Deserters
Private Philippe St Laurent currently featured in a commercial from that genealogy company out of Utah. How the company would choose to highlight a deserter with no experience at the front, should remind us they have no idea what happened in the Great War.
Enlistment of Private Philippe St Laurent
Philippe St Laurent 660951, born 28 March 1876 in Rimouski, enlisted in Sherbrooke, Quebec on 12 April 1916 with the 163rd Overseas Battalion. He was 40 years old, standing 5′ 7″ tall with fair complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair. A Roman Catholic. Married to Claire St Laurent of 19 St Martin St, Sherbrooke, Quebec.
163rd Overseas Battalion
The 163rd Battalion organized in November 1915 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel H Desrosiers. Mobilized at Montreal and recruited in Quebec Province.
Embarked from Halifax 26 May 1916 aboard METAGAMA, and later disembarked in Bermuda 29 May 1916 with a strength of 33 officers, 659 other ranks. Left Halifax 27 November 1916 aboard METAGAMA, and later disembarked in England on 6 December 1916 with a strength of 38 officers, 822 other ranks.
Hairy Paws
“Hairy paws” the nickname given to members of the 163rd Battalion, recruited by Olivar Asselin, a noted journalist, adventurer, and French-Canadian nationalist. The 16rd later absorbed by 10th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 4 January 1917, and perpetuated by Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke.
By the end of May 1916, Philippe St Laurent Struck-off-Strength as a Deserter when his unit sailed for Bermuda from Halifax, Nova Scotia. The 163rd Battalion later sailed for England on 27 November 1916.
Warning
Genealogy companies have no expertise in reading military service files of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Nor would they know anything about a Burial Return.
Danger
Most concerning, the unnamed company has come into a business relationship with Library and Archives Canada.
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