William McCollum was the son of James and Martha McCollum. William was born on the 9th January 1884 in Clogher. The 1901 census shows Willie as 19 years old. He was a grocery assistant. The family was living at Clogher Tenements, Clogher. It is believed William emigrated to Canada in 1909. By 1916, William was living in Victoria B.C. He was working as a timekeeper. William McCollum enlisted on 18th January 1916 at Calgary. He gives his next of kin as his mother, Martha. He was not married. Private William McCollum was serving with the 50th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) when he died in France on 19th February 1918, age 36.
Ablain-St. Nazaire is a village approximately 13 kilometres north of Arras. Take the D937 (Bethune Road) to the village of Souchez. Make a left turn along the D57. The cemetery lies 1 kilometre on the left side of this road.
