Military service
Burial/memorial information
Baptized Joseph-Zéphirin-Patrice-Willy « Willie » Hamel. Son of Julienne Gagné (deceased in 1903) and Zéphirin Hamel (deceased in 1915), of Plessisville, Mégantic, and Montréal, Québec. He stated being born in 1885 when he enlisted and his full signature was « Willie Hamel », as signed on 8 March 1915 at his father’s funeral. Soon after he left for overseas, he named his older brother Philippe, of Albany, New York, as next of kin and heir.
Enlisted in the 22nd Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force under the name William Hamel, even though he had been christened Willy, he sailed for Great Britain on May 20, 1915, and landed in Plymouth, England, on the 29th. On September 15 of that year, he departed for France, where he landed in Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais, on the same day. He was initially reported missing in action during the fighting at Courcelette, Somme, on September 14, 1916, and later confirmed killed in action on April 26, 1917. His body was never found.
Digital gallery of Private William (Willie) Hamel
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Memorial Plaque
Submitted for the project: Operation Picture Me -
Inscription
His name as it is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial. Over 11,000 fallen Canadians having no known place of burial in France, are honoured on this Memorial. May they never be forgotten. (J. Stephens) -
Vimy Memorial
Canada's Vimy Memorial, located approximately 8 kilometres to the north-east of Arras, France. May the sacrifice of so many never be forgotten. (J. Stephens)
Digital gallery of
Private William (Willie) Hamel
Digital gallery of
Private William (Willie) Hamel
Digital gallery of
Private William (Willie) Hamel
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 97 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
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