Private William John Peddle

Reprinted from The Packet, August 18, 2016
by Lester Green

His childhood was fraught with family tragedies

Private William John Peddle (Photo courtesy of Tom Jacobs)

The story of Private William John Peddle RNR#5288

Vital Statistics, Return of Births for Newfoundland, records William John birth as August 9, 1892 at Little Heart’ Ease to Jacob and Medora (Spurrell) Peddle.

This is also the date he gives during the completion of his Descriptive Return of a Soldier.

William John was only 5 years old when his mother died at Little Heart’s Ease in 1897. She also left behind two other siblings, Abraham, age 3 and Mary Ann age 1.

His father remarried in 1899 and William John drifted between living with his grandparents, Abraham and Mary Jane, in Butter Cove and spending some time with his father. In 1905, his grandmother died and William John continued living with his grandfather.

Seven years later William John faced his third major tragedy, the death of his father, Jacob, on October 14, 1912.
William John travelled to St. John’s in early May of 1918, possible during the same time as his cousin, Levi Jacobs and several other young men from Little Heart’s Ease. He enlisted on May 22, 1918, 12 days after his cousin, Levi. Because he enlisted several days later, he did not accompany the other men from Little Heart’s Ease who left St. John’s by train for Halifax to continue their journey overseas on June 7.

Before the departure of his cousin and friends for Halifax, William John and 7 other young men from Southwest Arm had their photo taken at Holloway studio. William John and Levi also had a photo taken which illustrated the closeness of William John to Levi’s family. This photo is prominently displayed today at the home of Tom Jacobs, grandson of Levi.

Pte Peddle listed Butter Cove has his full address when he completed his Attestation Papers on May 22 because he was raised mostly by his grandfather. On June 12, he requested that 50 cents be deducted from his pay per diem and be paid to Mrs. William Jacobs, his aunt that helped support William John during his troublesome times. During the completion of Descriptive Report on Enlistment, he provided his brother, Abraham, as his next of kin, who was also living with their grandfather.

He left St. John’s harbour aboard the ship S.S. Columbella that took his group to Halifax on July 22, 1918. His troop travelled overseas with a flotilla of ships. On August 5, the ship received orders from HMS Lady to proceeded through Folkerstone gate. The HMS Columbella, under an escort of destroyers, slipped through the gate on August 7. The next day, the troops disembarked at Tillbury Docks and went onward to Hazeley Down Camps at Winchester, England.

Over the next several months, he continued to train in war combat techniques including hand to hand combat, sharp shooting, bayonet mounting and handling grenades. He did not see active duty while overseas because an armistice was signed shortly after his arrival. Pte Peddle was held in reserve with the 2nd Battalion Royal Newfoundland Regiment, Hazeley Down Camps in case the Germans did not honour the term of the agreement. He never received orders to be called up to the 1st Battalion of Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

In early April, procedures for demobilization was started at Hazeley Down Camps. He completed his medical report for discharge on April 03 and was found to have no medical disability and was recommended for repatriation.

His troop did not leave England with the first wave of soldiers on May 22 but left England on June 22 aboard the S.S. Cassandra. Both the Evening Telegram and the St. John’s Daily recorded this event on July 2, 1918. The Evening Telegram reported the following under the heading Last Draft Arrives: “…The men left Winchester on Monday week, the contingent, numbering 580 of all ranks, going to Glasgow, where they embarked for home…” The article goes on to read “…The soldiers subsequently formed up and headed by the C. C. C. Band paraded up Water and Prescott Streets and down Military Road to the Prince of Wales’ Barracks, where they were drawn up in line and addressed by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Militia, who accorded them a hearty welcome home and thanked them for their services on behalf of the people of Newfoundland.”

The final draft was home in Newfoundland and William John could now return to his home at Little Heart’s Ease.

On July 11, proceedings for demobilization of Private William Peddle began with the completion of military forms. He was given a travel warrant to his home of Little Heart’s Ease. On his War Service Gratuity paper, he commented that he had served overseas duty in England and spent fourteen months enlisted in the army.

His military records do not indicate if any medals were awarded but it can be assumed he would have received the British War Medal for service overseas.

He married Julia Ann, daughter John and Susannah Powell, of Happy Adventure. They had met in St. John’s where she was working in-service for a priest. They remained in St. John’s and had 5 daughters, all raised there. One of his daughters, Joan married Pte John Baker’s son, Joseph.

William main occupation was a machinist for Horwood Lumber Co., originally owned by Reuben Horwood, in downtown St. John’s, where he worked until his retirement.

While cleaning snow from his daughter’s car, after she insisted that he not do so, he succumbed to an heart attack and passed away on April 23, 1967. He is buried next to his wife at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, St. John’s, Nl..