Sergeant Emile Quesnel
Survivor of WW1
Service Biography
Emile Quesnel was born in Quebec on 2 December 1887. A Roman Catholic commercial traveller living at 200 Parc Lafontaine, Montreal, he enlisted at Montreal on 14 April 1916 and initially served as a Lieutenant with the 178th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. His officer service ended on 15 July 1916, and the following day he was taken on strength as Sergeant 856653. The surviving record does not state why his status changed. He was recorded absent on leave from 21 September 1916 and was formally discharged as a deserter on 21 October 1916.
General Information
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
856653
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Regiment:
Canadian Infantry
Battalion:
178th Battalion
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
25 years 6 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
26 years
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Commercial Traveller
Next of Kin:
Mrs. E. R. Quesnel, mother, 200 Parc Lafontaine, Montreal, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
200 Parc Lafontaine, Montreal, Quebec
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
Weight:
Chest:
Expansion:
Marital Status:
Not Specified
Prior Military Experience:
Yes
Saw Service in:
Canada
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Discharge due to Courts Martial
Discharge Notes:
Deserter
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
190 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Sergeant |
Canadian Infantry |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
178th Battalion |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Lieutenant |
Canadian Infantry |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
178th Battalion |
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1887-12-02 — Born
1916-04-14 — Enlisted; taken on strength as Lieutenant
1916-07-15 — Struck off strength as Lieutenant
1916-07-16 — Taken on strength as Sergeant 856653
1916-09-09 — Transferred to the 178th Battalion
1916-09-21 — Recorded absent on leave; later shown on separate pay list
1916-10-21 — Formally discharged; disposition Deserter
Notes
The officer declaration records active-militia service with the 85th Battalion and former service as a Private in a Cadet Corps at Sherbrooke, Quebec. His occupation was commercial traveller and his Montreal address was 200 Parc Lafontaine. The surviving file contains no usable height, weight or chest measurements.
Additional Service Notes
Enlisted at Montreal on 14 April 1916 with the 178th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and initially served as a Lieutenant. His officer pay card records him struck off strength on 15 July 1916. A separate other-rank card records him taken on strength the following day as Sergeant 856653. The surviving record does not state why his status changed. The Sergeant card records a transfer to the 178th Battalion on 9 September 1916 and absence on leave from 21 September 1916. Proceedings-on-Discharge coding records him discharged as a deserter on 21 October 1916.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Mrs. E. R. Quesnel, his widowed mother, was next of kin and separation-allowance beneficiary at 200 Parc Lafontaine, Montreal, Quebec.
Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-04 02:05:03
by: marc
