Canadian Overseas Railway Construction Corps (Canadian Civilian)
Date Of Birth:
29/05/1888
Died:
10/11/1915 (Died by accident)
Age:
27
Summary
William Douglas Reid was the son of Douglas and Eliza Reid. He was born 29th May 1888 in Derryfubble, Dungannon, County Tyrone. His father was a farmer. William emigrated to Canada. Before enlisting he was living at No. 6 Firehall, Vancouver, British Columbia. He was working as a trackman, laying down railway track. William Reid enlisted in Vancouver in October 1915. Sapper William Reid served in the Canadian Overseas Railway Construction Corps. Sapper William Reid was killed in Mattawa, Ottowa, as the result of jumping from a moving train on 10th November 1915, some ten days after he enlisted. Sapper William Reid is buried in an unmarked grave in Pinehill Cemetery, Mattawa, Ontario.
Further Information
William Reid was the son of Douglas and Eliza Reid. Douglas Reid married Eliza Stafford in Dungannon district on 13th April 1883.
William Douglas Reid was born 29th May 1888 in Derryfubble, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
The 1901 census lists William Douglas as age 13 living with the family at house 4 in Derryfubble, Benburb, County Tyrone. William was still at school. His father was a farmer.
Family: Douglas Reid, Eliza Reid, Robert James Reid (born 13th June 1886), William Douglas Reid (born 29th May 1888), David John Reid (born 18th July 1890), Alexander Miller Reid (born 10th November 1893).
William's father, Douglas Reid, died in Benburb on 10th March 1910, aged 73.
The 1911 census does not list William Douglas as living with the family at house 3 in Derryfubble, Benburb, Tyrone.
William and David Reid emigrated to Canada in 1912.
William had been employed on the Vancouver Fire Brigade staff. Prior to enlisting he was working as a trackman, laying down railway track. His address on enlisting was No. 6 Firehall, Vancouver, British Columbia. His brother had joined the Toronto Police Force.
William Reid enlisted in Vancouver on 30th October 1915. He specified his next of kin as his mother, Eliza Reid of Derryfubble, Moy, County Tyrone, Ireland. His height is recorded as 6 Feet 1 1/2 Inches.
Sapper William Reid served in the Canadian Overseas Railway Construction Corps (C.O.R.C.C.). This was a division of the Canadian Engineers.
Sapper William Reid was killed in Mattawa, Ottowa, as the result of jumping from a moving train on 10th November 1915, some ten days after he enlisted.
From the Vancouver Daily World dated 11th November 1915: Local Fireman killed by Train – William Reid of No 6 Hall Meets Tragic Death at Mattawa, Ontario.
News was received from Ottowa this morning by Captain F Mitchell of No 6 fire hall, to the effect that one of the late members of that hall, William Douglas Reid, aged 25, had died in Mattawa as the result of jumping from a moving train. Reid, who had been at No 6 for the past two years, left on Saturday last for France with the Canadian Overseas Construction Corps and be so far as can be gathered from the meagre details to hand, tried to leave the moving train at Mattawa but missed his footing and was killed. He is believed to have a brother residing in the city, but up to the present, the latter has not been located. It is the intention of the Fireman’s Benevolent Association to bring the body back to the city for burial if this can be arranged.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 20th January 1916:
Trooper David J Reid, Lord Strathcona’s Horse, whose photo we give above, is a brother of Mr Alex M Reid, Derryfubble, Moy. He emigrated to Canada in 1912 and had been on the Toronto police force. On the first call for volunteers for the front he promptly offered his services and is at present in France with his regiment. His brother, the late Mr William D Reid, whose photo is also given, was killed in a railway accident in Ottawa in November last, after being accepted for service in the Canadian Railways Overseas Construction Corps. He had twice previously offered his services and had been rejected, but had been accepted for service on the C.R.O.C.C. before his death. He had emigrated to the Dominion the same time as his brother and had been employed on the Vancouver Fire Brigade staff before joining the Canadian Railways Overseas Construction Corps.
Sapper William Reid is believed to be buried in Pinehill Cemetery, Mattawa, Ontario, Canada, but the cemetery has no record of the burial. However, the cemetery records indicate that there is an unmarked grave of a Private.
William’s brother, Trooper David J Reid, served with the Canadian Regiment Lord Strathcona’s Horse and survived the war.
Sapper William Reid is listed in the Canadian Book of Remembrance (Virtual Cemetery), which was established to commemorate those who were listed in Canada's official World War One Book of Remembrance (numbering around 300 casualties), but were not within the records of the Commission.
The CWGC record Sapper William Reid as the son of Eliza Reid of Derryfubble, Moy Co, Tyrone, Ireland
In 2017, the CWGC acknowledged that Sapper William Reid was buried in Mattawa (Pinehill Union) Cemetery.
