Private Daniel William Bryson

Survivor of WW2

Date of Death:

Biography General Ranks Awards Chronology Print

Service Biography

Daniel William Bryson was born at Ormstown, Quebec, on 25 September 1920. He completed Grade VIII at Ormstown High School and worked as a farm hand before enlisting at Montreal on 5 May 1940 as D-82313. He served with The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Mediterranean theatre and Northwest Europe. In April 1943 he suffered fractures of the left tibia and fibula in a motor-lorry accident and underwent lengthy hospital treatment and rehabilitation in England. He married Rose Edith Grace Ansell at Hailsham, Sussex, on 16 July 1942. He later served in Italy and France and was wounded in action on 11 October 1944 while remaining on duty. His awards included the 1939–45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and War Medal 1939–45. He returned to Canada in 1945 and was discharged at Montreal South on 13 September 1945 on demobilization.

General Information

Ranks

Conflict Rank Regiment Branch Unit Company Date From Date To
WW2 Private The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada Canadian Army 1st Battalion

Awards

Conflict Award Action Date of Award Date of Citation Source
WW2 1939–45 Star Import p. 130
WW2 Italy Star Import p. 130
WW2 France and Germany Star Import p. 130
WW2 Defence Medal Import p. 130
WW2 Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp Import pp. 3, 130
WW2 War Medal 1939–45 Import p. 130
WW2 War Service Badge, General Service Class, no. 218597 Import pp. 2, 130

Service Chronology

1920-09-25 — Born
1940-05-05 — Enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force
1940-05-24 — Posted to duty with 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada
1940-08 — Proceeded overseas with 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada
1940-11-08 — Reported sick with measles; treated at Military Hospital
1941-01-09 — Qualified as Driver I.C. Class III
1941-01-13 — Qualified as Driver I.C. Class II
1941-06-20 — Struck off strength to Canadian Army Overseas organization
1941-06-21 — Taken on strength and posted to Canadian Infantry Holding Unit
1941-10-06 to 1941-10-13 — Privilege leave
1941-12-03 — Temporary course/attachment entry recorded
1942-01-30 to 1942-02-02 — Privilege leave
1942-04-01 — Attached for motor-transport-related duty
1942-04-20 to 1942-04-22 — Reported sick and returned to duty
1942-04-30 to 1942-05-07 — Privilege leave
1942-07-09 — Struck off strength to The Black Watch
1942-07-10 — Taken on strength from Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit
1942-07-15 — Qualified as Driver I.C.
1942-07-16 — Married Rose Edith Grace Ansell with military permission
1942-08-24 to 1942-08-31 — Privilege leave
1942-09-19 — Daughter born
1942-11-30 — Began nine days privilege leave
1943-01-01 — Granted daily regimental rate of pay of $1.50
1943-02-22 to 1943-03-01 — Seven days privilege leave with ration allowance
1943-04-08 — Motor-lorry accident; fractured left tibia and fibula and injured left clavicle
1943-04-08 — Admitted to Royal West Sussex Hospital after the motor-lorry accident
1943-04-10 — Transferred to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital
1943-08-23 — Transferred to No. 16 Canadian General Hospital
1943-09-07 — Transferred for convalescence/rehabilitation
1943-11-04 — Transferred to Canadian convalescent/depot organization
1943-12-07 — Discharged from convalescent/depot organization
1944-01-15 — Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp entitlement recorded
1944-02-21 to 1944-03-09 — Attended unit driver/mechanical school and qualified Q2
1944-03-16 — Struck off strength of 5th Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit to 4th Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit
1944-03-16 — Taken on strength of 4th Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit
1944-05-02 — Struck off strength in the United Kingdom as part of overseas reinforcement movement
1944-05 — Entered Mediterranean reinforcement/X-list system following departure from the United Kingdom
1944-10-11 — Wounded in action and remained on duty
1945-03-10 — Embarked from Italy
1945-03-12 — Disembarked in France
1945-06-04 to 1945-06-18 — Attached to 2 Repatriation Depot
1945-06-18 — Struck off strength of Canadian Army Overseas for return to Canada
1945-06-21 — Taken on strength in Canada from Canadian Army Overseas
1945-06-29 to 1945-07-28 — Granted leave and ration allowance
1945-08-07 — Volunteered for Pacific-theatre service
1945-08-22 — Struck off strength to C.I.T.C. A-12
1945-08-23 — Taken on strength at C.I.T.C. A-12
1945-09-10 — Struck off strength to No. 4 District Depot
1945-09-13 — Discharged on demobilization / return to civil life

Notes

Completed Grade VIII at Ormstown High School. Before enlistment worked as a farm hand on his father’s mixed farm and at Jersey Health Farms. English-speaking. Post-discharge counselling described him as suitable for light truck-driving or other light labour because of residual effects from the left-leg fracture and war wound.

[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]

Reported for duty on June 4. 1940, accepted June 5. 1940. Born at Allan's Corners. Que. on September 25, 1919
Request confirmation number EA2026_0170688

Additional Service Notes

Enlisted at Montreal on 5 May 1940 as D-82313 and served with The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. He proceeded overseas in 1940 and served in the United Kingdom, qualifying as a driver and later completing additional driver/mechanical training. He married Rose Edith Grace Ansell at Hailsham, Sussex, on 16 July 1942. On 8 April 1943 he was injured in a motor-lorry accident, fracturing the left tibia and fibula and injuring the left clavicle, and underwent prolonged hospital treatment and rehabilitation in England. In early 1944 he completed a unit driver/mechanical course, qualified Q2, and transferred between Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Units in the United Kingdom. The May 1944 forms clearly show preparation for movement from the United Kingdom into the Mediterranean reinforcement system, but several unit/X-list abbreviations remain partly illegible and are not expanded beyond the source. He later served in the Mediterranean theatre and Northwest Europe and was wounded in action on 11 October 1944 while remaining on duty. In March 1945 he moved from Italy to France; in June he passed through 2 Repatriation Depot before returning to Canada. He was discharged at Montreal South on 13 September 1945 on demobilization.

Additional Next of Kin Notes

Family form dated 6 May 1940 records father George Bryson and mother Mrs. Christina Margaret Bryson at St. Andrews East, Quebec; at that time he reported no wife or children. He married Rose Edith Grace Ansell at Hailsham, Sussex, England, on 16 July 1942 with military permission, after which his next of kin was changed to Mrs. Rose Edith Grace Bryson. The service form records the birth of a daughter on 19 September 1942 at Hailsham, Sussex; the child’s given name is partly legible on the surviving form.

Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-19 19:18:47 by: marc