Portrait of William John Nightingale, an Ordinary Signalman who enrolled at Toronto on 30 December 1916 in the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve. He is pictured wearing his naval uniform with its distinctive collar. He was killed at sea while serving on the minesweeper H.M.S. Trawler, Lock Eye, near Waterford Harbour, South Ireland, on 20 April 1917, at age 22. He was the only son of the late William and Sarah Nightingale of Craigvale. An article in the Barrie Examiner detailed his memorial service as follows: "A fine tribute to the memory of the late W. J. Nightingale, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Nightingale, of Craigvale, killed, at Dover on April 20, was paid in St. Paul's Church, Innisfil, on Wednesday evening, May 9. The church was filled with those who not only desired to honor his memory and extend their deep sympathy to his parents and sister, but also with those who wished to pay a tribute to all who on sea, on land and in the air, are fighting for the defence of home and country and the maintenance of all principles of liberty and righteousness. The service was a very solemn one. It opened with the hymn. "Peace Perfect Peace," followed by Psalms 23, 25 and 46, the reading of Isaiah 40 and Rev. 21. An address was given by the Rector, Rev. R. J. W. Perry, on "The Lord is My Shepherd," in I which reference was made to the leading of the late hero to join the Navy and the glory and right of dying that the things worth while might live. Other hymns sung were "Our Dead are Living Unto Thee", "On a Resurrection Morning" and "Abide With Me." Prayer was offered on behalf of those bereaved and for the wounded and the sick. After benediction the Dead March was played. As no word has yet come but the official notice from Ottawa that he was killed at Dover on April 20, it is presumed from the press reports of the naval battle at Dover on April 20 that he was among those who gave up their lives in that engagement. He is buried in the cemetery at Dover. When the call came for recruits from Canada for the Royal Navy, he enlisted in January and after only a short training entered upon active service."
