William Charles Biffin

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

270233

Unit at enlistment:

215th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Date of death:

August 26th, 1918

Cemetery:

Vis-En-Artois British Cemetery Haucourt - Pas de Calais, France - IV.I.12.

Commemorated at:

Balfour Street Methodist Church (Sunday School Memorial), First Baptist Church, Massey-Harris Memorial Plaque (Toronto)

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Greater London

Birth city:

London

Address at enlistment:

71 Brunswick Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

71 Brunswick Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Labourer

Employer:

Massey-Harris Co.

Religious denominations:

Methodist

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

Circumstances of service: Killed

Circumstances of Casualty: Killed in Action. This soldier was killed by enemy machine gun fire, while advancing in an attack, in the vicinity of Cambrai Road.

BX September 24, 1918

Killed in Attack on Monchy Wood – Private Biffin Died as He Lived, Zealously Doing His Duty

Mrs. Clara Biffin, 75 Brunswick Street, city, has received the following details of the death of her husband, William Charles Biffin, who gave up his life for the great cause in the recent Canadian attack. The letter is as follows:

France, Aug. 31, 1918

Dear Mrs. Biffin,

I am sorry indeed to have to write to you under such grievous circumstances. It must be extremely hard to yourself and the children to lose such a good husband and tender father. I knew your husband very well as he has been in my company for some time and always did his work zealously and thoroughly. He was hit and killed during the attack of the battalion on a wood about two thousand yards in front of Monchy, a village near the Scarpe River. His splendid courage and noble example were noteworthy during the advance over ground which was very much exposed to extremely heavy machine gun fire from the enemy. He was buried by our own men and his effects, which were collected, will be forwarded to you through the usual channels. Please accept my sincere sympathy and rest assured that your husband died as he would have wished.