Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthJuly 11, 1862
Place of BirthFalkoping, Skaraborg
CountrySweden
Marital StatusMarried
Next of KinEmilia Gustafson (wife), Sandbol, Kila Parish, Varmland, Sweden
Trade / CallingLabourer/railroadman
ReligionLutheran
Service Details
Regimental Number913047
Service RecordLink to Service Record
Battalion197th Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Place of EnlistmentWinnipeg, Manitoba
Address at EnlistmentKenora, Ontario
Date of EnlistmentFebruary 26, 1916
Age at Enlistment53
Theatre of ServiceCanada
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details

Gustafson, Albert

Private Albert Gustafson was the son of Gustaf Jonsson and Anna Casja Andersdotter of Skaraborg, Vastra Gotaland, Sweden. He was born on 11 July 1862, with his birth registered in Luttra Parish, Falkoping, Skaraborg. When a clerical survey was taken in 1880 Albert was living at home in Gokhem, Skaraborg with his parents, six brothers (Karl Johan, Gottfrid, Ernst Emil, August, Martin, Gustaf) and one sister (Matilda Sofia). At the time Karl Johan was the oldest child, born in 1858, and Matilda the youngest, born in 1877.

Albert was married on 27 June 1899, at age 37, in Kila Parish, Varmland, Sweden. His wife, Emilia Andersdotter, was born on 23 December 1871 in Sandbol, Kila Parish. Her parents, Anders Andersson and Maria Olsdotter, were both born in Kila and they had at least four other children. Albert and Emilia had a son, Harald Eugene, who was born on 20 July 1899 in Kila. In November that same year Albert, Emilia and Harald were registered as emigrants travelling to Oslo, Norway. It’s not clear if they were moving to Norway or if they were on their way overseas. Albert, however, was living in Canada on his own by the time he enlisted.

Albert enlisted on 26 February 1916 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His occupation was labourer/railroad man, his address was Kenora, Ontario and next of kin was his wife Emilia in Sandbol, Kila, Sweden. Albert passed himself off as 45 years old when he was actually 53. He said he had served for two years with the army (infantry) in Sweden. He signed up with the 197th ‘Vikings of Canada’ Battalion, which was based in Winnipeg and recruited in western Canada. He trained with his unit for about nine months. At the end of November a medical report stated that he had general debility and he was overage, with his age now recorded correctly as 54. He was discharged from the army on 14 December 1916 in Winnipeg, due to being medically unfit for further service.

So far, nothing further is known about Albert.

By Becky Johnson


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