William Warner

Warner taught his sister “Long Boy,” a song from the First World War, which was passed down to her children.


William Robert Warner enlisted December 13, 1915 from Vancouver, and served as a private with the 29th Battalion. He was killed in action at Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917. Warner taught his sister “Long Boy,” a song from the First World War, which was passed down to her children. One verse in the song goes, “He marched right down to the public square and fell in line with the soldiers there. The sergeant put him in uniform. His girl knit mitts to keep him warm. They drilled him hard and they drilled him long. But he sang this old refrain.” The song continues, “Goodbye ma. Goodbye pa.”

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