Personal Information:
On April 1st 1889 in the city of Kingston, Ontario, on the shore of the St.
Laurence river was born William George Lieut. Hazlett. His address was 38 Clergy St. West,
Kingston. The federal census of 1871 shows that Lieut. Hazlett's father was also named
William and was 27 years of age in 1881, born in the United States of America and was an
engineer (boiler maker) ( Historian: Steve Nichol, www.collectionscanada.ca )
William George Lieut. Hazlett's mother was named Olivia and was 27 years of age in
1881, born in Ontario. Also, the record shows
two siblings, James, whom was 3 years old at the
time of the 1881 census, and Olivia whom was 1 year old.
The family was Presbyterian. (www.collectionscanada.ca)
Little is known of Lieut. Hazlett's childhood. What we do know is that Lieut.
Hazlett enlisted as a sergeant in the PWOR (Princess of Wales' own Regiment), Militia unit
based in Kingston, while attending Queens university and had made quite a name for himself
as a hockey player, at 6 feet 2 inches with brown eyes, dark brown hair, and a chest of
38, Lieut. Hazlett must have been a sight to see on the ice.
Lieut. Hazlett later moved to Ottawa and became a member of the civil service.
(Historian: Steve Nichol, and newspaper, Toronto Star in 1918)
William George Hazlett enlisted as a volunteer in the 21st battalion on November
16th, 1914 in Ottawa and completed his Attestation Papers in Kingston the next day, at the
time he enlisted he was not married and never did. He
was given the rank of sergeant and assigned the service number 59449 (all original members
of the 21st battalion were given numbers that started with 59. They ranged from 59000 to 61000) making Hazlett
the 449th person to enlist for the 21st battalion. He was examined on November 16th, 1914.
(Archives, Historian: Steve Nichol and John Sergeant )
Military
Movements:
May 6th, 1915, 6 months after Sgt. Hazlett enlisted, he boarded the S.S Metagama
and set foot in Plymouth, England on May 15th, 1915.
From Plymouth, the 21st was transported to the West Sandling Camp in Surrey.
(Archives)
The 21st was training at West Sandling Camp, located in Southern England. Sgt Hazlett was posted in the signals section. The signal section was responsible for all
communication between the front lines and the battalion headquarters. This was a very hazardous duty since when the
Germany artillery would fire, the telephone lines would be cut and someone from the
signals section would have to go into “No Mans Land” and fix the line.
On June the 12, 1916 Sgt William Hazlett was promoted to the rank of Lieut (a field
promotion) the Toronto Star edition of October 25th 1918 states “He was given a
commission for bravery”. Sgt. Hazlett
was now Lieut Hazlett. (Steve Nichole's 21st battalion book)
August 7th 1916 Lieut. Hazlett was granted a 4 days leave , the very next day in
Boulogne, France he was court martial for "Officer drunk in public". Lieut.
Hazlett in his defense according to the court transcript stated he was drinking hard due
to a bad toothache, Lieut. Hazlett was sentence to be to be severely reprimanded, offence
report (a.z.b-2069) filed in personal envelope. (Archives)
On September 12th, 1915, the 21st battalion would arrive to proceed in France. They arrived in Boulogne at around 9:00 AM on
September 15th, 1915.
St.
Eloi Crater.
This was the first real test for the 21st and Lieut. Hazlett. Since this was the first time they actually went
into battle. The fighting at St. Eloi Craters lasted from April 22, 1916 to April 30th. The objective of this battle was to set six mines
of between 600 and 31,000 LBS of ammonal (An explosive substance). Lieut. Hazlett made it out without any injuries.
(21st battalion book - not out yet - Steve Nichol)
Courcelette
At 6:20am on September 15th, 1916, the 21st battalion's objective was a heavy
fortified former sugar factory on the North side of Bapaume road. The 21st attacked with
three companies plus one in reserve. The enemy lines were easily taken and the 21st
achieved the objective to secure the sugar factory and in the process 125 German troops
surrendered. In total the 21st took 145 prisoners, and Courcelett was the bloodiest
fight the battalion had been involved to date. Lieut William Hazlett made it out
alive and well. (21st battalion book: Steve Nichol)
Vimy Ridge
The battle began April 9th, 1917 with all four Canadian divisions fighting together
for the first time. The battle Plan detailed the 21st as part of the second wave. Their objective, the Black line which included the
German forward positions. Once the Back line
was secured the 21st, along with the 18th and 19th battalions were to move to
the Red line, the Red line included the hamlet of Les Tillers. At 05:30 am the sky became overcast and a cold
wind blew the attack began with heavy shelling and machine gun fire.
William Hazlett along with the 21st the 18th and 19th battalions scrambled out of
their trenches and attacked. Lieut. William Hazlett was wounded while leading his company,
even while wounded he rallied his men and gained his objective, capturing a machine gun. He showed great courage throughout until wounded a
second time and forced to retire. Medical
Case sheet army 1237 indicates “11-4-17 gun shot wound to the scalp- right upper arm-
wounded 9-4-17 at Vimy ridge- went to dressing station right upper arm, just above elbow,
fairly clean. Superficial wound center of
scalp, scalpel wound through helmet.” (21st battalion book: Steve Nichol)
Coming Home
William Hazlett was struck off strength and transferred to the Canadian Forestry
Battalion on June 15, 1917 by the 30th of June he was admitted to Queens Alx Military
hospital in Millbank South Wales, William was awarded the Military Cross and granted
permission to proceed to Canada at own expense leave was granted until July 7, 1917 on
that same date he was granted an extension until November 13, 1917.
