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British War Medal
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Biography
Lance Corporal William Alfred DeWolfe was born February 18, 1893 in Ship Harbour, Halifax County. He was the son of David Douglas DeWolfe and Lillian Marshall.
DeWolfe enlisted in the 66th Infantry Regiment of the Prince Louise Fusiliers January 8, 1916 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He arrived in England Janurary 30, 1916 and joined the 17th Reserve Battalion in Shorncliffe. He was then transferred to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on March 2, 1916 while serving on the field in France. He was admitted to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne, France June 24, 1916 then sent to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne on June 28, 1916. He was discharged to back to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on the field on July 11, 1916. While serving in France, DeWolfe was awarded the good conduct badge on the field January 7, 1918 and on May 24, 1918 he was appointed Lance Corporal and awarded the military medal for his actions on this day. Military Medals were awarded to non-commissioned service members and officers for acts of bravery on the field. These medals were then announced in the London Gazette Supplement. DeWolfe’s award was published in the London Gazette Supplement on October 21, 1918. On the 6th of June 1918, DeWolfe was transferred to the 4th Battalion of Canadian Engineers in France and stayed with this unit until demobilization. He returned to Halifax in June of 1919 was discharged due to demobilization on June 3, 1919.
Following the war, DeWolfe was listed in the 1921 Census in Tangier, Halifax County working as a fisherman and living with his uncle Allan Murphy and cousins. By 1931 he had returned to Ship Harbour and was working odd jobs. The following year, DeWolfe married Carrie Roxie Eisan of Ship Harbour on June 10, 1932 at Trinity Anglican Church on Cogswell Street in Halifax. DeWolfe and his wife moved to Springfield, Antigonish County in the spring of 1946 where he farmed until his retirement and resided in Springfield until his death at age 70. DeWolfe died February 20, 1964 at St. Martha’s Hospital in Antigonish, Antigonish County.
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