WW I- 1914
William John Thomas enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in Cardston, Alberta, Canada- 11 February 1915. He pledged allegiance to His Majesty King George V and it was witnessed by Major Hugh B. Brown. He was in the 13th Regiment/ Canadian Mounted Rifles/ 50th Battalion. (Regimental # 118048) In his enlistment papers he gave Oct.1, 1873 as his birthday, and his place of birth as Monmouth England. His listed trade was railway conductor. William was 39 when he enlisted. Orinda was 35, daughter Leone was 15 and son Jack was 4 years old.
 I found this fabric in England with the same Canadian Mounted Rifles picture on it. Because it was the 100th Anniversary of the war, there were commemorations all year in 2014. These ceramic poppies representing each man who died in the war, were on display all year at the Tower of London. It was very sobering to reflect on the terrible loss of life. The English people have kept their love and support, for those who defended their country, alive for a century....and displayed it in many ways all year long. We all wore a red poppy on the lapel on commemoration Sunday. I felt very involved in it all, as my grandfather fought and was a British Citizen. 
I did some research and found that the Thirteenth Overseas Mounted Rifles was organized in 1915 and, after training at Calgary and Medicine Hat, landed in Liverpool in 1916.
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| Vimy Ridge monument in France- commemorating the Canadians who won the battle and lost their lives doing so. |
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