Corporal William Alexander McArthur was born in Grey County, Ontario, on September 17, 1891. On February 2, 1916, he enlisted in Owen Sound, Ontario, with the 147th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Shipping for England on board the SS Olympic in November of 1916, he was called-up to action in France with the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles in April 1917. Following the end of the war McArthur returned to Canada and was demobilized on March 19, 1919.

The McArthur Collection was created through the donation of the Private W. Nelson Campbell Collection, which contained the letter written by William McArthur to Essie Douglas, cousin of Nelson Campbell.

External links:
Cpl. McArthur's service record (Reg/Ser# 838777) is available online through Library and Archives Canada.