Private Liguori Leduc
Survivor of WW1
Service Biography
Liguori Leduc was born at Valleyfield, Quebec, on 4 December 1901, the son of Hormidas and Philemma Leduc. A cotton mill spinner, he enlisted at Cornwall, Ontario, on 8 March 1917 as Private 1090384 with the 253rd (Queen's University Highland) Battalion. He gave an older date of birth on enlistment and was sent overseas to England, where he served with reserve and young-soldier units. His true age was subsequently established, and he was returned to Canada because he was underage. He was discharged at Montreal on 22 January 1918 at age 16.
General Information
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
1090384
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Young Soldiers Battalion
Battalion:
Young Soldiers Battalion
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Valleyfield, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
15 years 3 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
16 years 1 month
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Cotton Mill Spinner
Next of Kin:
Hormidas Leduc, father — Valleyfield, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Valleyfield, Quebec
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Place of Enlistment:
Cornwall, Ontario
Was a Prisoner of War:
Height:
5 ft 3.0 in / 160 cm
Weight:
120 lbs / 54 kg
Chest:
34.0 in / 86 cm
Expansion:
2.0 in / 5 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Great Britain
Place of Discharge:
Montreal, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Discharged at Montreal on 22 January 1918 because he was underage / a minor, under K.R.&O. 392(6a). The Certificate of Service independently states that he served in England and was discharged because he was a minor. Although the Last Pay Certificate uses the shorthand 'Med. Unfit', the Medical History of an Invalid and Medical Board found no disease or disability, stated he was otherwise fit for service, and classified him A-4. The discharge was therefore for age, not for a medical disability. Conduct and character were recorded as Fair.
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
320 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Private |
Young Soldiers Battalion |
Army |
Young Soldiers Battalion |
|
|
|
| Young Soldiers Battalion at Bexhill. Source records use overlapping 22/23 Sep transfer/report dates; exact single-day boundary not forced. |
| WW1 |
Private |
Casualty Unit |
Army |
No. 4 Casualty Unit, Military District No. 4 |
|
|
|
| No.4 Casualty Unit, M.D.4; final Canadian administrative unit before discharge for underage. |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Discharge Depot |
Army |
Canadian Discharge Depot |
|
|
|
| Canadian Discharge Depot, Buxton; embarked Liverpool for Canada 7 Dec 1917. |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Reserve Battalion |
Army |
5th Canadian Reserve Battalion |
|
|
|
| 5th Canadian Reserve Battalion at West Sandling; service/theatre card records England from 7 May 1917. |
| WW1 |
Private |
253rd Battalion |
Army |
253rd (Queen's University Highland) Battalion |
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1901-12-04 — Born.
1917-03-08 — Attested and enlisted as Private 1090384, 253rd (Queen's University Highland) Battalion.
1917-05-06 — Transferred from 253rd Battalion to 5th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
1917-05-07 — England service / arrival date recorded.
1917-09-22 to 1917-09-23 — Transfer from 5th Canadian Reserve Battalion to Young Soldiers Battalion recorded.
1917-11-12 — Taken on strength Canadian Discharge Depot.
1917-12-07 — Embarked for Canada from Liverpool.
1917-12-14 — Ceased on command / struck off strength on proceeding to Canada.
1917-12-22 — Taken on strength Casualty Unit, Military District No. 4.
1917-12-28 — Medical Board found no disease/disability; otherwise fit; classified A-4.
1918-01-22 — Discharged because underage / a minor under K.R.&O. 392(6a).
1919-09-09 — Certificate of Service issued following loss of permanent discharge certificate.
Notes
Liguori Leduc enlisted while underage. His attestation gave 7 Oct 1898 and age 18y5m, but the Medical History of an Invalid records DOB 4 Dec 1901 and age 16, while Proceedings on Discharge records age 16y1m. He was otherwise fit for service and was returned from England under K.R.&O. para. 392 and Army Council Instructions 1186 of 1916 solely because of age. Identifying marks: tattoo on right forearm and a pierced-heart design; fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair. Medical board found no disease/disability and classified him A-4.
Additional Service Notes
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Father Hormidas/Harmedois Leduc and mother Philemma Leduc were both living at Valleyfield, Quebec. Assigned pay of $20 monthly was made to his mother.
Research Notes
Actual DOB is 4 Dec 1901 from the Medical History of an Invalid; the 7 Oct 1898 attestation DOB was false/claimed to appear older. He was 15 when he attested and 16 at discharge. England chronology is source-supported as follows: transferred from 253rd Battalion to 5th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 6 May 1917 at West Sandling; service/theatre card shows England from 7 May; September 1917 documents record transfer to the Young Soldiers Battalion at Bexhill with overlapping report/effective dates on 22/23 Sep that cannot be reduced further without over-reading; taken on strength Canadian Discharge Depot, Buxton, 12 Nov; embarked Liverpool for Canada 7 Dec; taken on strength Casualty Unit M.D.4 by 22 Dec; Medical Board 28 Dec; discharged 22 Jan 1918 underage.
