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Jan 22, 1890
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Born in Mattawa,
Ontario to Joseph and Annie (nee O’Brien) Desermeau
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Feb 11, 1915
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Attested into the
21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario
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Number 59256
(temporary number 1236)
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Next of kin given
as Annie O’Brien, Mattawa, Ontario
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Previous
occupation given as Timber Cruiser
o
Later noted as
Forest Ranger
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No previous
military experience given
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Religion given as
Roman Catholic
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Posted to the Base
Unit
Albert's
brother, Frank
Desermeau, attested into the battalion the same day
The 21st
Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of
1914-15.
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS
Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling
Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training
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Jun 21, 1915
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To be employed as
Post Office Clerk
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Jul 18, 1915
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Reported to be AWL
(Absent Without Leave)
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Jul 19, 1915
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Reported for duty
and fined 2 day’s pay for his absence
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St.
Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Jun 5, 1916
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Granted 9 days
leave. This leave
was later extended by 1 day
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Jun 22, 1916
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While the
battalion was in reserve in the Bedford House area near the Bluff in
Belgium, Albert Desermeau received shrapnel wounds to his back and
chest that penetrated his stomach and his left lung.
He was evacuated to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian
Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transferred to the No. 10
CCS (Casualty Clearing Station).
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Jun 24, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne, France
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Jul 3, 1916
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Invalided to
England aboard the Hospital Ship Western Australia
On
arrival in England he was admitted to the 2nd
Western General Hospital, Ducie Ave., Manchester
Transferred
to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while
in hospital
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Sep 8, 1916
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Transferred to the
Military Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom
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Sep 14, 1916
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Transferred to the
Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe for dental treatment
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Oct 11, 1916
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Discharged from
hospital and reported to the CCAC in Folkestone
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Oct 16, 1916
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Readmitted to the
Moore Barracks Hospital with Acute Bronchitis
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Oct 25, 1916
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Discharged from
hospital and reported to the CCAC in Shoreham
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Oct 31, 1916
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Attached to the
Canadian Convalescent Depot in Shoreham for 6 weeks of Physical Training
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Mar 10, 1917
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Transferred to the
EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes
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Mar 23, 1917
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Ceased to be
attached to the convalescent depot and discharged from St.
Leonard’s Hospital
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Apr 3, 1917
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Granted sick leave
until May 29, 1917 to travel to Canada at his own expense
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Apr 14, 1917
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Embarked the SS
Olympic in Liverpool
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Apr 20, 1917
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Disembarked in
Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Mattawa, Ontario
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May 10, 1917
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Medical Board held
at Ottawa, Ontario notes
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Patient suffered
from a shrapnel wound to his chest in June of 1916
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A piece of
shrapnel remains lodged in his left lung and is considered inoperable
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Patient coughs up
blood in the mornings
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Suffers from night
sweats and moderate tremor in both hands
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Board recommends
that “this man is unfit for overseas service and his
discharge is recommended”
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May 29, 1917
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Leave extended to
June 29, 1917
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Jun 13, 1917
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Struck Off
Strength of the Eastern Ontario Regiment on being retained in Canada
for duty
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Dec 30, 1917
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Discharged from
the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
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Rank on discharge
Private
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War Service Badge
Class “A” issued
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Proposed residence
on discharge Mattawa, Ontario
Following
his discharge, the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were
sent to him at Mattawa, Ontario
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