William John Smallacombe was born in Clinton, Ontario, in August 1896. He originally enlisted with the 81st Battalion in St. Catharines, Ontario, in September 1916, and then transferred to the 4th Machine Gun Company with whom he served with in France. Smallacombe returned to Canada and was demobilized at the end of the war. The collection currently consists of one photograph and one letter written April 10, 1917, at Vimy Ridge.