VAD William Herbert Lister
District messenger, bearer and orderly
William Herbert Lister was born on 11th May 1898 to Herbert, a Police Constable, and Sarah Ann Lister nee Killingbeck. He was baptised at St Peter's Church in Warmfield-cum-Heath, near Wakefield.
Baptism record of William Herbert Lister
In 1901 they lived at Heath Street in Warmfield.
In the next few years Herbert and Sarah Ann had three more children, Horace Killingbeck, Grace Evelyn and Rhoda Gertrude before moving to Bingley where they lived at 9 Myrtle Street in 1911.
Another brother, Ronald, was born on 8th May 1915.
Despite his young age, William must have had a sense of duty and wanted to help during World War One. From February 1917 onwards he completed 1,256 hours of work as a district messenger, bearer and orderly at Morton Banks War Hospital.
William's mother Sarah died in July 1920 at City Square, Leeds (I believe this was the address of Leeds General Infirmary).
At the time of the 1921 census, all five if her and Herbert's children were still living with their father at 14 Amy Street. William was working as a joiner for Harry Wait, painter etc in Shipley.
On 17th March 1923 William set sail on the SS Ausonia to Canada. He was going there to settle and work as a joiner, having a cousin named Harry Lister already there.
William Herbert Lister's arrival in Canada
Not long after arriving he married Ethel Wild, who was also from Bingley. They had two daughters, Verna (born 1925) and Wilda (born 1930).
The 1931 census in Canada shows the family living in Calgary, Alberta. Perhaps drawing on his wartime experiences, William was working as an orderly in a general hospital.
1931 Census of Canada
He appears to have stayed in Calgary, as the next record I have obtained is an electoral register in 1968 at an address there.
He died in Calgary on 11th April 1970.
Sources:
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1935
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
1921 England Census
England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924
Alberta, Canada, Marriage Index, 1898-1942
1931 Census of Canada
Canada, Voter's Lists, 1935-1980
Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current
