145 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca HENTON, William James “Bill” WWI Bill was born in Kettlebrook, England on October 28, 1898. He came to Birnie, Manitoba in 1905 settling near Birnie, at his uncle Albert’s farm. He joined the Army on January 16, 1916, at the age of seventeen. Staying at home until 1915, Bill worked for Egbert Grover. In the fall of that year, Bill headed for the city and a career with CP Railway. Working for the railway until January 5, 1916, Bill began his career with the Army at the age of seventeen. Joining the 144 Overseas Battalion, Bill stayed in Winnipeg for the winter and part of the summer of 1916. As a member of the battalion’s machine gun section, Bill was sent to a special machine gun battalion, and then off to France. Landing at Le Havre, the battalion was to camp at Rouen, prior to posting to Aosi Le Chateau to prepare for the Vimy Offensive. The battalion was billeted in wooden huts, and German shelling scored a direct hit, killing most of the men in a hut nearby. On April 9, 1917, Bill’s battalion, along with 100,000 other Canadians went “over the top”. It was rough going. When his battalion got to the Lens Arras Road, the Germans trenches were seized and held. The battalion later travelled to Lille, Ypres, Passchendaele, and back to the front lines of Ypres. To get to the front lines, soldiers had to walk on a duck walk of planks. Stepping or slipping off the duck walks, soldiers frequently became trapped in the mud. To do so also meant exposure to German artillery fire. Troops arrived at night and Bill remembered digging in so as not to be seen by the Germans with the arrival of daylight. Bill’s battalion returned to Lens, then Amiens and from there to Cambrai where they relieved a battered and decimated 3rd Division. After the Armistice was signed, the battalion went to Cologne, Germany as part of the Allied occupation forces. With his return home, discharged from the Army in Toronto, Bill returned to take over the family farm. Times were not easy for agriculture enterprises even then. Bill, who had put all of his army pay into the farming operation, lost it. The farm was taken over by Bill’s brother and Bill headed east to Fort William where he worked for Hydro in the summer and at a lumber camp during the winter. In the spring, with no work to be had at Fort William, it was westward to Broderick, Saskatchewan for Bill. After working for George Finlater for two years, Bill returned to Birnie working for Jim Birnie for a year. Bill then rented a farm from Bert Buchanan for a year before working for George Birnie for a year and a half. On November 2, 1927, Bill married Hazel Birnie and thus began a partnership that lasted more than sixty years. Buying the John Bare farm, the Hentons stayed with Hazel’s mother and father while the farm home was being renovated. Times were not easy; hard work, perseverance, optimism, and team work were frequently demanded. Bill and Hazel were active in the community over the years with Bill not only pursuing a career in agriculture but also working with the Manitoba Department of Highways. In addition, he served on the board of Tobamore School, curled, was an avid hockey and baseball fan and enjoyed fishing and travel after retiring. Bill was a Life Member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 23. Hazel too, was busy with family, friends and community. Her travel diaries are reminders of the pleasure the trips around the country with Bill were for her. Leaving the farm in 1959 and retiring in 1965, the Hentons enjoyed their time together in Neepawa. It was with sadness that Bill, family, and friends felt the loss of Hazel’s passing in 1991. Bill saw much of our country’s history and has been a part of a vibrant time in western Canada’s development. A pioneer, a soldier, and a builder, Bill has been an integral part of our heritage.
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