Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | February 6, 1898 |
Place of Birth | Norman, Ontario |
Country | Canada |
Marital Status | Single |
Next of Kin | father - Joseph Gauthier, Norman, Ontario |
Trade / Calling | Lumberman |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 1036710 |
Service Record | Link to Service Record |
Battalion | 238th Battalion |
Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Branch | Canadian Infantry |
Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
Date of Enlistment | August 5, 1916 |
Age at Enlistment | 18 |
Theatre of Service | England |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | Yes |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | January 15, 1996 |
Age at Death | 98 |
Buried At | Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario |
Plot | RC B - 16 - 21 |
Albert Gauthier was born on 06 February 1898 in Norman, Ontario. His parents were Joseph Gauthier (a miner) and Rose Delima Messier. Marie Louise (Gagnon), Arthur and Archie were his siblings.
Albert spent much of his life in the Canadian wilderness – from the turn of the century to the late 1960’s. He was a lumberman and a miner and remembered feeling wealthy when he earned $26 a month in 1915.
At the age of 18, on 05 August 1916, Albert enlisted with the 238th Canadian Forestry Battalion in Winnipeg. Just over a month later he embarked with his unit from Halifax aboard the S.S. Scandinavian sailing to England. The Canadian Forestry Corps was formed in October 1916 and the 238th became part of it. The CFC provided lumber for the Allied war effort by cutting and preparing timber in the United Kingdom and on the continent of Europe. Forestry units also cleared terrain for the construction of installations such as airfields and runways, prepared railway ties, as well as lumber for the creation of barracks, road surfaces, ammunition crates, and trench construction. Albert served in England until 1919. He returned to Canada on 03 May 1919 from Kinmel Park Camp. Canadian troops were held in Kinmel Park Camp, Wales while they awaited transport home. The camp is famous for the riots that occurred there in March of 1919.
Albert was discharged in Port Arthur in May 1919. He returned to the Kenora area and spent some time working on steam boats and tug boats on Lake of the Woods. He also was a prospector in the area for many years and acquired a Miners Licence in 1934. He became a member of the Kenora Legion and on his application card listed his wife, Christina (Pollard) as his next of kin.
When WW2 broke out Albert enlisted again, signing his attestation papers on 20 April 1942. However, a short seven months later (on 11 December 1942) he was discharged as being physically unfit for service.
In 1971 Albert moved to Winnipeg and lived in downtown hotels until taking up residence at Veterans Manor.
Albert died on 15 January 1996, one month before his 98th birthday. He is buried in the Roman Catholic section of Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario.
Albert’s brother-in-law, William Gagnon (husband of his sister Marie Louise), also served in WW1.