Sergeant William Merrifield VC MM born in Brentwood, Essex, England on 9 October 1890. Merrifield came to Canada at the age of 12 with his father. They moved to Sudbury, onto Ottawa and eventually settled in Sault Ste. Marie.
In 1914, Merrifield enlisted with the 2nd Battalion to fight in the Great War. He served overseas with the 4th Battalion. He joined at Valcartier, just shy of 24 years of age, standing 5′ 5″ tall with fair complexion, blue eyes and medium-brown hair. Former occupation as a fireman.
4th Canadian Infantry Battalion
4th Battalion (Central Ontario) organized in Valcartier Camp September 1914 and composed of recruits from MD2 (Aurora, Brampton, Brantford, Hamilton, and also Niagara Falls). Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel W.S. Buell, replaced within days by Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. Labatt. Embarked Quebec City 23 September 1914 aboard TYROLIA, and later disembarked in England 14 October 1914, with a strength of 44 officers, 1121 other ranks. Disembarked in France 11 February 1915 with the 1st Canadian Division, 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade.
Commanding Officer
Officers
Headquarters Detail
A Company
B Company
C Company
D Company
Scouts and Snipers
Signallers
Machine Gun Section
Stretcher Bearers
Camp Cookers
Bombers
Service of William Merrifield
Merrifield left England from Southhampton on 14 April 1915, later joining the 4th Battalion in the field on 2 May 1915.
Leave
On 19 December 1915, Merrifield granted 8 days leave to England. He likely returned late, for he was AWOL on 26th December. He rejoined his unit two days later.
Shell Shock
Merrifield admitted to No 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital on 11 February 1916, wounded and suffering from shell shock. Evacuated to England on 17th February where he is admitted to No 1 Canadian Convalescent Depot. Soon discharged as fit on 19 February 1916. Readmitted to No 8 CCS with Appendicitis, but finally rejoined the 4th Battalion on 28 February 1916.
Sick
First admitted to No 13 CCS on 2 October 1916 (PUO). Admitted to No 3 CGH on 18 October 1916 and diagnosed with VDG on 30 November 1916.
1st Entrenching Battalion
Returning to the front, but temporarily assigned to 1st Entrenching Battalion on 8 December 1916 at Villers-au-Bois. He worked on the light railway at Anzin, with additional work later at Aubigny.
Appointed Acting Sergeant on 15 March 1917 in the field. The unit had been maintaining the light railway in the neighbourhood of Carency.
Merrifield reverts in rank on return to the 4th Battalion on 4 April 1917, barely in time for the Battle of Vimy Ridge. He arrives sick however upon his arrival to the sector on 5th April.
Influenza
Admitted to No 3 CGH with influenza on 15 April 1917. Merrifield rejoins his unit on 8 May 1917.
Passchendaele
Merrifield received the Military Medal for his conduct near Passchendaele in Belgium on 6 and 7 November 1917. GSW right arm and admitted to No 15 African Hospital on 7 November 1917. To No 5 Cdn Conv Depot on 12th November.
Military Medal Citation of Private Wm Merrifield
For conspicuous bravery in the operations at PASSCEHNDAELE on November 6th-7th 1917. Private MERRIFIELD is a stretcher bearer and accompanied his platoon forward to support the 1st Battalion. Passing through a heavy barrage, he was wounded along with several others of his platoon, but disregarding his own wounds he bandaged five men and got them back to the Aid Post, and then carried on, overtook his platoon, and remained until next day, when he was forced to go out to have his injuries properly attended to.
London Gazette No 30573, 13-3-1918.
Merrifield returned to the 4th Battalion, arriving in the field on 16 February 1918.
Lance Corporal
Appointed Lance Corporal on 6 March 1918. when Lance Corporal Thomas Neville Kilpatrick MM promoted. Merv the son of William C. and Margaret H. Kilpatrick, of Copper Cliff, Ontario.
Military Medal
Merrifield awarded the Military Medal on 13 March 1918 (LG No 30573, 2nd Sup).
Sick
Admitted to hospital with influenza on 3 August 1918. Eager to get into the Battle of Amiens, he rejoined the 4th Battalion in the field (from hospital) on 16 August 1918.
Corporal
To be Corporal on 13 August 1918 when Corporal Kilpatrick promoted.
Sergeant
To be Sergeant on 31 August 1918 when Sergeant Kilpatrick KIA.
Sgt Thomas Neville Kilpatrick MM
Promoted Sergeant on 31 August 1918 upon the death of Sgt Thomas Neville Kilpatrick MM.
Kilpatrick KIA south east of Cherisy.
Upon his promotion to Sergeant, Merrifield granted 14 days leave to England. He rejoin the 4th Battalion on 20 September 1918 in the field.
Wounded
Wounded to hospital on 1 October 1918, GSW arm and back and admitted to No 18 general Hospital. Evacuated per HS Princess Elisabeth on 9 October 1918.
Victoria Cross
Citation
“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during the attack near Abancourt on the 1st October, 1918. When his men were held up by an intense fire from two machine-gun emplacements, he attacked them both single-handed. Dashing from shell-hole to shell-hole he killed the occupants of the first post, and, although wounded, continued to attack the second post, and with a bomb killed the occupants. He refused to be evacuated, and led his platoon until again severely wounded.
Sjt. Merrifield has served with exceptional distinction on many former occasions, and throughout the action of the 1st October showed the highest qualities of valour and leadership.”(London Gazette, no.31108, 6 January 1919)
Vandalism
The Merrifield citation stood on the courtyard facing the main Cenotaph in Sault Ste Marie where the city’s war dead are commemorated.
“It’s not replaceable. We can get a replica, but it’s not the same.”
Pierre Breckenridge, Branch 25 president.
4th Battalion at Rieulay
4th Battalion at Bonn, Germany
Investiture
With his unit still in Germany, on 26 January 1919 His Majesty the King awarded the Victoria Cross to Sergeant William Merrifield VC MM at York Cottage.
Merrifield returned triumphantly with the 4th Battalion to Canada on 21 April 1919. They demobilized in Toronto on 23 April 1919.
Post Great War
Merrifield accompanied Prince Edward, who would become King Edward VIII in 1936, on part of his royal tour of Canada in late 1919. In 1921 he married Maude Bovington, they had four children.
“As a Victoria Cross winner, he had job offers from all over the country after the war. But he wanted nothing more than to come back to the Sault and work on the ACR [Algoma Central Rail] as an engineer “
Granddaughter Katie Merrifield
William Merrifield died on 8 August 1943, four years after suffering a stroke from which he never fully recovered. He was buried in West Korah Cemetery in Sault Ste Marie.
West Korah Cemetery
Merrifield died in Toronto, Ontario, but is buried in West Korah Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie. A school in Sault Ste. Marie was named after him in recognition of his service to his country although it was closed in 2015.
Maude Alexandra Bovington Merrifield (1901-1988)
All four of their children also buried in West Korah Cemetery.
William Verne C. Merrifield (1922-1999)
Patricia M. Merrifield Morden (1923-1996)
Rose Elizabeth Merrifield Toristo (1927-1969)
Curtis Robert George Merrifield (1928-2003)
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