Canadian War Veterans Memorial Project
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Private Joseph Wilmer McCanse

Survivor of WW1

Biography General Links Ranks Chronology Print

Service Biography

Joseph Wilmer McCanse was born at Hemmingford, Quebec, on 20 December 1888. A blacksmith before service, he was drafted under the Military Service Act at Montreal on 7 June 1918. He transferred to the Canadian Engineers and served in England with the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalions. He was treated for bronchitis in August and September 1918, recovered, and returned to his unit. He returned to Canada aboard S.S. Belgic and was discharged on demobilization at Montreal on 8 July 1919.

General Information

Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
3085426
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Canadian Engineers
Battalion:
3rd Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalion
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Hemmingford, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
29 years 5 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
30 years 6 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Blacksmith
Next of Kin:
James McCanse (father), Hemmingford, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Hemmingford, Quebec
Religion:
Presbyterian
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 7.3 in / 171 cm
Weight:
130 lbs / 59 kg
Chest:
30.0 in / 76 cm
Expansion:
3.0 in / 8 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:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
396 days in service
Buried at:
Library and Archives Canada Service Record
Canadian Great War Project

Ranks

Conflict Rank Regiment Branch Unit Company Date From Date To
WW1 Private Canadian Engineers Army 3rd Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalion
Final substantive overseas unit and discharge certificate unit.
WW1 Private Canadian Engineers Army District Depot No. 4, Dispersal Station F
Demobilization unit; not default.
WW1 Private Canadian Engineers Army 2nd Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalion
England reserve-engineer posting.
WW1 Private 1st Quebec Regiment Army 1st Depot Battalion
Initial depot unit; transferred to Canadian Engineers the same day.
WW1 Private Canadian Engineers Army Canadian Engineers
Transferred to Canadian Engineers on enlistment; embarked for England 29 Jun and arrived 22 Jul.

Service Chronology

1888-12-20 — Born.
1918-06-07 — Drafted under the Military Service Act; joined 1st Depot Battalion, 1st Quebec Regiment and transferred to the Canadian Engineers.
1918-06-29 — Embarked from Canada for England.
1918-07-22 — Arrived in England aboard S.S. Saturnia and was taken on strength from Canada.
1918-07-26 — Taken on strength of the 2nd Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalion.
1918-08-06 — Struck off strength of the 2nd Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalion for transfer to the 3rd Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalion.
1918-08-07 — Taken on strength of the 3rd Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalion.
1918-08-15 — Admitted to No. 14 Canadian General Hospital with bronchitis.
1918-08-21 — Transferred from No. 14 Canadian General Hospital during bronchitis treatment.
1918-08-22 — Admitted to No. 13 Canadian General Hospital with bronchitis.
1918-09-16 — Discharged from No. 13 Canadian General Hospital after bronchitis cleared; returned to unit in Category A2.
1919-06-23 — Struck off strength of the 3rd Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalion for Canada and embarked at Liverpool aboard S.S. Belgic.
1919-07-01 — Disembarked from S.S. Belgic at Halifax.
1919-07-08 — Taken on strength of District Depot No. 4 Dispersal Station 'F' and struck off strength on demobilization; discharged.

Notes

At enlistment he was 5 ft 7 1/4 in tall, weighed 130 lb, had a 30 in minimum chest expanding to 33 in, dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. Medical category A2. Bronchitis treated in England in August-September 1918; recovered and returned to his unit in Category A2.

Additional Service Notes

Drafted under the Military Service Act at Montreal on 7 June 1918. He was initially with the 1st Depot Battalion, 1st Quebec Regiment and transferred to the Canadian Engineers. In England he served with the 2nd and then 3rd Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalions. He was hospitalized for bronchitis in August-September 1918, returned to his unit in Category A2, and returned to Canada aboard S.S. Belgic in June-July 1919. He was discharged on demobilization at Montreal on 8 July 1919.

Additional Next of Kin Notes

Father James McCanse of Hemmingford, Quebec, was recorded as next of kin. Joseph Wilmer McCanse's will, dated 7 June 1918, left his estate to James McCanse.

Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-08-31 02:05:03 by: marc