Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of Walter Wilfred Potts and Maude Eva Jewell of Port Hope, Ontario.
Brother of Private John Elvin Potts, who died while serving with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders.
William George served with the 2nd Battalion, Midland Regiment – NPAM – service number C-451702, from 20 July 1939 to 21 April 1941, then to 3A District Depot in Kingston, Ontario, from 22 April 1941 to 21 May 1941, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders until 23 October 1941, when he was deployed to the 1st Battalion, Royal Rifles of Canada and sent to Hong Kong with Force C. He had 249 days of service, including 60 overseas.
1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Digital gallery of Rifleman William George Potts
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Memorial
Rifleman WILLIAM GEORGE POTTS is one of 30 members of the Royal Rifles of Canada, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps who are commemorated on this panel of the Sai Wan Memorial. He died of wounds sustained during the defense of Hong Kong which took place from December 8th to December 25th, 1941. In total 290 Canadian soldiers were killed and 493 were wounded in this battle. -
Inscription
Dedicatory inscription of the SAI WAN MEMORIAL. This memorial bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 228 Canadians. -
Newspaper clipping
Rifleman WILLIAM GEORGE POTTS was reported Missing in Action in the Canadian Army's 244th overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 9, 1943. -
Canada and the Defence of Hong Kong.
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada -
Canada and the Defence of Hong Kong.
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada -
Photo of William Potts
William Potts posed for his photograph prior to leaving for active service during World War Two. He lost his life on 26 December 1941 in Hong Kong. -
Circumstances of death
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Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Telegram January 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Memorial
Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William George Potts
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William George Potts
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William George Potts
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William George Potts
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William George Potts
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William George Potts
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William George Potts
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William George Potts
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William George Potts
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 41 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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