Amanuensis Monday - the will of William Henry Darby 1917

John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog, has a weekly theme each Monday called Amanuensis Monday to encourage the posting of transcriptions of documents to preserve and publish their contents.



This is the last of the wills I have. It formed part of the military records obtained for William Henry Darby from the Canadian Archives. William joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in May of 1915 and shipped to England in January 1916. He wrote his will while he was stationed at Shorncliffe Camp in Kent. At the time he made his will, he was a sergeant. He was subsequently demoted to private at his own request, and then shipped to France. After several months in the field, he was promoted to Corporal. He was killed in action on 13 November 1917.


His will is short and to the point:

No 551333

Cpl Darby, W. H.

Can Corps H Q S/Staff

Milit. Police

K in A

13/11/1917

WILL

In the event of my death I give the whole of my property and effects to my wife, Jessie Darby

4 Springfield Terrace

Spring Street

Edgbaston

Birmingham

Eng.

March 8th 1916

W.H. Darby,

Sergt #551333

3rd Canadian Divisional Cavalry.