British Army Veterinary Corps
William HUSTON
Captain
Died 6 December 1917 · Aged 30
His story
Captain William Huston was born at Carman, Manitoba, on 4 March 1887. He attended school there and studied at the Ontario Veterinary College from 1912 to 1915. In March 1915, immediately after completing his veterinary training, he was appointed a temporary Lieutenant in the British Army Veterinary Corps.
Huston served in France. His known appointments included the 37th Divisional Train and the 126th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. The University of Toronto’s wartime roll records that he was mentioned for his services.
On 6 December 1917 Huston was killed in a road accident near Bailleul. A Court of Enquiry established that a party of officers had been returning from an officers’ club and attempted to hail a passing motor lorry. When it did not stop, Huston ran after it. He was subsequently found badly injured beside the road and died soon afterwards.
He was buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension. His death illustrates one of the everyday hazards of service behind the fighting line: motor transport, horses, darkness and congested wartime roads could be as lethal as enemy action.
Photographs and documents
Before the war
- Nationality
- Canadian
- Date of Birth
- 4 March 1887
- Place of Birth
- Manitoba, Canada
- Veterinary College and Date of Graduation
- Ontario Veterinary College - March 1915
Military service
- Last Rank
- Captain
- Regiment/Service
- British Army Veterinary Corps
- Secondary Regiment
- 37th Division
- Secondary Unit
- 37th Division Divisional Train
- First Theatre of War
- France March 1915
Medals and commemoration
- Name on RCVS Honour Board
- No
- Name In Officers who died in Great War
- No
- Medals and Awards
- British War Medal 1914-1918; Victory Medal
Death and burial
- Date of Death
- 6 December 1917
- Age at Death
- 30
- Place of Death
- Baillieu, France
- Cause of Death
- Injuries sustained when hit by truck
- Cemetery
- Baillieu Communal Cemetery
- Location
- Baillieu, France
- Grave Reference
- III e.35
- Commonwealth War Grave
- Yes - CWGC Headstone
- Emblem or Badge on Headstone
- Army Veterinary Corps Logo
Sources and further reading
- CWGC casualty and commemoration record
- Find a Grave memorial
- War diary Record of William Huston's death — reproduced document
Cite this biography
Graham Hodgkins and Pete Matthews, “William Huston”, Veterinary Virtual War Memorial, https://vetsremembered.org/people/william_huston/.
Contribute information
Can you add a letter, family photograph or document that tells us more about his life before service? Please give its source and any permission needed for display.