Craftsman Stanley George Sumsion

Stanley George Sumsion was born at Huntingdon, Quebec, on 6 February 1921. His father was George Sumsion; his mother died when he was nine. He completed Grade 6 and attended Ormstown Academy. Before enlistment he worked on mixed farms, including for the Brown family at Ormstown, and gained experience as a garage mechanic’s helper and furniture mover. He enjoyed skating, hunting, fishing and hockey. He enlisted at Montreal South on 23 February 1942, service number D-96183, and joined the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps as a Private. After basic training at Saint-Jerome, he attended motor-mechanic training at Motordrome Barracks in Montreal and further training at Barriefield, Ontario. He qualified as a Class III driver and proceeded overseas in December 1942. After service with No. 1 Canadian Ordnance Reinforcement Unit, he joined 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop in April 1943. He briefly held the appointment of Acting Lance Corporal before returning to Private at the end of that year. He transferred to the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as a Craftsman on 15 May 1944. His training included motor-vehicle fitting and waterproofing, and he ultimately qualified for Class A mechanical work. Sumsion crossed from Britain to France in July 1944 and served in northwest Europe. On 14 June 1945 he suffered a perforated ulcer and underwent emergency surgery at No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station. After treatment through the field medical system, he was evacuated to Britain and later returned to Canada aboard a hospital ship. Continuing ulcer symptoms led to his medical discharge at Montreal South on 26 September 1945. He hoped to pursue motor-mechanics training and civilian garage work. His recorded awards include the 1939–45 Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp and War Medal 1939–45. The France and Germany Star was certified in his 1945 records, although its entry was crossed out on a later medal card. He married Ann Marie (Nancy) Mack at Montreal on 12 July 1947. Sumsion died on 26 December 1977.

1921-02-06 — Born at Huntingdon, Quebec, son of George Sumsion
1930 approximately — Mother died when he was nine; later reported one brother and one sister; Quebec.
1930s to 1942 — Completed Grade 6, including schooling at Ormstown Academy; worked on mixed farms, as garage mechanic’s helper and as hotel furniture mover. English-speaking, skating, hunting, fishing and hockey left wing; Huntingdon; Ormstown; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-02-19 to 1942-02-20 — Recruiting medical: Category B1 for tachycardia, specialist advised re-examination after a month. Height 67.75 inches, weight 147 pounds, chest 36 expanded with 2 expansion; medium complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair, left-arm tattoo and vaccination mark; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-02-23 — Enlisted as Private D-96183, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, No. 4 District Depot; single, Church of England, labourer/farmhand, no previous military service, father George next of kin. Enlistment address 5543 Jeanne Mance, duplicate 3543; Montreal South, Quebec.
1942-02-23 — Executed service will; reported no common-law wife, children, insurance or supported dependants; Montreal South, Quebec.
1942-03-02 to 1942-03-03 — Transferred from No. 4 District Depot and attached to No. 44 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre; selection form gives earlier 26 February strength date; Saint-Jerome, Quebec.
1942-03-13 — Personnel selection recommended RCOC motor-mechanic trade training; could drive cars and trucks; No. 44 Basic Training Centre, Saint-Jerome, Quebec.
1942-04-08 to 1942-04-09 — Transferred to Motordrome Barracks and No. 4 District Depot vocational training wing; departure 8 April, receiving 9 April; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-04-18 to 1942-08-28 — Motor-mechanic course at Motordrome Barracks, approximate dates; recorded rating 864; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-06-30 — Taken on non-effective strength No. 4 Vocational Training School after departure from No. 4 DD on 29 June; remained attached to depot for rations and quarters; Motordrome Barracks, Montreal, Quebec.
1942-08-31 to 1942-09-13 — Fourteen days furlough with ration allowance 50 cents/day; Canada.
1942-09-16 — Taken on strength A-21 RCOC Training Centre, Barriefield, after departure from vocational school 15 September; Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-11-19 — Qualified Driver I/C Class III, excluding motorcycles; A-21 RCOC Training Centre, Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-11-19 to 1942-11-26 — Embarkation leave, transport warrant issued; Canada.
1942-12-08 — Struck off strength A-21 RCOC Training Centre before overseas movement; Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-12-11 to 1942-12-13 — Embarked overseas, departure 11/12 December differs by copy; Canadian strength ended 12 December, overseas strength began 13 December; Canada to United Kingdom.
