Lieutenant-Colonel W.J. Home
Royal Rifles of Canada

[Home] and his men were bearing the brunt of the fighting and knew from first hand knowledge the strength and armament of the forces against them. The Higher Command had consistently shown an inability to grasp the realities of the situation and to pursue tactics which might have prolonged the struggle but could not have altered the final result.

(Brig. J.H. Price to G.W.L. Nicholson, 27 Jan 1948)

Born on 6 April 1897 in Quebec City, William James Home was a Permanent Force officer of the Royal Canadian Regiment and decorated First World War veteran. He mobilized with the 8th Royal Rifles in August 1915, took a commission with the RCR in February 1915 and was promoted to captain overseas. He earned the Military Cross for gallantry during the Battle of the Scarpe in August 1918: “When almost, surrounded by an enemy counter-attack he dashed forward at the head of a party, shooting four enemy himself, causing considerable casualties and checking, their attack. His courage and initiative saved an awkward situation.”

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