679271 Private William Lewis Rottier (served as William Lewis) was 40 year old painter, originally from London, England with pre-war service as a Sergeant in the Yorkshire Light Infantry, when he attested into the 169th Battalion in January 1916 at Toronto. In the UK he was taken on strength of the 5th Reserve Battalion at Bramshott in January 1917 and then sent to the 15th Battalion as a reinforcement following Vimy in April 1917 serving in No. 1 Company during the Arleux and Mericourt trench tours. In June, likely due to his age and previous experience as an NCO in the British Army, he was attached as staff to the 3rd Brigade Training School and later to it’s Depot again as staff. He was transferred to the UK for medical examination in March 1918 and diagnosed as having age related myocardial degeneration. Private Rottier was classified ‘C’, returned to Canada and discharged in May 1918.
His service file does not contain the details but he died of service related illness on July 30, 1920 and is buried in St. John’s Norway Cemetery, Toronto.
NOK: Son of the late Lewis Francis Fred and Hannah Rottier; husband of Mary Rottier, of 182, Seaton St., Toronto, Ont. Mrs. V. McReath (S) 75 Lyall Ave., Toronto, ON
