men had been reduced by casualties to two per gun.”

From Canadian Expedition Force Burial Register [badly damaged entry, gaps filled in from similar entries]:
Previously reported dead through German sources, now for official purposes presumed to have died.
Pargny Bridge …. North West of Ham [Somme]

He is buried in Pargny British Cemetery near Peronne.

Location of Memorial:
He is remembered on the Canadian virtual war memorial and on the war memorial at Christ Church, Forest Hill.

Details:
He was born in Honor Oak Park on 23 October 1885. His next of kin was his sister Estelle Hersee who lived at 13 Silverdale, Sydenham. When he enlisted he gave his occupation as mining prospector.

Source:
CWGC
London Gazette of 4 March 1918
Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Contributed By: Andy Pepper

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