Private William Robert Erskine

Army

Oyen, Alberta

Died: Apr 9, 1917

Commemorated at Bois-Carre British Cemetery, France

William Robert Erskine was born September 11, 1884 at London, England. After completing his education in 1900 at Dulwich College in London, Erskine moved to Canada in 1903. Married and a farmer by trade, Erskine first farmed at Saskatchewan before homesteading at Oyen, Alberta where he enlisted April 7, 1916.

Overseas to England with the 175th Battalion in October 1916, Erskine went on to serve as a Private with the Canadian Expeditionary Force attached to the 31st Battalion (Alberta) during the First World War. Part of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division, the 31st Battalion fought along the Western Front in France and Belgium. On April 9, 1917, Private William Robert Erskine died during the Battle of Vimy Ridge and is commemorated at Bois-Carre British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France and on the Dulwich College War Memorial, London, England.

Only son of William Erskine, M.D. and Janet Erskine of Sydenham, England; he left three sisters in England; husband of Helen Lena (nee Ashmead) Erskine (formerly of Oyen) of Grande Prairie, Alberta; father of Jessie Jean and William Norman; he was 32 years old.