Thursday 16 April 2009

Private Berton Brownell

Born on 29 January 1898 (struck out and replaced with 25 January 1900) in Coe Hill, Ontario - son of Jacob and Maria Brownell, Whitby, Ontario - enlistment records provide the following: present address in Whitby, Ontario, trade as laborer, single, no current or previous military service, Methodist, height of 5 feet 6 inches, chest of 35 inches fully expanded, fair complexion, brown eyes, brown hair.

Joined the 155th Canadian Infantry Battalion in Coe Hill, Ontario, on 13 March 1916 (number 636884) - taken on the strength of the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion in France on 24 May 1917 - killed in action on 30 June 1917 - buried in La Chaudière Military Cemetery (grave II.A.5), France.

Update: a photo of Private Ball's headstone I took at La Chaudière Military Cemetery.

2 comments:

Bill Ferguson said...

He enlisted at 16 years of age.Berton lost two other brothers during the war, in April of 1917.

Bill Ferguson said...

Berton Brownell's correct birth date is February 26 1900 according to the census records from 1901 and 1911. His brother's Charles Henry and Fenton Eberson were killed at Vimy Ridge in April of 1917.