British Army Veterinary Corps
William Hutchinson BLANCHARD
Captain
Died 8 October 1917 · Aged 55
His story
Captain William Hutchinson Blanchard was born in Market Weighton on 4 October 1861. He moved to Canada in 1882.
William Blanchard worked as a veterinary surgeon in Peteroboro, Canada, for approximately 30 years.
Captain Blanchard served in South Africa during the Boer War. On 24 February 1915, he enlisted in the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps but was seconded to the Army Veterinary Corps, where he was attached to the 155 Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery and served in France Field for 32 months.
In May 1917, he became ill and was forced to relinquish his commission. He returned to Canada and was admitted to the Peterboro Base Hospital. Captain Blanchard died on 8 October 1917, from oesophagus cancer.
Captain Blanchard was buried with full military honours in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto.
Photographs and documents
Before the war
- Nationality
- Canadian
- Date of Birth
- 23 October 1861
- Place of Birth
- Market Weighton, Yorkshire, England
Military service
- Last Rank
- Captain
- Regiment/Service
- British Army Veterinary Corps
- Secondary Regiment
- Roayl Field Artillery
- Secondary Unit
- 155th Brigade
- First Theatre of War
- France 26 March 1915
Medals and commemoration
- Name on RCVS Honour Board
- No
- Name In Officers who died in Great War
- No
- Medals and Awards
- 1915 Star; British War Medal 1914-1918; Victory Medal
Death and burial
- Date of Death
- 8 October 1917
- Age at Death
- 55
- Place of Death
- Toronto, Canada
- Cause of Death
- Cancer of Oesophagus
- Cemetery
- Mt.Pleasant Cemetery
- Location
- Toronto, Canada
- Grave Reference
- Plot B Sec.27 Lot 1
- Commonwealth War Grave
- Yes
Sources and further reading
- CWGC casualty and commemoration record
- Find a Grave memorial
- Death certificate — reproduced document
- Toronto Evening Telegram October 9, 1917 — reproduced document
Cite this biography
Graham Hodgkins and Pete Matthews, “William Hutchinson Blanchard”, Veterinary Virtual War Memorial, https://vetsremembered.org/people/william_hutchinson_blanchard/.
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