1942-12-18 to 1942-12-19 — Disembarked Britain 18/19 December and reported 19 December to No. 1 Canadian Ordnance Reinforcement Unit; Bordon, England, United Kingdom.
1943-01-06 — Personnel selection interview; desired motor-mechanic work, but assessor recommended supervision and general duties; No. 1 CORU, United Kingdom.
1943-01-30 to 1943-02-04 — Hospitalized for laryngitis and tracheitis, recovered and returned to unit duty; No. 1 Canadian Medical Centre, Bordon, England, United Kingdom.
1943-02-10 — Passed driver I/C trade test. Mechanic qualification/failure differs among copied entries; later mechanic classifications are explicit; No. 1 CORU, United Kingdom.
1943-03-01 — Progressive service pay recorded as $1.50 after six months; duplicate pay entries give 1 January effective date; No. 1 CORU, United Kingdom.
1943-04-02 — Taken on strength 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop from No. 1 CORU after 1 April departure; Driver Mechanic Group C trade pay, later copy gives 14 April; United Kingdom.
1943-04-09 to 1943-04-15 — Privilege leave; United Kingdom.
1943-07-28 — Dental prophylaxis and upper-right first-molar extraction by No. 2 Company, Canadian Dental Corps; 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop, United Kingdom.
1943-08-02 to 1943-09-05 — Attached to 6 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop for all purposes; separate pay attachment entry 21 August; returned to parent 5 Brigade workshop; United Kingdom.
1943-08-16 to 1943-08-22 — Privilege leave; United Kingdom.
1943-10-05 — Appointed Acting Lance Corporal; 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop, United Kingdom.
1943-11-13 — Next-of-kin address changed to father George, 1800 Sherbrooke Street West; Montreal, Quebec.
1943-12-02 to 1943-12-07 — Driver I/C qualification by regimental board; date 2/7 December differs between copies; 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop, United Kingdom.
1943-12-31 — Ceased Acting Lance Corporal appointment, reverted to Private; 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop, United Kingdom.
1944-01-14 to 1944-02-17 — Fitter MV course at No. 1 CORU, CMHQ Course 1083; initially described as three-month attachment but recorded return 17 February; United Kingdom.
1944-01-15 — Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and clasp recorded; United Kingdom.
1944-02-21 to 1944-02-24 — Waterproofing course, attached to Headquarters 2 Canadian Division; end date in interline uncertain; United Kingdom.
1944-02-23 — First Good Conduct Badge effective this date; place entered later as France/21 Army Group does not establish February deployment; 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop, United Kingdom.
1944-05-15 — Transferred from Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps to Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, rank Craftsman, same brigade workshop; United Kingdom.
1944-06-08 — Reclassified Driver/Vehicle Mechanic MV, Class C in copied trade records; 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop, United Kingdom.
1944-07-06 to 1944-07-08 — Embarked United Kingdom 6 July; disembarked France 7/8 July, exact day differs by copy; 21 Army Group; United Kingdom to France.
1944-08-14 — Amalgam restorations completed by No. 2 Company, Canadian Dental Corps; 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop, northwest Europe.
1944-10-01 to 1944-10-22 — Fitter MV trade qualifications and pay: B effective 1/12 October and A/B correction at 22 October differ among copies; later final Class A established; 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop, northwest Europe.
1945-02-09 — Reclassified Vehicle Mechanic MV, Class A; 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshop, northwest Europe.
1945-05-24 to 1945-06-05 — Eleven days privilege leave to United Kingdom, return recorded 5 June; Northwest Europe; United Kingdom.
1945-06-04 to 1945-06-13 — Transfer to RCEME X-3 list: departure 4 June, receiving 13 June; chronology precedes recorded ulcer onset and remains as entered; Northwest Europe.
1945-06-14 — Acute abdominal pain began about 1700, admitted through 18 Canadian Field Ambulance to No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station; perforated gastric/pyloroduodenal ulcer, surgically closed at 2230 under spinal anaesthetic. Origin described as Holland/Germany in later records; isolated Italy history conflicts; Northwest Europe.
1945-06-23 — Transferred from No. 2 CCS to No. 7 Canadian General Hospital, recovering well; Germany, northwest Europe.
1945-06-25 — Stitches removed, wound healed, soft diet; No. 7 Canadian General Hospital, Germany.
