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Category: Soldiers

Between 1914 and 1919, over 650,000 Canadians served at home and overseas during the Great War. On the Western Front in Belgium and France, Canadian soldiers of the Great War distinguished themselves in numerous battles, including Second Battle of Ypres, Battle of Vimy Ridge, and Second Battle of Passchendaele. In Canada’s Last Hundred Days of the Great War, Canadian soldiers at the sharp end of the spear breaking through the enemy’s formidable trench defences, the Hindenburg Line. Their efforts have inspired these soldier stories.

Collections

Many collections used to bring the soldier stories to life. First, and foremost, the Personnel Records of the soldiers serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). This collection, like the others to follow, digitized and made available by Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Secondly, the War Diaries of the CEF often provide vital information about a soldier’s life not contained in their service file. Finally, Circumstances of Death (CoD), War Graves Registers (GRRF), and Veterans Death Cards provide further information on The Fallen. These three collections in conjunction with records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) vital to cases of identification and recovery of The Missing.

Courts Martial Records (FGCM)

Additional collections used to present the soldier stories include Courts Martial Records. Courts martial had the authority to try a wide range of military offences that resembled civilian crimes like fraud, theft or perjury. Others, like desertion and cowardice – purely military crimes. Records of individual courts martial consist of an average of 20 to 25 documents, mainly standardized forms. These document the trial and the charges under the Army Act.

MIKAN photo collection

Finally, the most powerful way of bringing soldier stories of the Great War to life, the images of the MIKAN collection digitized by LAC.  Often complementing these photos – images held by the Imperial War Museum (IWM), some of which also contain images captured by the Official Canadian War Photographers (CWRO) during the Great War. Both LAC and IWM have film collections which further bring the reality of the soldier stories of the Great War to life.

  • The Maltby Brothers in the Great War

    The Maltby Brothers in the Great War

    Three of the four Maltby Brothers served in the Great War. Reginald Arthur (Battle of Hill 70), Walter and Albert Edward Maltby (Passchendaele) died within ten weeks of each other. A devastating loss for the family, and only surviving brother Percy Maltby.

    Sergeant George Ernest Maltby

    The Maltby Brothers sons of the late Sergeant George Ernest (10th Royal Hussars) and Elizabeth Maltby, of Thornton Heath, Surrey. Sir Julian Byng, also a former member of the 10th Royal Hussars.

    10th (Prince of Wales's Own Royal) Hussars at Colesberg, South Africa, 1900
    10th (Prince of Wales’s Own Royal) Hussars at Colesberg, South Africa, 1900

    Reginald Arthur Maltby

    Reginald Arthur Maltby 1024096 enlisted with the 234th Overseas Battalion. NoK his wife, Ida of Brampton, Ontario. Married to Ida Mabel Coates Maltby in 1911. Children James Ernest born in 1912, and Mildred Elizabeth born in 1914. A florist by trade. Four years previous service with West Surrey Volunteers.

    Enlisted at Ravina Barracks, Brampton on 21 May 1916, he stood 5′ 5″ tall, 140 pounds, with fair complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. Twenty-nine years and four months of age, a Methodist.

    12th Reserve Battalion in England, ToS 75th Canadian Infantry Battalion on 7 June 1917. Reggie entered France on 8 June 1917.

    Family Grave of Albert Edward Maltby
    Family Grave of Reginald Arthur Maltby, Brampton Cemetery, Peel Regional Municipality, Ontario – The Maltby Brothers

    Private Reginald Arthur Maltby served with the 75th Battalion (not the 14th Bn as noted on his headstone). Thirteen other men of the 75th Battalion died on 17 August 1917. Seven of these men buried at Lievin Communal Cemetery Extension, the remainder listed on Vimy Memorial. With half of the 700 casualties at Lievin unidentified, a good chance Reginald buried among those Known Only to God.

    Walter Maltby

    Walter Maltby 34383 served with Imperial Forces, The Royal Fusiliers 36th Labour Battalion. Transferred to 106th Coy. Labour Corps. Walter died 14 October 1917 and buried at Duhallow A D S.

    Walter Maltby
    Walter Maltby – The Maltby Brothers

    Albert Edward Maltby

    Private Albert Edward Maltby 775520/58537 enlisted with the 126th Overseas Battalion, and later transferred to 116th Battalion.

    Albert Edward Maltby
    Albert Edward Maltby- The Maltby Brothers

    A steamfitter, he enlisted 18 December 1915 at Brampton. Originally discharged as medically unfit. At this time, Albert twenty years, nine months of age, 130 pounds, standing 5′ 4″ tall with fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

    Corporal from 1 April 1916. Sergeant from 10 May 1916. His unit sailed on 14 August 1916. Reverted in ranks on 30 December 1916 at Witley Camp.

    France

    Appointed Lance-Corporal 5 August 1917. Promoted Corporal 2 September 1917. Promoted Sergeant on 22 September 1917. Granted 14 days leave on 10 October 1917. Killed in action, 31 October 1917.

    His mother now residing at 3 Sumner Road, West Croydon, London, England.

    Corporal Albert Edward Maltby CEFRG
    Corporal Albert Edward Maltby, 15 April 2016. CEFRG

    Albert died 31 October 1917 and buried at Oxford Road Cemetery.

    Percy Maltby

    Percival Maltby enlisted in the RAF late in 1918.

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