West, Albert Earl “Bert”: Service no. 53521

Digitized Service Record

Source: Via 18th Battalion Facebook Group post by family member. This soldier is also related to to John Douglass, reg. no. 53448 by marriage. John was Bert West’s father-in-law.

Died January 11, 1978 at Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.

West, Bert: Service no. 53521 Circa 1910 – 1919. I believe this is a milita uniform. Source: Via 18th Battalion Facebook Group post by family member. This soldier is also related to to John Douglass, reg. no. 53448 by marriage. John was Bert West’s father-in-law.

West, Bert: Service no. 53521 Circa 1914 – 1919 Source: Via 18th Battalion Facebook Group post by family member. This soldier is also related to to John Douglass, reg. no. 53448 by marriage. John was Bert West’s father-in-law.

Photos West, Bert: Service no. 53521

Source: Via 18th Battalion Facebook Group post by family member. This soldier is also related to to John Douglass, reg. no. 53448 by marriage. John was Bert West’s father-in-law.

Wrist Watch Comes to Soldiers Father Parent Worrying London Advertiser March 11 1916 Page 10 — London Advertiser. March 11, 1916. Page 10.

Summary of Service for Private Bert West, reg. no. 53871

Date	Event	Remarks
January 28, 1894	Born	Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada
October 28, 1914	Enlists	Enlists with the 18^th Battalion in Woodstock, Ontario. He lists his father, John West, as his next-of-kin residing at 46 Winnet Street, Woodstock. He is a 20-year old cabinet maker standing 5’ 8.5” tall and is of the Roman Catholic faith. He indicates he has militia experience but does not list the unit. He is assigned to “B” Company.
November 10, 1914	Inoculated	Anti-Typhoid
November 20, 1914	Inoculated	Anti-Typhoid
December 17, 1914	Vaccinated
April 18, 1914	Embarks for England	Leaves Halifax aboard the S.S. Grampian.
April 29, 1915	Arrives England	Disembarks Avonmouth and arrives West Sandling, Kent.
May 1, 1915	Assigns Pay	Assigns $15.00 per month to his mother, Johannah West.
September 15, 1915	Embarks for France	Embarks for France as the 4^th Canadian Infantry Brigade and the rest of the 2^nd Division set off for the Continent and to active service at the front.
May 23, 1916	Sentenced to Field Punishment	Sentences to two-days field punishment No. 1 for being “Absent from Fatigue.”
June 1, 1916	Sent to 5^th Canadian Field Ambulance	Suffering from “P.U.O.”, pyrexia of unknow origin. Typically flu like symptoms.
June 2, 1916	Transferred to 4^th Canadian Field Ambulance	Transfer probably due to capacity issues at 5^th C.F.A.
June 5, 1916	Discharged from 4^th Canadian Field Ambulance	After rest is returned to unit.
November 11, 1916	Attached duty to 2^nd Canadian Division Engineers Headquarters	Attached to 2^nd Division H.Q. for duty. No details as to reason. Probably for labour pool of this unit.
December 31, 1916	Returned to 18^th Battalion	After detached service returns to 18^th Battalion.
January 16, 1917	Leave	Granted 10-days leave.
December 10, 1917	Leave	Granted 14-days leave to the United Kingdom. Note that is was rare for a private soldier (other ranks) to be granted two leaves within a year. Some men got no leave and most that did only got one instance during the entire war.
December 27, 1917	Returns from Leave
April 24, 1918	Inoculated	Notes indicate “THB 1”.
April 4, 1919	Embarks for England	Embarks for England.
April 7, 1919	Dental Exam	Dental exam at Military District No. 1 in England before embarking to Canada. Notes indicate 30 fillings.
April 8, 1919	Medical Exam	Medical exam before being discharged.
May 24, 1919	Discharged	Discharged at Military District No. 1, London, Ontario. Eligible for “Class A Badge”. His proposed residence is 284 Dundas Street, Woodstock, Ontario.

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