BX May 17, 1915
Mourned for Dead He is Still Alive – Wife Residing at 158 Albion St. Received Official Notification on Saturday That He Had Been Killed in Action – Official Denial and Letter Arrived Today
On Saturday, Mrs. Julia Hulme, who resides at 158 Albion Street, received an official telegram from the adjutant-general at Ottawa, stating that her husband, Pte. William Hulme, who left Brantford with the first contingent of Dufferin Rifles, had been killed in action. No particulars were given, but were promised on their arrival in Canada.
This morning Mrs. Hulme received the glad tidings that a mistake had been made and that her husband was not dead, but had been admitted into the Australian Hospital at Wimereux, near Boulogne, France and later into the Oakney Red Cross Hospital in Kent, England. He is suffering from a wound caused by gunshot in the back, but is reported to be progressing rapidly. The following telegram was received by Mrs. Hulme this morning:
Information received from Base hospital, 10549, Pte. William Hulme, 4th Battalion, previously reported in error killed in action, now reported admitted Oakney Red Cross Hospital, Bromley Common, Kent, England. Suffering from gunshot in back. Progressing rapidly. Further particulars when received will be sent to you.
Adjutant-General
By this morning’s mail, Mrs. Hulme received information more directly, a communication being received from Capt. E.B.B. Towse, of the Gordon Highlanders, under whose direction a letter was forwarded by Pte. Hulme to his wife. At the end of the letter, a copy of which appears below, the wounded soldier states that the epistle was very kindly typewritten for him by a blind captain and requests that the letter be safely stored away. The postscript is written in Pte. Hulme’s own handwriting. The letter follows:
April 30, 1915
Australian Hospital Wimereux
Near Boulogne, France
Mrs. Julia Hulme,
158 Albion St.,
Brantford
Dear Madam,
I am writing at the request of your husband, Pte. W. Hulme, of the 4th Canadians, who is at present an inmate of the above hospital, and who is getting on very well.
He was admitted three days ago suffering from a wound in the back. He is very cheery and is feeling much better, and I trust that it will not be very long before he is able to be moved to England.
I can assure you that he is in very capable hands and that he will receive every possible care and attention.
He sends you his very best remembrances and is only sorry that he cannot at present write himself
Yours truly,
E.B.B. Towse, Capt.
The Gordon Highlanders
Pte. Hulme served for three years with the Dufferin Rifles and saw active service with the British forces in South Africa. At the time of his enlistment he was employed as a stone-cutter with the P.H. Secord contracting firm. He is a married man with no children. He is 36 years of age.
BX August 19, 1915
Returned Soldier – Pte. W. Hulme, Convalescent is a Visitor on Furlough
Private William Hulme, who left Brantford with the first contingent of Dufferin Rifles, and who was with the Brantford Company until the Battle of Langemarck, on April 23, when he was wounded and sent back from the firing line, arrived in the city this morning on the T.H. and B. from Montreal. Pte. Hulme appears to be completely recovered from his injuries. He had been wounded in the right shoulder, the bullet penetrating his right shoulder and coming out lower in his chest, secured permission to spend at his home in Canada the two months during which he was allowed time to convalesce in a British hospital, and at his own expense made the journey across the Atlantic to Canada.
Private Hulme was wounded in the charge at Langemarck and was removed to the Australian hospital at Boulogne, where blood-poisoning set in and for 12 days, his diet consisted of milk and brandy. He was later sent to England, where he has spent most of the time since April in hospital and at his old home in Kent. On being informed that he would be given two months to recuperate in a British convalescent home, he asked and gained permission to come, at his own expense to Canada, and consequently expects to remain in the city during that time.
Private Hulme is apparently in the best of health and is completely recovered from his wounds and blood-poisoning. He states that he has no particular desire to go back to the firing line, but feels it his duty to return and see the task through to a finish. He was a member of B. Company in the Dufferin rifles for three years prior to his enlistment.
BX July 31, 1917
Returned Heroes
In all probability the following returned soldiers will leave for Brantford on Wednesday next, August 1:E. Evans, 51 ½ Oxford Street; T. Hewitt, 302 Rawdon Street; W. Hulme, 158 Albion Street; W. Podd, 41 Pearl Street; R. Story, 49 Oak Street; B.B. Wright, 23 Balfour Street; W.K. Yates, 28 McClure Avenue.
BX August 2, 1917
Invalided Heroes Return to City – Eight War Veterans Welcomed by Soldiers’ Aid, G.W.V.A. and Friends
Seven more invalided returned men arrived back in the city yesterday. They arrived at four different hours during the afternoon and evening. In all nine men arrived, but one went direct through to Burford and his name is not known to the Soldiers’ Aid Commission here. The men returned to the city are: E. Evans 51 ½ Oxford Street; P. Hewitt, Echo Place; W. Hulme, 158 Albion Street; W. Podd, 41 Pearl Street; R. Story 49 Oak Street; B.B. Wright, 23 Balfour Street; W. Yates, 29 McClure Avenue. None of the men who returned yesterday was maimed nor had the appearance of being seriously injured. Members of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission and Great War Veterans’ Association, J. Vansickle and H.W. Fitton, met all the men who returned via the G.T.R. and welcomed them home.
