Name
William Frederick Muskett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
217071
Canadian Infantry
27th City of Winnipeg (Manitoba)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIMY MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial, St. Lawrence Church Memorial, Abbots Langley
Biography
William Muskett was one of a number of Abbots Langley men that left the village for a new life in Canada in years before the Great War, and returned to serve with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on the Western Front.
William was born in 1895 at Pimlico, Abbots Langley, the eldest son of Garden Labourer John Muskett and his wife Laura. William had two brothers – John and Earnest, and two sisters – Florence and Gladys. The family lived in the Bedmond area until sometime before the 1911 Census, when they were listed as living at 55 Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley and William was employed as a Gardener Labourer. It is not known exactly when William emigrated to Canada, however his Attestment Papers show that he joined up on 12th July 1916 at Camp Hughes, which is 50 miles east of Brandon, Manitoba. He gave his address at Butterton Saskatchewan (50 miles north of Regina), his occupation as a Farmer, and his Next of Kin as his father, John Muskett, then living at 87 Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley.
The National Roll of Honour publication reported that “he proceeded to France in 1917 where he was in action in many important engagements”. The War Diary of his battalion indicated that the unit was involved in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, between 9th and 12th April 1917, and alternated between the Front Line and Support Trenches until the 1st May, when they returned to the “Ridge Line” near Thelus. On the 2nd May the 27th Battalion prepared for an assault which started at 03.45 on the morning of 3rd May. Hampered by darkness and uncut wire, the 27th Battalion incurred heavy casualties but took their objective – the village of Fresnoy-en-Gohelle – about 3 miles east of Vimy. William Muskett was killed in action in this encounter. Initially he was reported “missing in action”, but subsequently his death was confirmed.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine of July 1917 noted – “William Muskett was reported missing as from May 3rd under circumstances which hardly leaves the faintest ground of hope. He went to Canada some four years ago, and was doing extremely well there, and had every intention of settling, but at the call of War he came home to fight for the old country, and has now been called to his "long home". He is the fourth of the little band that went out from us to Canada to give his life for his country.”
Later in the August 1917 Parish Magazine the Vicar reported - “further news received seems to put beyond all doubt that William Muskett, of the Canadian Forces, previously reported missing, was killed in action.”
William’s brother, John Muskett, was recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour serving with the Training Reserve from April 1917, and it is not known whether he subsequently transferred to an active unit at the Front. William’s uncle, George Muskett, from 31 Adrian Road, Abbots Langley was reported serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery from April 1917. Both John and George survived the War.
William Muskett was commemorated on the Vimy Memorial in France and on the Abbots Langley War Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
