Profile image
Military service
Service number:
59253
Age:
33
Rank:
Sergeant
Force:
Army
Unit/Regiment:
Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment)
Division:
21st Bn.
Birth:
December 13, 1882
Death:
September 15, 1916
Burial/memorial information
Additional information
Son of William and Mary Dempster, of Gananogue, Ontario; husband of Alice Dempster (nee Finch), of Gananogue, Ontario.
Digital gallery of Sergeant William John Dempster
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Gananoque Remembers
Gananoque, Ontario is a small town situated on the St. Lawrence River in the heart of 1,000 Islands. It is one of hundreds of communities throughout Canada with war memorials which commemorate more than 110,000 men and women who lost their lives during both world wars. Over a thousand citizens from Gananoque and surounding areas served in the navy, army, or air force: 83 lost their lives in parts of Canada, and in the battlefields of Europe. Among the dead of Gananoque include a 15 year old solider, a father of ten, four sets of brothers and a Victoria Cross winner. <P> Today the town cenotaph lists the names of those who died and few citizens are aware of their family backgrounds or their circumstances of their deaths. Geraldine Chase of Gannaoque and Bill Beswetherick of Kingston believed it was necessary to collect this information and perpetuate their sacrifices.<P> Gananoque Remembers book is a tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedom.<P> -
Memorial Page
William J. Dempster is honoured on page 42 and 43 of the <i>Gananoque Remembers</i> booklet, published on January 31, 2005. -
Memorial Page 2
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Gananoque War Memorial - Gananoque, Ontario.
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Photo of William J. Dempster
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Inscription
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Memorial
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) -
Circumstances of death registers
Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS, FIRST WORLD WAR. Surnames: Davy to Detro. Microform Sequence 27; Volume Number 31829_B016736. Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 171. Page 649 of 1036. Buried in the field near Courcelette. Subsequently, his grave could not be found by the Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries (D.G.R. &. E.). Hence his sacrifice is commemorated at the Vimy Memorial.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William John Dempster
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William John Dempster
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William John Dempster
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William John Dempster
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William John Dempster
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William John Dempster
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William John Dempster
Digital gallery of
Sergeant William John Dempster
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 76 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
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