Canadian War Veterans Memorial Project
Commemorating those that served

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Acting Sergeant Robert Guy Alton Overing

Survivor of WW1

Biography General Links Ranks Chronology Print

Service Biography

Robert Guy Alton Overing was a student living in Montreal when he enlisted there on 28 April 1916 as Gunner 1261625 with No. 6 (McGill) Overseas Battery, Siege Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force. He went overseas in September 1916 and later served in France with Canadian artillery. He completed more than two years of Canadian service and was discharged in London on 22 November 1918 for appointment as a cadet in the Royal Air Force.

General Information

Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
1261625
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Canadian Artillery
Battalion:
Canadian Artillery Regimental Depot
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Ormstown, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
18 years 10 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
21 years 5 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Student
Next of Kin:
Rev. R. J. Overing (father), 14 Darling Street, Montreal, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
14 Darling Street, Montreal, Quebec
Religion:
Aboriginal
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 7.0 in / 170 cm
Weight:
Chest:
32.0 in / 81 cm
Expansion:
4.0 in / 10 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
Not Specified
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
London, England
Discharge Type:
Resigned from service
Discharge Notes:
Discharged to be appointed a cadet in the Royal Air Force.
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
938 days in service
Buried at:
Library and Archives Canada Service Record
Canadian Great War Project

Ranks

Conflict Rank Regiment Branch Unit Company Date From Date To
WW1 Acting Sergeant Canadian Artillery Army Canadian Artillery Regimental Depot
Acting Sergeant with pay/rations effective 7 Sep 1918; final CEF status before discharge.
WW1 Gunner Canadian Artillery Army Canadian Artillery Regimental Depot
Administrative RAF-commission processing period; C.A.R.D. = Canadian Artillery Regimental Depot.
WW1 Gunner Canadian Garrison Artillery Army 1st Brigade
Red administrative annotation records 'now 1st Bde C.G.A.'; exact order wording not expanded.
WW1 Gunner Canadian Artillery Army 7th Canadian Siege Battery
Transfer/association explicitly recorded.
WW1 Gunner Canadian Field Artillery Canadian Expeditionary Force No. 6 (McGill) Overseas Battery, Siege Artillery
Initial rank/unit. End date pending casualty-form reconstruction.
WW1 Gunner Canadian Artillery Army No. 6 (McGill) Overseas Battery, Siege Artillery
Initial unit.
WW1 Acting Sergeant Canadian Field Artillery Canadian Expeditionary Force Canadian Siege Artillery

Service Chronology

1916-04-28 — Enlisted
1916-09 — Embarked Canada and arrived England
1917 — Proceeded to France; artillery service
1918 — Leave, postings and administrative movements
1918-11-22 — Discharged from CEF for appointment as RAF cadet
1918-11-27 — Dental certificate

Notes

At enlistment Overing was approximately 16 years 11 months old, 5 ft 7 in tall, with a 32-inch minimum chest and 4-inch expansion, fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. The later Medical History Sheet records the same general measurements and no hospital admissions on its formal hospital table. A dental certificate was completed in London on 27 November 1918.

Additional Service Notes

Robert Guy Alton Overing enlisted at Montreal on 28 April 1916 as Gunner 1261625 with No. 6 (McGill) Overseas Battery, Siege Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force. He embarked from Canada in September 1916, arrived in England later that month, and subsequently served in France. His casualty forms record movements and artillery postings in England and France, including service connected with Canadian siege/heavy artillery. By the end of his Canadian service he was recorded as an acting sergeant. He was discharged in London on 22 November 1918 for the purpose of being appointed a cadet in the Royal Air Force. The file contains later Air Force roll notation, but the detailed RAF service is not established sufficiently here to create unsupported Canadian Service Rank rows.

Additional Next of Kin Notes

His father, Rev. R. J. Overing of 14 Darling Street, Montreal, was recorded as next of kin. The family form records him as unmarried.

Version: 4 Last modified: 2026-09-02 02:05:03 by: marc