William Edward Arnold

Police Constable 406, Toronto Police Force | Sergeant, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

William Edward Arnold was born on 9 May 1884, at Buckingham, England. Prior to emigrating to Canada, Arnold had served as a police officer with the Hampshire Constabulary and as a soldier in the 3rd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment.

Arnold joined the Toronto Police Force in October 1911 as Police Constable No. 406, and was assigned to No. 6 Police Station in the Queen St W and Cowan Avenue area. Arnold was married to Edith and resided at 97 Argyle Street with their child.

At the outbreak of war, Arnold enlisted with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, a unit composed almost entirely of military veterans, and signed his attestation papers on August 28th 1914 in Ottawa. Arnold sailed to England on the SS Royal George with the first Canadian contingent. He proceeded to France in December 1914, moving to the front lines. On March 17th 1915, while serving in front line trenches near Dickebusch, Belgium, Arnold was struck and severely wounded by a sniper’s bullet. The round had pierced his lung and, nine days later, on Friday, March 26th 1915, Arnold died of his wounds.

Constable William Edward Arnold lies buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery in France.

Research Sources:

  • H. Grasett – Annual Report of the Chief Constable of the City of Toronto for the Year 1914, Page 53. Toronto: The Carswell Co Ltd City Printers, 1915.
  • Library and Archives Canada. Service File of No. 233 William Arnold.
  • Library and Archives Canada. Circumstances of Death Registers Card – No. 233 William Arnold.
  • Library and Archives Canada. War Diaries of the First World War – Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1914/11/04 – 1915/10/31.
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Casualty Details for No. 233 William Arnold.
  • The Toronto Daily Star (1915, April 3rd), Page 2. “Sgt. Arnold, Toronto, Succumbed to Wounds” .
  • The Toronto Evening Telegram (1915, April 22nd). “Brought Down by Sniper”.
  • The Toronto Daily Star (1915, April 23rd), Page 4. “I Have Done My Bit” .
  • Canadian Virtual War Museum. Sergeant William Edward Arnold. (Photo)