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 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.
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 18th 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 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade and the rest of the 2nd 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 5th Canadian Field Ambulance | Suffering from “P.U.O.”, pyrexia of unknow origin. Typically flu like symptoms. |
| June 2, 1916 | Transferred to 4th Canadian Field Ambulance | Transfer probably due to capacity issues at 5th C.F.A. |
| June 5, 1916 | Discharged from 4th Canadian Field Ambulance | After rest is returned to unit. |
| November 11, 1916 | Attached duty to 2nd Canadian Division Engineers Headquarters | Attached to 2nd Division H.Q. for duty. No details as to reason. Probably for labour pool of this unit. |
| December 31, 1916 | Returned to 18th Battalion | After detached service returns to 18th 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. |