1945-06-27 to 1945-06-30 — Evacuated to Britain for boarding: decision 27 June, air evacuation record 28 June, field dressing station 28 June, embarkation/evacuation 29 June, UK admission 29/30 June; Germany to United Kingdom.
1945-06-30 to 1945-07-13 — No. 17 Canadian General Hospital treatment for postoperative perforated gastric ulcer; good general condition and well-healed wound; United Kingdom.
1945-07-02 to 1945-07-09 — Medical repatriation board recommended P5R, unfit further theatre service; berth transportation. Certificate approved 9 July; No. 17 Canadian General Hospital, United Kingdom.
1945-07-13 — Discharged hospital to No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot, P5R; receiving 13 July, duplicate departure entry 12 July; United Kingdom.
1945-07-13 — Repatriation interview: still unwell, following ulcer diet, interested in full-time motor-mechanics training; further Quebec counselling recommended; No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot, United Kingdom.
1945-08-02 to 1945-08-03 — Repatriation strength transfer: No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot SOS 2 August, No. 4 DD receiving strength 3 August. Hospital-ship embarkation 3 August establishes physical voyage separately; United Kingdom to Canada.
1945-08-03 — Embarked No. 2 Canadian Hospital Ship for Canada; maintained ulcer diet, voyage uneventful. Arrival day/port not established; United Kingdom to Canada.
1945-08-07 — Medal entitlement certification: 1939–45 Star, France and Germany Star and Defence Medal; later card/certificate cross-outs retained in research notes; Canadian Army medal administration, location unstated.
1945-08-14 to 1945-09-12 — Leave and ration allowance recorded after return; another copy starts 19 August; Canada.
1945-09-13 to 1945-09-21 — Medical consultation and 17 September barium series: old duodenal ulcer/deformed duodenal cap, pain after greasy/full meals; P5 and medical release with DVA follow-up recommended; Montreal Military Hospital, Montreal, Quebec.
1945-09-22 to 1945-09-25 — Release medical board confirmed postoperative ulcer and left otitis media, P5 U1 L1 H1 E1 M1 S1; DVA supervision/treatment recommended; No. 4 District Depot, Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-09-25 — Vocational counselling: Grade 6 Ormstown Academy, farm/garage experience, preferred mechanics and training; referred DVA medical officer, employment and training counsellors; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-09-25 — Discharge dental examination, amalgam fillings and prophylaxis required; No. 24 Dental Company, Montreal, Quebec.
1945-09-26 — Medically discharged as Craftsman, RCEME, unable to meet military physical standards under RO/CARO 1029(10). Certificates, signed acknowledgement and final correspondence control 24 September financial calculation date. $100 clothing allowance and 30 days rank pay; No. 4 District Depot, Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-10-05 to 1945-10-09 — Grants enquiry confirmed no dependants allowance and no unrecovered allowance/assigned-pay overpayment; separate pay-and-allowance debt later deducted; Montreal, Quebec.
1945-10-24 — Service will dated 23 February 1942 returned by registered letter; 470 Prince Arthur Street West, Montreal, Quebec.
1945-11-20 to 1945-11-26 — Gratuity computations used 24 September termination/1310 qualifying days, versus signed 26 September discharge. 966 overseas days; $693.33 gross less $4.50 pay debt = $688.83 net, seven instalments stated $98.40; 470 Prince Arthur Street West, Montreal, Quebec.
1945-12-05 to 1945-12-12 — Enquired about missing first gratuity cheque 5 December; Treasury confirmed cheque mailed 7 December in reply dated 12 December; 470 Prince Arthur Street West, Apartment B, Montreal, Quebec.
1947-07-12 — Married Ann Marie (Nancy) Mack, as recorded in existing CWVMP notes; Montreal, Quebec.
1949-11-02 — Campaign medals dispatched; card crosses out France and Germany Star while earlier certified entitlement lists it; Canadian Army medal administration, location unstated.
1971-01-28 — Second General Service War Service Badge issued; address 3251–6th Street; Chomedey, Laval, Quebec.
1977-12-26 — Died on this date according to official death notification, one year later than existing CWVMP 1976 entry; notification place N/S not expanded; Death notification, place not specified.
1978-03-10 — Death notification apparently dated 10 March 1978, reporting 26 December 1977 death; supplied by Montreal District; Montreal District, Quebec.