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Private William Francis Hier

A grave stone with a cross and a maple leaf carved in.

Pte. Hier’s Grave, London, ON

Photographed by Jessica Di Laurenzio, 2017.

CEF no. 189847/A3433/A990

William Francis Hier was born in Wales in 1878. He served with the United States Cavalry in the Philippines-American War, but was dishonourably discharged. He then moved to London, ON, and worked as a cigar maker at Tuckett Cigar. He enlisted for service in the First World War on three separate occasions. Pte Hier failed to show up to the recruiting station on his first enlistment with the 33^rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, and was discharged for misconduct from the 34^th Btn. On the third enlistment attempt, he used the alias “William Weir” with the 91^st Btn in St. Thomas, ON, arriving in France in October 1916. He served with the 1^st Btn at Passchendaele and Vimy Ridge. Pte. Hier was discharged in 1919 as “medically unfit,” suffering from shell shock and a deformed right foot. He died at home in London, ON, on 13 December 1920 for unknown reasons.

Grave: Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London, ON, Canada.