Sapper Alfred Stanbery

Survivor of WW1

Date of Death:

Biography General Links Ranks Chronology Print

Service Biography

Alfred Stanbery was born in London, England, on 21 April 1880. A single Church of England labour foreman living at Chateauguay, Quebec, he enlisted at Montreal on 5 July 1916 as Private 1081669 with No. 1 Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. He went overseas in September 1916 and served in France with the unit after its redesignation as the 1st Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops. He was discharged at Montreal on 16 May 1919 following demobilization. He died at Shaughnessy Hospital on 9 December 1967.

General Information

Conflict:

WW1

Regimental No.:

1081669

Cause of Death (in war):

Survived

Branch:

Canadian Expeditionary Force

Regiment:

Canadian Railway Troops

Battalion:

1st Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops

Company:

Date of Birth :

Place of Birth:

London, England

Date of Enlistment:

Age at Enlistment:

36 years 2 months

Date of Discharge:

Age at Discharge:

39 years

Date of Death:

Age at Death:

87 years 7 months

Country Born:

England

Trade or Calling:

Labour Foreman

Next of Kin:

Emily Stanbery, sister, 44 Bedford Road, London, England

Address at Enlistment:

1 Robinson Street, Chateauguay, Quebec

Religion:

Church of England

Place of Enlistment:

Montreal, Quebec

Was a Prisoner of War:

Height:

5 ft 7.3 in / 171 cm

Weight:

166 lbs / 75 kg

Chest:

39.5 in / 100 cm

Expansion:

4.5 in / 11 cm

Marital Status:

Single

Prior Military Experience:

Yes

Saw Service in:

Europe

Place of Discharge:

Montreal, Quebec

Discharge Type:

Regular/End of Service

Discharge Notes:

Battle Died/Wounded:

Length of Service:

1045 days in service

Buried at:

Links

Library and Archives Canada Service Record

Canadian Great War Project

Ranks

Conflict	Rank	Regiment	Branch	Unit
WW1	Sapper	Canadian Railway Troops	Canadian Expeditionary Force	1st Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops
Reverted to the ranks at his own request.
WW1	Acting Corporal	Canadian Railway Troops	Canadian Expeditionary Force	1st Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops
WW1	Acting Corporal	No. 1 Construction Battalion	Canadian Expeditionary Force	No. 1 Construction Battalion
WW1	Acting Lance Corporal	No. 1 Construction Battalion	Canadian Expeditionary Force	No. 1 Construction Battalion
WW1	Provisional Lance Corporal	No. 1 Construction Battalion	Canadian Expeditionary Force	No. 1 Construction Battalion
WW1	Private	No. 1 Construction Battalion	Canadian Expeditionary Force	No. 1 Construction Battalion

Service Chronology

1880-04-21 — Born
1916-07-05 — Attested/enlisted with No. 1 Construction Battalion, C.E.F.
1916-09-05 — Appointed provisional lance corporal
1916-09-12 — Appointed acting lance corporal
1916-09-13 — Embarked Canada aboard S.S. Northland
1916-09-23 — Disembarked in England aboard S.S. Northland
1916-10-21 — Appointed acting corporal
1916-10-25 — No. 1 Construction Battalion proceeded overseas
1916-10-26 — Landed in France
1917-02-10 — Unit redesignated 1st Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops
1917-04-17 — Reverted to the ranks at own request
1917-06-30 — Admitted to No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance; N.A.D.
1917-07-01 — Discharged to duty
1917-09-06 — Granted 10 days leave in France
1917-09-19 — Rejoined unit from leave
1917-12-14 — Sentenced to 21 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being drunk while on duty
1918-02-11 — Granted 14 days leave to United Kingdom
1918-02-27 — Rejoined unit from leave
1918-04-26 — Admitted to 43 Casualty Clearing Station
1918-05-06 — Transferred from 43 Casualty Clearing Station to 33 A.T.
1918-05-07 — Admitted to 6 General Hospital
1918-05-09 — Admitted to 2 Canadian Depot
1918-05-27 — Further transfer/posting recorded from 2 Canadian Depot
1918-05-30 — Taken on strength / posting recorded with C.B.D.
1918-06-04 — Reported from C.B.D. for unit
1918-06-14 — Rejoined from further posting/attachment
1919-01-14 — Transferred from France to England for return/demobilization processing
1919-01-27 — Taken on strength / attached for reporting process
1919-02-26 — Struck off strength pending return to Canada / demobilization processing
1919-04-20 — Hospital epitome records admission to 9 Canadian General Hospital, Kimmel Park
1919-04-23 — Medical-history ledger records admission at Military Hospital, Kimmel Park; N.A.D.
1919-04-28 — Discharged to unit from Kimmel Park
1919-05-03 — Struck off strength / embarked for Canada aboard H.M.T. Royal George
1919-05-14 — Disembarked in Canada aboard H.M.T. Royal George
1919-05-15 — Taken on strength, District Depot No. 4, for demobilization
1919-05-16 — Struck off strength and discharged on demobilization
1967-12-09 — Died

Notes

At enlistment he was approximately 5 ft 7¼ in tall and weighed 166 lb, with a chest measurement of 35-39½ in and good physical development. He had a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. The medical history records dental caries and a cataract of the left eye as slight defects. Later leaving-service examinations describe him as in good health and record tattoos, including a saw through a heart and other forearm designs.

Additional Service Notes

Enlisted at Montreal on 5 July 1916 as Private 1081669 with No. 1 Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was appointed provisional lance corporal on 5 September 1916, acting lance corporal on 12 September, and acting corporal on 21 October. He embarked at Halifax on 13 September 1916 aboard S.S. Northland, disembarked at Liverpool on 23 September, proceeded overseas from Witley on 25 October and landed in France on 26 October. The unit became the 1st Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops in February 1917. He reverted to the ranks at his own request effective 17 April 1917 and thereafter served as a Sapper. His record includes admission to No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance on 30 June 1917, leave in France in September 1917, 21 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being drunk while on duty in December 1917, 14 days leave to the United Kingdom in February 1918, and a medical/administrative sequence beginning at 43 Casualty Clearing Station on 26 April 1918. In January 1919 he transferred to England and was processed for return to Canada. He embarked at Liverpool aboard H.M.T. Royal George on 3 May 1919, disembarked at Halifax on 14 May, and was discharged at Montreal on 16 May 1919 on demobilization.

Additional Next of Kin Notes

At attestation Emily Stanbery, sister, was next of kin at 44 Bedford Road, London, England. Later personnel and family records name Mrs. W. Weston, sister, at 176 St. Timothee Street, Montreal. The service file does not explicitly establish that these are the same woman, so they are retained as separate documented sister/next-of-kin entries.

Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-05 02:05:02 by: marc