Military service
Burial/memorial information
Baptized William Malcolm Best on 20 November 1914 at the Presbyterian Church in New Richmond, Bonaventure, Québec.
Son of Erastus Tytus Best and Janet Amanda (alias Jessie) Campbell, of Grand Cascapedia, Bonaventure, Québec. Brother of Sergeant Leo Stanford Best, service number E-41482, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, killed in action on 8 October 1944 in the Netherlands.
William served in Québec, in New Brunswick, in Newfoundland with Force W, in Hong Kong with Force C. He had 514 days of service, including 57 overseas.
1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Digital gallery of Rifleman William Best
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Memorial
Rifleman WILLIAM BEST is one of 22 members of the Royal Rifles of Canada, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps who are commemorated on this panel of the Sai Wan Memorial. He was one of 290 Canadian soldiers killed during the defense of Hong Kong, from December 8th to December 25th, 1941. -
Inscription
Dedicatory inscription of the SAI WAN MEMORIAL. This memorial bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 228 Canadians -
Newspaper clipping
Rifleman WILLIAM BEST was reported as Missing in Action in the Canadian Army's 244th overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 9, 1943. -
Canada and the Defence of Hong Kong.
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada. -
Canada and the Defence of Hong Kong.
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada. -
Photo of WILLIAM BEST
In memory of those who served in Hong Kong during World War 11 and did not come home. Submitted with permission on behalf of the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association by Operation: Picture Me. -
Memorial
Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William Best
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William Best
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William Best
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William Best
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William Best
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William Best
Digital gallery of
Rifleman William Best
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 23 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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