Name: Henry William Powers Regimental number: 282947 Rank: Private Service: 219th Battalion; 85th Battalion Date of Birth: January 19, 1894 Place of Birth: Plymouth, Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: March 17, 1916 Place of Enlistment: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Address at Enlistment: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Age at Enlistment: 22 Height: 5 feet, 8 inches Complexion: Light Eye Colour: Light blue Hair Colour: Auburn Prior Military Experience: 29th Field Battalion, Yarmouth NS. Trade: Farmer Marital Status: Single Religion: Methodist Next of Kin: Charles W. Powers (Father) Yarmouth, NS Date of Death: February 24, 1918 Age at Death: 24 Cemetery: Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France Grave Reference: XXXI. G. 27 Commemorated on Page 487 of the First World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on October 15 William was the son of Charles W. Powers and Nellie Powers of Yarmouth, NS. He joined the 219th Battalion at Yarmouth, and went overseas on the SS Olympic on October 12, 1916, arriving in England on October 18, 1916. He was transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion at Bramshott and on April 21 1917, to the 85th Battalion. While at Bramshott he was hospitalized for 21 days suffering from mumps. On April 21, 1917 he proceeded to France with the 85th Battalion and went into the trenches. On June 25, 1917 he was assigned to the Tumpline Section of the battalion with the chief duty to supply rations and ammunition to the men in the front line. This work was usually assigned to the most reliable men and those who had already served in the front lines. Henry was on duty with a ration party when he was hit by shrapnel on the night of February 3, 1918. He was taken to the 12th Canadian Field Ambulance Station with shrapnel wounds to his chest, leg, and forehead and from there through a casualty clearing station until February 9. Once stabilized although seriously ill, he was transferred to No 46 Canadian Stationary at Etaples Hospital where he died from his wounds on February 24, 1918. Sources: Library and Archives Canada Canadian Virtual War Memorial findagrave.com