Private Gwilt was born on September 30th, 1897 in West Bromwich, England to Harriet and John Gwilt. He and his parents  were farming in Churchville, Ontario at the time that he left for the war at age 18. Gwilt had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light coloured hair. He joined the 126th Battalion and was later transferred to the 116th Overseas Battalion. According to his files, it seems Private Gwilt had a tough time while overseas.  In October  1916, one year into his service, William was diagnosed with Hallux Rigidus (source: Library & Archives Canada). Hallux Rigidus is an affliction where the big toe becomes stiff and unable to move up and down; as a result walking becomes more and more difficult and increasingly painful as time goes on (source: Official History of The Canadian Forces in the Great War: The Medical Services). Due to this painful disability, Gwilt was placed on Permanent Base Duty with the Canadian Army Service Corps. The C.A.S.C. was responsible for transporting and supplying food, ammunition, clothing, equipment and engineering materials to the Canadian Army, and sometimes drove and repaired motor vehicles and ambulances (source: Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force).

            In March 1918, Private Gwilt was sentenced to five days discipline for playing a card game called Piequet when he was supposed to be looking after the ‘horse lines’. Two months later, on May 30th, he was sentenced to 10 days discipline for neglecting to have his ‘box respirator on during practise hour’. Interestingly, according to his medical records,  on January 7th and January 9th, 1919, William was being treated in hospital for lombago (acute lower back pain), then on January 18th, 19th, 26th and 28th, he was in again being treated for tonsillitis, then from February 5th to March 17th he was again being treated for tonsillitis as well as general weakness. Finally, on May 27th, 1919, Private Gwilt was discharged from the military and returned to Churchville (source: Library & Archives Canada). He went on to marry Olive Priscilla Mills, and possibly lived in the house that used to stand behind the Churchville Radial Railway station. Gwilt passed away on January 28th, 1973, at 75 years of age, and was buried in Churchville Cemetery. Below is a photograph of W.T. Gwilt taken from a large group photo of the 126th Battalion.