Jul 10, 1888

Born at Montreal Quebec to Alphones and Almire Desautels

Aug 8, 1915

Attested into the 59^th Battalion at the Barriefield Camp, Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 455230

Ø      Next of kin given as Alphones Desautels, father, of Nort Viau, Laval des Rapides, Montreal Quebec

Ø      Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø      Assigned to “B” Company 

The Battalion trained at the Barriefield Camp, Kingston

Oct 19, 1915

Admitted to the Barriefield Camp Hospital diagnosed with a Hernia

Oct 22, 1915

Transferred to the Kingston Military Hospital

Nov 4, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days detention and forfeits 5 days pay.  The reason for this is not recorded in the file

Nov 18, 1915

Transferred to the Queen St Military Hospital, Kingston 

The file is unclear as to whether he served his detention in hospital or not.  It is also not recorded when he was discharged from hospital

Feb 28, 1916

Awarded a fine of 5 days pay.  The reason for this is not recorded in the file

Mar 28, 1916

Fined $6.00 for Drunkenness

Apr 1, 1916

Embarked the RMS Olympic at Halifax Nova Scotia

Apr 11, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England and proceeded to the Caesar’s Camp

Apr 12, 1916

Awarded 14 days CB (Confined to Barracks) for using abusive language to an NCO

Apr 13, 1916

Sentenced to 14 days CB (Confined to Barracks) for using obscene language

Apr 16, 1916

Absent from the Defaulter’s Roll Call and was discovered drunk in the barracks.  For this he was awarded 3 days Field Punishment #2

Jun 19, 1916

Placed under arrest for “striking his Superior Officer in the execution of his duties” at the Caesars Camp. 

Jul 3, 1916

Sentenced to 112 days in Detention With Hard Labour by District Court Martial

Jul 6, 1916

Pte Desautels was absorbed into the 39^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling, near Hythe, Kent

Jul 7, 1916

The sentence was promulgated and he was taken to the Detention Centre

Sep 10, 1916

Posted to the 21^st Battalion and released from Detention in order to proceed to France

Sep 11, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at the Rouelles Camp, Havre as part of a reinforcement draft of 48 Other Ranks and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Oct 1, 1916

Left the CBD for the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion

Oct 4, 1916

Joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion at Hersin

Oct 5, 1916

Left the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion with 45 other reinforcements destined for the 21^st Battalion

Oct 6, 1916

Joined the 21^st Battalion who had just moved into billets at Bouzencourt 

The “Superior Officer” that Pte Desautels assaulted in June was Lance Corporal William Gordon 454640, who joined the 21^st Battalion in September.  Imagine his surprise when Pte Desautels showed up in the Battalion in October!

Nov 25, 1916

Found to be drunk on duty at 3.00 pm

Nov 26, 1916

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment #1 for being drunk the previous day

Apr 9, 1917

Pte Desautels was killed during the advance on Vimy Ridge  

Because his body was either never found, or if so, was never identified, he is commemorated on the Vimy Ridge Memorial

Post war, the following were sent to his mother, Mrs E Desautels, at Laval Quebec 

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Memorial Cross 

The Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Mr A Desautels, at the same address