Montgomery, William Savage (William)
Private
No. 790294, 29th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
Killed in action on Wednesday 11 April 1917 (aged 19)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Canadian Virtual War Memorial (CVWM)
Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance
Vimy Memorial, France
Killinchy Presbyterian Church
BIOGRAPHY
William Savage Montgomery was born on 4 December 1897 in Tullymore, Killinchy and he was baptised in Killinchy Presbyterian Church. He was the eldest son of David Alexander Montgomery and Anna Montgomery (nee Savage) who were married on 24 December 1896 in Killinchy Presbyterian Church. David Alexander Montgomery from Island More was a son of Hugh Montgomery, a farmer. Anna Savage from Tullymore was a daughter of William Savage, a farmer.
In 1911 the Montgomery family lived on Sketrick Island.
David Montgomery worked as a farm labourer and he and Anna had at least six children:
William Savage (born 4 December 1897 in Tullymore)
Hugh (born 20 November 1898 in Island More)
James (born 20 January 1901 in Island More)
Thomas (born 24 September 1902 in Island More)
David Alexander (born 14 September 1904 in Ringhaddy)
Rosanna Savage (born 21 September 1908 in Ringhaddy)
After April 1911 the Montgomery family moved to Ladner, British Columbia, Canada where William worked as a farmer before he enlisted on 5 January 1916 in New Westminster, British Columbia. In his attestation papers it was noted that he was 5 feet 6 inches tall with a ruddy complexion, blue eyes, a cleft upper lip and red hair. He cited his father, who was living in Ladner, as his next-of-kin.
He sailed from Halifax aboard the SS Caronia on 1 November 1916 and arrived in Liverpool on 11 November 1916. Private William Savage Montgomery (No. 790294) served with the 29th Battalion Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment) and he was 19 when he was killed in action at Vimy Ridge on 11 April 1917. He has no known grave. Private William Savage Montgomery is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial in France and in Killinchy Presbyterian Church.