William Black

William Black was the brother of Yukon Commissioner George Black. During the First World War he fought with the Boyle Machine Gun Battery. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions in attending to his machine gun while also assisting the wounded. On 9 November 1917, Lieutenant Black and five other soldiers were buried by the backlash from a shell that exploded nearby. Black, still buried, listened while his rescuers discussed if it was worth digging further for victims. All of the men were dug out and sent for treatment. Lieutenant Black was sent to England and never returned to the front line.¹⁾