Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthFebruary 6, 1898
Place of BirthNorman, Ontario
CountryCanada
Marital StatusSingle
Next of Kinfather - Joseph Gauthier, Norman, Ontario
Trade / CallingLumberman
ReligionRoman Catholic
Service Details
Regimental Number1036710
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion238th Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Date of EnlistmentAugust 5, 1916
Age at Enlistment18
Theatre of ServiceEngland
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathJanuary 15, 1996
Age at Death98
Buried AtLake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario
PlotRC B - 16 - 21

Gauthier, Albert

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.

Gauthier-Albert-2 Gauthier-Albert-3 Gauthier-Albert-4


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