Corporal William John Berry

Corporal, 49th Battalion, Infantry (Army).

Transcript of a letter sent to Mrs. J.A. Cairns, Grand View, Manitoba. Sept 15, 1918

(Now held in Private Collection)

"Dear Madam

A parcel to you from to Cpl Wm. J. Berry arrived sometime ago. I suppose that you have heard ere this of the death in action of Cpl. Berry. . He was killed in an attack on the evening of the 13th of Aug. I was with him at the time and he was shot through the heart with a machine gun bullet and died instantly. Cpl. Berry was one of our best N.C.Os and we all feel very sad over his loss. He was a great favourite amongst officers and men alike. He did not know what fear was and could always be relied upon to perform any duty faithfully and well. He was buried near where he fell and the exact grave location can be obtained by writing to the Chaplain of the Bn. or to the Commonwealth Grave Commission in London.

We gave the parcel which you sent to his section as we supposed that this is what you would wish us to do with it. The contents of it were very much appreciated by them.

Very Sincerely

J.F. Lumsden Lieut.

“B” Coy. "