Sapper William James Michael Hood

Survivor of WW2

Biography General Ranks Awards

Service Biography

Sapper William James Michael Hood was born at Hinchinbrooke, Quebec, on 21 December 1912, the son of Rose Hood. Before the war he worked as a farm labourer and later as a gasoline service-station attendant for McColl-Frontenac in Huntingdon. He enlisted at Westmount on 15 April 1940 and served in Canada until October 1941, when he proceeded overseas to the United Kingdom. His service included the Royal Montreal Regiment, Canadian pioneer and Royal Canadian Engineers postings, and the 20th and 23rd Canadian Special Employment Companies. While serving in England he married Auxiliary Territorial Service member Mary Elizabeth Fullbrook on 25 November 1944. Hood returned to Canada in October 1945 and was discharged at Montreal South on 22 November 1945 with the rank of Sapper. He then returned to England and found work, but his wife and child later travelled to Canada aboard Empire Brent. His medal entitlement included the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp, and the War Medal 1939-1945.

General Information

Conflict:

WW2

Regimental No.:

D77248

Cause of Death (in war):

Survived

Branch:

Army

Regiment:

Royal Canadian Engineers

Battalion:

23 Canadian Special Employment Company

Company:

Date of Birth :

Place of Birth:

Hinchinbrooke, Quebec

Date of Enlistment:

Age at Enlistment:

27 years 3 months

Date of Discharge:

Age at Discharge:

32 years 11 months

Date of Death:

Age at Death:

Country Born:

Trade or Calling:

Gasoline service-station attendant; previously farm labourer

Next of Kin:

Address at Enlistment:

Religion:

Church of England

Place of Enlistment:

Westmount, Quebec

Was a Prisoner of War:

Height:

Weight:

Chest:

Expansion:

Marital Status:

Married

Prior Military Experience:

Yes

Saw Service in:

Great Britain

Place of Discharge:

Montreal South, Quebec

Discharge Type:

Regular/End of Service

Discharge Notes:

Discharged to return to civil life on demobilization under Routine Order 1029, item 5.

Battle Died/Wounded:

Length of Service:

2047 days in service

Buried at:

Plot:

Ranks

Conflict	Rank	Regiment	Branch	Unit	Company
WW2	Sapper	Royal Canadian Engineers	Army	23 Canadian Special Employment Company
Final operational row supported by dated records.
WW2	Sapper	Royal Canadian Engineers	Army	20 Canadian Special Employment Company
WW2	Private	Royal Canadian Engineers	Army	Base park company	Attached
Exact company title remains abbreviated.
WW2	Private	Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit	Army	3 Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit	Attached
WW2	Private	Canadian General Pioneer Company	Army	Likely 1 Canadian General Pioneer Company
End date is not securely stated.
WW2	Private	Royal Montreal Regiment	Army
Initial unit; intervening depot entries are summarized.
WW2	Private	Royal Montreal Regiment	Army

Awards

Conflict	Award	Action	Date of Award	Date of Citation	Source
WW2	Defence Medal
WW2	Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp
WW2	War Medal 1939-1945

Notes

Served in Canada from 15 April 1940 to 6 October 1941, in the United Kingdom from 7 October 1941 to 15 October 1945, and again in Canada from 16 October 1945 until discharge. His units included the Royal Montreal Regiment, a Canadian General Pioneer Company, Royal Canadian Engineers attachments, 20 Canadian Special Employment Company from 4 July 1944, and 23 Canadian Special Employment Company from 8 July 1944. He married Mary Elizabeth Fullbrook on 25 November 1944.

Additional Service Notes

Canada: 1940-04-15 to 1941-10-06. United Kingdom: 1941-10-07 to 1945-10-15. Returned to Canada 1945-10-16. Detailed postings include a Canadian General Pioneer Company, reinforcement and engineer attachments, and Special Employment Companies.

Additional Next of Kin Notes

Son of Mrs Rose Hood, 3 Lake Street, Huntingdon, Quebec.

Research Notes

Page 24 is accepted as TOS 20 Canadian Special Employment Company on 4 July 1944 and TOS 23 Canadian Special Employment Company on 8 July 1944. The isolated 22 Company reference may be a later posting or transcription discrepancy. The disciplinary entry records three days' pay forfeited plus stoppage of pay connected with apprehension under A.A. 15(3); follow up in a specialist WWII forum if useful. A bladder-control condition is best normalized as enuresis / urinary incontinence, but the literal diagnosis is unclear. After discharge Hood returned to England and found work; his wife and child later travelled to Canada aboard Empire Brent. The dependent-travel records conflict between 27 November and an expected Halifax arrival of 13 December 1946.