Overview of Private Albert Jean Julien

Albert Jean Julien, reg no. 189764, enlisted with the 91^st Overseas Battalion at St. Thomas, Ontario on 3 January 1916. He was married to Katherine[i]. He listed his trade as a tailor and as his wife was shown to live at 30 King Street. He had two sons, Albert Michael Leo Julian (1907-1999) and Glen Augustine Julien (b. 1916) and assigned $20.00 of his pay to his wife effective January 1916. He would later raise this to $25.00 in August 1916.

He showed prior military experience with the Governor General’s Foot Guards (GGFG) and Princess Louise Dragoon Guards (PLDG) attaining, according to his attestation papers, the rank of lieutenant with the “61^st”.

His attestation papers show him born in Ottawa 31 August 1882 and he had lived there in the region until at least 1907, moving to new opportunities in South-Western Ontario. He was older than the average recruit of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, but he passed all the requirements of enlistment and was put on the 91^st Battalion’s roll.

By 28 February 1916 Private Julien was no longer with the 91^st Battalion. It was absorbed into the 186^th Overseas Battalion which would have necessitated his move from St. Thomas to Chatham in order to join this battalion. As of 13 March 1916, he may have been given the rank of Provisional Sergeant per a note on his Separation Allowance document.

This battalion embarked for Liverpool, England from Halifax, Nova Scotia on 25 March 1917 arriving at Liverpool 7 April 1917 and the soldiers were encamped at Bramshott at the Canadian Corp Segregation Camp. His service file notes that he arrived as an Acting B.S.M.[ii] The 186^th was broken up for replacements and Private Julien was assigned to the 4^th Reserve Battalion the same day. He reverts to the rank on private at his own request on 14 May 1917 but it appears that his prior military experience was recognized by the officers of this unit as the now Private Julien was appointed Acting-Sergeant with pay effective 4 May 1917. At this camp Acting-Sergeant Juline contracted syphilis requiring four treatments of “606”, better known as Salvarsan, curing him. This appointment would be reverted on 9 September 1917 and the again Private Julien proceeded overseas 8 November 1917. He arrived at No. 2 Canadian Infantry Base Depot the next day and was sent on to the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp two days later. He only needed six days of time at the CCRC as he was “in the field” with the 18^th Battalion on 20 November 1917.

He served with the 18^th Battalion through the balance of that fall and into the winter of 1918 when, on 31 May 1918 he received a gunshot wound to his left hand requiring him to go to No. 42 Casualty Clearing Station at Aubigny-en-Artois and was released for service the very next day.

His service with the 18^th Battalion would end on 25 August 1918 when he was attached for duty to the 4^th Canadian Trench Mortar Battery. He served with them until he was wounded the very next day requiring him to be sent to England aboard the AT Cambria. This wound was more serious as he received a gun shot wound to his right forearm fracturing the right ulna. He was sent to No. 2 Australian Hospital on 30 August 1918 and to the Military Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park on 12 October 1918 and then was discharged on 18 November 1918.

His wounds were now healed and with the war over he went to Witley Camp on 18 December 1918 and was granted leave from 23 to 30 of December 1918. He was then sent to Kinmel Camp effected 2 January 1919 in preparation to return to Canada. But before he was able to do that he had one more camp to transfer to, Ryhl the very next day. He did not have to wait long as he embarked for Canada aboard the Empress of Britain 12 January and arrived in Halifax on the 22^nd.

Arriving in London, Ontario he only had to wait less than a month to be discharged, effective 13 February 1919. He would go home to Chatham, and it recorded he was living at 30 King Street as of 1923.

At some time after this record Albert Jean Julien moves to New Glasgow, Nova Scotia and he dies of a heart attack on 19 May 1958 at the age of 73 years, 8 months, and 9 days. He was still in the clothing business as he was the manager of the Sunshine Laundry[iii] and resided at 103 Provost Street. He is survived by his wife of 51 years and is buried on 21 May 1958 at Holy Cross Cemetery.

As of the date writing, his grave is not marked though hard work of a volunteer has found his burial location and a gravestone will be placed in the future. As of 2 September 2023 two flags mark, not the spot, but the spirit of this man as recognition for his service to Canada.

With thanks to the members of the 18th Battalion Facebook Group that helped out with this man.

---

[i] This appears to be Catherine Rafter, born 1883. Marriage occurred at Arnprior, Ontario 14 January 1907.

[ii] This rank is not familiar to the author.

[iii] A business by the name of Sunshine Dry Cleaners exists in New Glasgow, though if there any connection to Julien’s place of work is unknown.