William Roper Jarvis

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

11316

Unit at enlistment:

4th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario

Commemorated at:

St. Luke Anglican Church, Ancient Order of Foresters

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Oxfordshire

Birth city:

Over Norton

Address at enlistment:

40 Curtis Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

40 Curtis Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Gardener

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

BX July 10, 1915

Mouth-Organ Saved Life of Pte. W. Keighley, City – Interesting Story Concerning Two Brantford Men – Little Musical Instrument Saved His Life By Stopping a German Bullet – Wants an Accordion Now to Give Boys Some Music

More concerned over the enforced cessation of his musical indulgences and the destruction of his mouth-organ than over the miraculously narrow escape from death which he experienced, Pte. William Keighley, a member of the Brantford company of the Fourth Battalion, First Contingent for overseas service, has asked for an accordion to take the place of his dilapidated mouth-organ. Brantfordites will recall the report of the remarkable escape from certain death, which was experienced by one of the Dufferin Rifles First Contingent company and which was published in many Canadian papers several weeks ago. Pte. Keighley was carrying a small Swiss mouth-organ, the gift of an English benefit society, with headquarters in London, in his breast pocket, when one of the Huns’ bullets struck the instrument squarely in the centre, but failed to penetrate into the body of the soldier, who escaped without injury.

Thanks to the kindness of Pte. William Jarvis, who was interested in the incident, a copy of the London Daily Express has been received at this office, and under the nome-de-plume of “Orion,” the following article was written:

Our soldiers are amazing fellows. They face death with imperturbability every day of their lives, and when a close call comes they treat it as an everyday occurrence and pass on to the next business. Two instances of their coolness have just come to hand, and it is especially gratifying to learn that two of our readers’ gifts have been the means of saving one soldier’s life and another from being seriously maimed, if not killed.

Before me, as I write, lies a mouth-organ in its case which prevented the loss of one of our brave Canadians, Pte. W. Keighley of the Fourth Battalion, First Brigade Canadian Expeditionary Force. It is a Swiss mouth-organ, but I don’t suppose the man in whose breast pocket it was reposing – when a German bullet found a billet in it – cared much about its nationality. If anyone asked him the question I …. Say he would have been better pleased had it been of German make! There would be something peculiarly appropriate about a German mouth-organ saving the life of a British soldier by stopping a German bullet.”

The following business like letter from the owner of the life-saving mouth-organ describes the incident alluded to:

4th Batt., 1st Brigade
Canadian Expeditionary Force

Dear Orion,

I am returning a mouth-organ which the blessed Huns have put out of action. I had lent it to a chum of mine, Pte. Keighley of the 4th Battalion. He is an expert mouth-organ player, and I believe that when this one got hit he poured out his choicest on the man who sent the bullet.

Anyway, it was a close call for Bill, as he had it in his breast pocket at the time.

Well, old sport, if it would not be too much, we would like an accordion in exchange, as it would help to liven things up a bit for us. If you can’t spare an accordion we should be pleased to receive another mouth-organ. Thanking you for your past favors.

Yours sincerely,
Pte. W. Jarvis (11316)

“What appeals to me especially about the letter is the fact that Pte. Keighley was more concerned about the destruction of his mouth-organ than his close call. He was more annoyed at the enforced cessation of his musical studies caused by a blessed Hun’s bullet than the certain death that would have been his fate but for The Daily Express mouth-organ.”

“Some” Souvenir!

Now that pair of boys wants an accordion in exchange for the bullet furrowed instrument that is now in my possession. (I wonder how much it would fetch as a souvenir of the war, if I put it up to auction for the benefit of the Cheery fund.) Are these boys to have that accordion? We haven’t one in stock, and they are hard to obtain now. I sent off six mouth-organs as a consultation prize on Friday night, but I think ‘Bill’ Keighley Co. deserve the accordion they ask for. Especially as they are Canadians who have come many miles to fight for the motherland. Who will have the honor of supplying this instrument?

Accompanying the above article is a printed photograph of the mouth-organ and its case, showing where the German bullet pierced the box and made a furrow in the instrument itself.

BX July 26, 1916

Was Deafened By Shell Shock – Pte. William Jarvis Home After Two Years Service in Khaki – Reception Tendered

After having spent almost two years on the battlefields of France and Belgium, Pte. William Roper Jarvis of 40 Curtis Street, one of the first men in Brantford to heed the call to help the Motherland, returned to the city last evening on the 7.32 Toronto train. Although word of his coming was not received here until yesterday afternoon, he was given a quiet but suitable reception by members of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission and a large number of his friends. When the word was received here the band and the majority of the men of the 215th Battalion had been dismissed for the day, and as it was circus day it was impossible to secure enough men to form a parade on such short notice.

Quite a number of friends and soldiers, however, were at the station when the train pulled in including Ald. J.S. Dowling, J.H. Spence, H.W. Fitton and Milton M. Wilbee of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission, and Pte. Jarvis was warmly welcomed back. Although he is so deaf as a result of shell shock that he was unable to hear perhaps a great part of what was going on, he still possesses the keen eye of a soldier and appreciated very much the reception accorded him.

A pleasing feature of his welcome home was the fact that his old commander, Lt.-Col. Malcolm Alexander Colquhoun, was among those who were present to welcome him back to the city. Pte. Jarvis was very tired after his long siege of nearly two years in the uniform of the King, and after the welcome was extended he was whirled away in an auto to his home off Curtis Street.

Pte. William Jarvis previous to enlistment was a market gardener and lived at 40 Curtis Street, where his wife and family still reside. He left here with the First Contingent and served under Col. “Mac” Colquhoun in the “Mad Fourth” for some time. Although he looks fairly well he is still suffering from shell shock and will have to return to the hospital in Toronto in a short time.

BX January 3, 1949

William Roper Glover

The death of William Roper Jarvis occurred Saturday in the Christie Street Hospital, Toronto, in his 74th year. He was one of Brantford’s best known war veterans. Mr. Jarvis was born in England, coming to Canada in 1911. In 1914 he enlisted with the original “Mad Fourth.” He was wounded in 1916 and returned to Brantford. He was the proud possessor of the Service Medal, Victory Medal and the Mons Star. Mr. Jarvis was a member of the Ozias Lodge, A.F. and A.M. Court Success, Ancient Order of Foresters, a charter member of G.W.V.A. and a member of St. James Anglican Church. Surviving are a daughter, Miss Isabel Jarvis, Brantford; two sisters, Mrs. A. Heaven, London, England, Mrs. R. Powell, Over Norton, England. Mr. Jarvis is resting at his home 12 High Street, where private service will be conducted on Tuesday afternoon followed by a public service in St. James Anglican Church. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

BX January 5, 1949

William Roper Glover

A private service for William Roper Jarvis was conducted from his home, 12 High Street, Tuesday afternoon, followed by a public service in St. James’ Anglican Church. Both services were conducted by Rev. A.A. Maloney of St. James’ Anglican Church. On Monday evening under the auspices of the officers of Ozias Lodge a Masonic service was held. Those taking part were W. Bro. W.J. McCormack, George Kerr, R.W. Bro. C.C. Slemin, W. Bro E.W. Lavery, W. Bro. Harry Hill, R.W. Brow, W.J. Feldkemp, W. Bro Peter Worthington and W. Bro Clarence Sharpe. At the funeral Tuesday afternoon the pallbearers were W.A. Govan, Toronto, Alex Beattie, Carl Sudden, Harry Westlake, Sydney Simms, and E.W. Lavery.