Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Lance Sergeant Wilfred Laurier Hedley

Male 1923 - 1944  (20 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Wilfred Laurier Hedley 
    Prefix Lance Sergeant 
    Born 13 Oct 1923  Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Interesting war, misfortune, story 
    Military WW2 - Highland Light Infantry of Canada, R.C.I.C 
    Misfortune 1944  , France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    killed in WW2 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-341040 
    Died 8 Jul 1944  Normanby, France Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Cause: Cause: Killed in Action 
    Buried Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Reviers, , Basse-Normandie, France Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Person ID I341040  Generations
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2024 

    Father John Rutledge Hedley,   b. 19 Aug 1860, , Middlesex Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Mar 1927, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years) 
    Mother Mary Knight Robson,   b. 2 Sep 1879, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Dec 1978, Palmerston, Peel Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 99 years) 
    Married 14 Feb 1912  Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Family ID F248682  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Sergt. Wilfred Hedley.

      During the latter part of the week word was received that a second Ayr soldier, Sergt, Wilfred Hedley had also been killed in the heavy fighting in which his regiment, the Highland Light Infantry, was engaged in Normandy on July 8th and 9th.

      Wilfred, it is understood, was leading a trench mortar detachment against the enemy and the party, With their gun, was concealed in a trench mortar pit. An enemy shell burst in their midst and the entire detachment was killed by the concussion.

      Wilfred wrote a letter to his mother on July 7 and on July 8, the morning of the fatal engagement he was talking to his brother-in-law, Capt. ___ Bell? an artillery officer who is the husbad of the former Barbara Hedley.

      Sergt. Hedley was buried in a nearby French cemetery and the last rites were attended by his cousin, Sergt. Ben Eichler, and other members of his regiment.

      Wilfred was born on a farm on the 11th concession of Blenheim 21 years ago, his mother being Mary Robson and his father John Hedley. After the death of his father, the family removed to Ayr. Wilfred went to school here, and when the war broke out he enlisted with the H. L. I. of C. in May, 1940. He went overseas with the battalion in. 1941. Wilfred was said to be one of the finest soldiers to leave Ayr and quickly won promotion. He was a member of Knox United Church.

      Surviving are his mother and sister, who reside in Wingham.


      The Ayr News Jan 27 1944 pg 1

  • Sources 
    1. [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link .
      Hedley/ John R. Hedley/ 1860 - 1927/ his wife/ Mary K. Robson/ 1879 - 1978/ their children/ 1912 J. Allan 1925/ 1912 M. Agnes 1914/ 1923 Wilfred L. 1944 [A] Father/ John R. Hedley/ 1860 - 1927/ at Rest

    2. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      Name: John Rutledge Hedley Age: 51 Birth Date: abt 1861 Marriage Date: 14 Feb 1912 Marriage County or District: Waterloo Father: Allan Hedley Mother: Agnes Pawell Spouse: Mary Knight Robson Spouse's Age: 32 Spouse Birth Date: abt 1880 Spouse Father: Wm T Robson Spouse Mother: Mary Fonger

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 13 Oct 1923 - Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMisfortune - killed in WW2 - 1944 - , France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Reviers, , Basse-Normandie, France Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth