William Harris Symington MM

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

11403

Unit at enlistment:

4th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers' Plot - Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Awards or decorations:

Military Medal

Commemorated at:

Alexandra Presbyterian Church

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Brant

Birth city:

Brantford, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

135 Drummond Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

135 Drummond Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Moulder

Religious denominations:

Presbyterian

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Gallantry medals:

Yes

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

London Gazette: 30064
Date: May 11, 1917
Honour or Award: Military Medal
Authority: R.O. 1142, Byng, March 30, 1917
Name: William Harris Symington (11403)
Unit: 4th Battalion

Details: Has been with the Battn. continually since it came to France in Feb. 1915, and has showed continued devotion to duty. His example of courage and disregard for danger during the operations of 2nd Battle of Ypres, Givenchy, Festubert, Ypres Salient, 3rd Battle of Ypres and the Somme as a Pte. In the ranks, Company and Battalion runner, has earned him the deserved admiration of his fellow runners and other men of this unit.

BX May 18, 1917

William Harris Symington - Military Medal For His Devotion

Private William Harris Symington of the “Mad Fourth” battalion, who went overseas with the first Canadian contingent and who has been in the trenches for 28 months, has recently received the Military Medal for devotion to duty. Pte. Symington is a son of Mr. and Mrs. George Symington Drummond Street, Brantford.

BX August 2, 1917

Received Medal

Mrs. George Symington has received the Military Medal won by her son, Pte. William H. Symington, for bravery on the field. He has been in the fighting line for two and a half years and has been commended for bravery and efficiency.

BX May 27, 1915

Another Batch of Gossipy Letters From Boys at the Front – Privates. William Harris Symington and Ross Bernard Gage and Lance Corporal Frederick Herbert Easterbrook Write Thrilling Stories of Fierce Fighting at Langemarck Where the Canadians Covered Themselves With Glory

Further stories of the terrific fire which the Canadians underwent at Langemarck have been received by relatives of Brantford men who participated in the gallant charge of the Canadian Force. Pte. William H. Symington, Lance-Corp, Frederick H. Easterbrook who enlisted at Lethbridge, having left Brantford some three years ago, and Pte. Ross Gage of this city are the writers, and the excerpts given herewith are exceedingly interesting and well worth a perusal.

The letter from Private William Harris Symington written to his mother here is as follows:

May 2, 1915
Belgium

Dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know that I am all right after the big battle, but I hope that I will never have to go through anything like it again.

It was terrible, and how any one of us got out of it we will never know. The bullets were as thick as hail and the shells from the big “Jack Johnsons” were terrible. There were holes in the ground that you could bury a house in, and the noise they made was worse than any thunder you ever heard, to say nothing of the damage they do.

Well mother, poor Bob and Albert Adams were wounded, but not very bad. They will be around in two or three weeks. The London papers gave us great praise and well they might for we saved the position, and every man was a hero.

Well mother, I must close for this time, so bye-bye for now.

From your loving son,
William

BX November 17, 1970

William Harris Symington

At the Brantford General Hospital, Monday November 16, 1970, William Harris (Teen) Symington, in his 89th year, beloved husband of Florence Weeks Symington, of 73 Brunswick Street; dear father of Ethel, at home and Mrs. James Theobalde (Margaret), Brantford; two grandchildren. Resting at Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home, 96 West Street, Service Wednesday November 18 at 3 p.m. Interment Soldiers’ Plot Mount Hope Cemetery. Rev. J.H. MacCallum will officiate. Mr. Symington served overseas (19-14-1918) with the 4th Infantry Battalion.