Short, William

Cpl. William Short, 25, was one of a family with a notable record in the Second Great War, and his death on October 20, 1944, in the vicinity of Neuzen, Holland, occurred about two months after that of his younger brother, L/Cpl. Robert Short. His family not only saw two sons make the supreme sacrifice, but had three others who served, James, as a captain in the Canadian Army, Joseph, a B.Q.M.S., in the British Army, and Walter, in the Merchant Marine. Born in England, Cpl. Short came to Brantford with his parents when he was ten years of age. He attended Farringdon School and the Brantford Collegiate Institute and St. John's Church. He enlisted in Simcoe with the 41/102nd

Field Battery, R.C.A., on July 23, 1940, and later transferred to the Highland Light Infantry. A year later he sailed with the unit for the United Kingdom. He was sent to France on June 6, 1944. The casualties were heavy at that time among the Canadians and on July 8 he was wounded. Sent back to action after being hospitalized in Leavedens, England, he met his death on October 20. It was a coincidence that Cpl. Short was in the group under the command of his brother, Capt. James Short, who was later badly wounded. The courage of Cpl. Short was indicated in a Commander-in-Chief's certificate sent here to his eldest sister, Mrs. G. Beckham, 20 Bell Street. It was personally signed by Field Marshal Montgomery, who praised the young soldier for his outstanding service and great devotion to duty during the campaign in France.

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