Sep 25, 1877

Born in London, England

Dec 26, 1904

Married to Emma Mabel Scriven in Bristol, Gloucestershire

Apr 13, 1912

Embarked the SS Laurentic in Liverpool with his wife Mabel and 2 sons

Apr 20, 1912

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Belleville, Ontario

Jul 29, 1915

Attested into the 59^th Battalion CEF in Belleville, Ontario

Ø  Number 455132

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Alfred Best, wife, 149 Bridge St. W., Belleville, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  Previous military experience given as 2 years in the Gloucester, Regiment in England

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to the Machine Gun Section

The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area

Apr 1, 1916

Embarked the SS Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Apr 11, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded to the Bordon Camp

Jun 23, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot in the Risboro Barracks, Shorncliffe

Aug 24, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Aug 25, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Aug 28, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Best joined the 21^st Battalion resting in Zouafques, France

Oct 10, 1916

Admitted to the No. 9 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), sometimes referred to as Trench Fever

Oct 16, 1916

Discharged from the field ambulance and rejoined the 21^st Battalion in billets near Divion, France

Jul 29, 1917

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Oct 29, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Nov 9, 1917

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the front line at Passchendaele, Belgium

Nov 3, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Nov 21, 1918

Rejoined the battalion in Belgium while on the march towards the Rhine

Dec 13, 1918

The 21^st Battalion crossed the Bonn Bridge to enter Germany as part of the Occupying Force and proceeded to Seigburg

Apr 3, 1919

Embarked the Western Australia in Havre, France

On arrival in England, he was posted to the “P” Wing in Witley pending return to Canada

May 14, 1919

Embarked the SS Caronia in Liverpool

May 22, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded by train to Kingston, Ontario

May 24, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 277449

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 9 Bisley St., Toronto, Ontario

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 9 Bisley St., Toronto, Ontario