Whetstone, Hugh Webster

Hugh Webster Whetstone was enrolled in the 168th Battalion at Lakeside, Ontario.  He was the son of Abraham Whetstone and Margaretta McBurney of Lot 30 Concession 13.  They were given a short leave before embarkation but most of the soldiers didn’t return until six days past that date. In the face of mass disobedience, disciplinary action was impractical and the authorities wisely looked the other way.  He sailed on the SS Lapland on October 30, 1916. He was with the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion in France in May, 1917. On August 1st, in the early morning, he was returning to the front lines from a "deep sap" between Lens and Loos when he was wounded in the left arm and legs by shrapnel. Admitted to 1 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples on the day he was wounded his wounds became septic so he was evacuated to 1 South General Hospital, Stourbridge, England on August 11. By September 25 his injuries had healed and he was able to visit Frank Marchant's family In Farnborough. On October 2, he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epson. From there he returned to the 4th Reserve Battalion on October 29,1917 to await a posting back to the 1st Battalion in France. The cold winter evidently affected him and on January 8,1918, he was admitted to 12 Canadian General Hospital at Bramshott with bronchitis and influenza. Not responding to treatment, he was placed on the critical list January 11. He died in hospital at 11:45 a.m. January 15, 1918. He is buried in Bramshott (St. Mary) Churchyard, Hampshire, England. He is remembered on the family tombstone in Lakeside on the Hill Cemetery.

He was survived by his parents and two brothers, Harvey and Orwell as well as three sisters, Maple, Minnie and Verna. He was predeceased by two brothers, Josiah and Albert. -- Courtesy of St. Marys Journal Argus.