On December the 8th 1917 William stayed in Canada for further medical treatments.
(Archives, Steve Nichol)
Medical Records:
On September 13, 1916 - Lieut. Hazlett
had a venereal disease called Gonorrhea. On
September 15, 1916 he was put in the No.7 hospital in Boulogne.
On September 15, 1916 - Lieut. Hazlett
had something that was not determined, but on September 23, 1916 he was put in the General
Hospital of Havre for it.
On December 20th, 1916 - Lieut.
Hazlett had a venereal disease of Syphilis.
On April 13th, 1916 - Lieut. Hazlett was reported from base, he was wounded. He was admitted to the 4th stationary hospital in
Bolougne, France with a gun shot wound to the head.
On April 17th, 1917 - Lieut. Hazlett was admitted to the Reading War Hospital for a
gun shot wound to the head and elbow.
On April 20th, 1917 - Inval wounded and sent to Eastern Ontario. Reg. Depot.
On June 30th, 1917 - Lieut. Hazlett was admitted to Queen Alex Military Hospital in
Millbank.
On December 8th, 1917 - Struck off strength and stayed in Canada for further
medical treatment.
On October 24th, 1918 - William George Hazlett died. (Archives)
Lieut. Hazlett's Cross of Sacrifice went to his mother, Mrs. Olivia Hazlett. Hazlett's medals and decoration, plaque and
scroll went to his father, Mr. William Hazlett.
LIEUT. W. HAZLETT DEAD
PASSED AWAY IN QUEENS MILITARY HOSPITAL THURSDAY
Won the military cross on the battlefield - his cousin, private Foster Hazlett,
died on Tuesday. One of Kingston's bravest
and best veterans of this war has passed away in the person of Lieut. William Hazlett, M.C
- who died in Queens Military hospital on Thursday morning. The late Lieut. Hazlett was a
son of Mr and Mrs. W. Hazlett. 83. Clergy Street West, and was 29 years of age. He was a graduate of Queen's university. Previous to the war, he was in the civil service
department at Ottawa, but at the call of duty he enlisted in the 21st battalion, and went
overseas as signalling sergeant. While
overseas he was given a commission and won the Military Cross for courage after being
seriously wounded, he was invalided home, and up to the time of his last illness was
acting as quarter master of the Queens Military hospital.
The deceased was a well known sportsman, and a popular figure in Kingston. He was a splendid officer and was very popular
with his men. He was Presbyterian, a member
of Cooke's church , and belonged to the Ancient St. Johns Lodge, A.F & A.M, and
Cataraqui Lodge, No. 10, 1.0.0.F. He is
survived by his parents, four sisters, Mrs. (Capt) Edwin Booth of Toronto, Mrs. A.H Moore,
Mrs. Allan Lemmon and Miss Carrie Hazlett, Kingston, and two brothers, Walter Hazlett, of
the Canadian Steamships lines, and Dr. Jack Hazlet, of the Kingston General hospital. The late Lieut. Hazlett took a leading part in the
St. Andrews highland cadets, in which he was a Captain, and a qualified signaling
instructor. His wounds were sustained at Vimy
Ridge, in which battle he won his Military Cross. On
the 9th of April, 1917, he went over the top with his company, and was wounded in the arm,
but carried on and captured a German machine gun and it's crew. He gained his objective, but was again wounded by
shrapnel on top of the head. He stayed with
his men until reinforcements arrived, and was then carried to the rear. He played hockey with Queen's intermediate team in
1908-10, and was also secretary of the Victorian Baseball Team.
The sympathy of numerous friends amongst them many of the boys who fought with him
in France and Belgium, goes out to his family (Queens Archives - date and newspaper
unknown)
Newspaper Clipping of the Toronto Star, October 25th,
1918:
Bill Hazlett Dead.
Lieut Wm Hazlett died of pneumonia yesterday at Kingston. He went overseas in May
1915 a sergeant-signaller of the 21st Battalion. After a short time in France he was given
a commission for bravery on the field. He received the Military Medal (actually it was the
Military Cross) for continuing to lead his men after he was shot through the arm and
capturing a machine gun and its crew. He was finally invalided home, and was appointed
quartermaster of Queen's Military Hospital, which position he held at the time of his
death. Lieut, Hazlett played intermediate hockey for Queen's in 1908 and before going
overseas was manager of the Britannia Baseball Club of Ottawa, where he was a member of
the civil service.
It's very probable that William was a
victim of the Spanish Flu epidemic that killed millions in 1917-1918, his death of
influenza was probably attributable to his poor health as a result of his wounds. (John
Sargeant)
Lest We Forget William George Hazlett a true Canadian
hero.
|
