Source: Huron Museum text search. The Wingham Advance, 1919-05-22.
Family Search: Private Alfred Edward Mortis was born in 1879, in England, United Kingdom as the son of Alfred Edward Mortis and Mary Ann Norrington. He married Susan Harriet Hilton on 17 April 1911, in Lucknow, Bruce, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 4 daughters. He lived in Drayton, Wellington, Ontario, Canada in 1924 and Kinloss, Kinloss Township, Bruce, Ontario, Canada in 1931. He registered for military service in 1886. In 1931, at the age of 52, his occupation is listed as railway section boss in Kinloss, Kinloss Township, Bruce, Ontario, Canada. He died in 1963, at the age of 84, and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, London, Ontario,
Private Alfred Edward Mortis, regimental number 53647.
This man enlisted in the 18th Battalion at Clinton, Ontario on 26 October 1914, at Clinton, Ontario. He had 12 years of prior military experience with the Royal Garrison Artillery based in Kent, England. He was attached to “C” Company.
He trained in London, Ontario, from October 1914 to April 1915, and with the 18th Battalion left for England aboard the SS Metagama departing Halifax on 18 April 1916, arriving Avonmouth on 29 April 1915.
The 18th Battalion trained at West Sandling Camp from April to 14 September 1915, when it, along with the 2nd Canadian Contingent, left for the Continent on 15 September 1915.
During his time in England, he was promoted to Corporal (1 July 1915) but later reverted to Private on his own request, effective 28 August 1915.
Private Mortis also suffered from synovitis of the left knee, requiring him to attend Moore Barracks Hospital from 2 June to 4 June 1915. It appears his knee problem was a contusion and he was sent to the RAMC Hospital at Sandgate from 6 to 8th June 1915.
He suffered influenza on 11 December 1915, and was sent to the Division Rest Station a Locre [Loker], Belgium, where he recuperated until 19 December 1915.
Private Mortis served until he was taken ill again,this time requiring him to attend to No. 3 General Hospital in Bologne, France, starting 14 May 1916. He was discharged to the Canadian Base Depot (probably the 2nd CBD in Le Harve) on 17 June was Struck Off Strength to the Labour Pool on 8 June 1916. He was attached to that unit until he was sent back to the 18th Battalion on 1 August 1916.
HE was granted two leaves. The first leave was a 10-day leave starting on 26 May 1917. This leave was probably to Paris or another city in France. The second leave was to the United Kingdom, and lasted 14 days starting on 4 January 1918.
Upon his return from his 2nd leave, he was temporarily attached to the 2nd Canadian Division Train as a loader.
He was returned to the 18th Battalion on 5 June 1918, but his physical condition had changed and he was classified at B.I. by a Medical Board on 8 June 1918, and transferred to the Canadian Labour Pool the next day.
He rejoined the 2nd Canadian Divisional Train on the 28th. Curiously, his service record shows he was transferred back to the 18th Battalion for Water Detail. He was finally despatched to the 18th Battalion.
The war ended, and he was sent to a Tractor and Ploughing Course at Mericourt L’Abbe starting on 16 January 1918 and returned from the course on 27 January 1919.
He, along with the rest of the 18th Battalion, proceeded to England on 14 March 1919 to Kinmel Camp, Ripon, and then sent to Rhyls for return to Canada effective 7 May 1919.
He was discharged at London, Ontario, on 18 May 1919. He planned to return to Lucknow.
Since writing the above, another soldier arrived home in the person of Pte. Alf. Mortis who left here with the 18th Battalion[i]. Pte. Mortis spent many months in France before being wounded shortly before the armistice was signed[ii]. The stores closed, and the band met the train. A procession was formed and escorted him to his home, where his wife[iii] and two children awaited him.
Source: The Wingham Advance. May 22, 1919. Page 5.
[i] Private Mortis was one of he “originals” of the 18th Battalion, enlisting on October 26, 1914 in Clinton, Ontario. He was 35-years old, above average age for a soldier in the C.E.F. in that era.
[ii] He was not wounded near the end of the war. He suffered a wound and shell shock and a contusion to his left knee mid-May 1916.
[iii] He was married to Susan H. Mortis. There is no record of his children’s names in his service records.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 