Source: 18th Battalion Nominal Roll, April 1915.
Family Search: When Private Harry Stansfield was born on 8 October 1887, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, James Stansfield, was 42 and his mother, Mary Lumb, was 40. He married Dorothy Rachel Bartlett on 27 July 1923, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 2 daughters. He immigrated to Canada in 1913 and lived in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom in 1901 and Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1922. He registered for military service in 1914. In 1914, at the age of 27, his occupation is listed as plasterer. He died on 2 December 1961, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, at the age of 74, and was buried in Victory Memorial Park, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Private Harry Stansfield, reg. 53740.
This man enlisted in the 18th Battalion on 2 November 1914, at St. Thomas, Ontario. He was a plasterer with no military experience, and he practiced the Anglican faith.
He, along with the rest of the 18th Battalion, trained in London, Ontario until leaving London on 12 April 1915, by train to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they embarked on the SS Grampian on 17 April, arriving at Avonmouth, England on 29 April.
He trained in England until the Battalion embarked for “overseas” 15 September 1915 for Belgium.
He was sentenced to 2 days Field Punishment No. 2 at “La Clytte” for theft and damaging private property on 5 November 1915.
He ran afoul of the military police as he was sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No. 1 for being “Drunk on Active Service” on 27 May 1916.
And again, as he was charged on 3 December 1916, for “Whilst on Active Service, absent without leave from 1.30 PM 24/11/16 to 9:00 PM25/11/16 (31.5 hours).” invoking a sentence of 7 days Field Punishment No. 1 and the loss of 2 days pay.
He got 3 leaves during his service, which is unusual. A 10-day leave starting on 16 January 1917; a 14-day leave to England starting on 14 December 1917; and finally, another 14-day leave to England on 15 January 1918.
He was discharged due to demobilization at London, Ontario, on 24 May 1919.
Fosses, Belgium
Rear:
54021 Norman Huck of Walkerton, Ontario enlisted 1th Battalion, Walkerton, 31 October 1914.
53470 Harry Stansfield of St. Thomas, Ontario enlisted 18th Battalion, St. Thomas, 2 November 1914.
Wallace
53908 William Stephen Farr of Galt enlisted with 18th Battalion, Galt, 23 October 1914.
Centre:
775918 Alfred William Brightwell of Brampton, Ontario enlisted 126th Battalion, Brampton, 1 March 1916.
54005 Herbert Cartwright of Walkerton enlisted 18th Battalion, Walkerton 30 October 1914.
Sheppard
Front:
53950 James Patient of Galt enlisted 18th Battalion, Galt, 23 October 1914.
53976 Thomas Wade of Galt enlisted 18th Battalion, Galt, 26 October 1914.
54220 Bertram Croome of RR #1 Science Hill, Ontario enlisted 18th Battalion, London,16 February 1915.
Boyd
53656 Robert Henry Brackstone of Aylmer, Ontario enlisted 18th Battalion, St. Thomas, 26 October 1914.
Source: Ley and Lois Smith War, Memory, and Popular Culture Research Collection – Western University. Via DM at Facebook.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 