Sapper Pierre Leclerc

Survivor of WW1

Biography General Links Ranks Chronology Print

Service Biography

Pierre Leclerc was born at Saint-Rémi, Quebec, on 17 January 1876. A painter and Roman Catholic, he had previous militia and CEF service before attesting again at Montreal on 24 January 1916 as Private 660169 with the 163rd Battalion. He went overseas late in 1916, served in England and France with labour and railway formations, and in August 1917 was nearly buried by shell explosions. Suffering from debility following shell shock, he was evacuated to England and later returned to Canada. After further treatment, he was discharged at Montreal on 31 March 1918 as medically unfit. His wife Elizabeth was his next of kin.

General Information

Conflict:

WW1

Regimental No.:

120121, 660169

Cause of Death (in war):

Survived

Branch:

Army

Regiment:

Canadian Railway Troops

Battalion:

8th Canadian Railway Troops

Company:

Date of Birth :

Place of Birth:

Saint-Rémi, Quebec

Date of Enlistment:

Age at Enlistment:

33 years

Date of Discharge:

Age at Discharge:

35 years 2 months

Date of Death:

Age at Death:

Country Born:

Canada

Trade or Calling:

Painter

Next of Kin:

Elizabeth G. / Guinier Leclerc (wife), Montreal, Quebec

Address at Enlistment:

152 Murray Street, Montreal, Quebec

Religion:

Roman Catholic

Place of Enlistment:

Montreal, Quebec

Was a Prisoner of War:

Height:

5 ft 6.0 in / 168 cm

Weight:

140 lbs / 64 kg

Chest:

38.0 in / 97 cm

Expansion:

3.0 in / 8 cm

Marital Status:

Married

Prior Military Experience:

Yes

Saw Service in:

Europe

Place of Discharge:

Montreal, Quebec

Discharge Type:

Medically Unfit

Discharge Notes:

Discharged at Montreal on 31 March 1918 as medically unfit due to debility following shock (shell). Proceedings on Discharge cite H.Q. 4D 22-1-1303 dated 27 March 1918 and Circular Letter No. 285, 16-1-25, dated 5 December 1917. Medical Board classified him Category E and recommended discharge. Intended residence on discharge: 660 Dorchester Street West, Montreal.

Battle Died/Wounded:

Length of Service:

797 days in service

Buried at:

Links

Library and Archives Canada Service Record

Canadian Great War Project

Ranks

Conflict	Rank	Regiment	Branch	Unit
WW1	Sapper	Canadian Railway Troops	Army	8th Canadian Railway Troops
France service; typed invalid history independently identifies 8th C.R.T.
WW1	Sapper	Military Hospitals Commission Command	Army	Casualty Unit / 'A' Unit, M.D.4
Administrative labels vary across forms.
WW1	Private	Canadian Railway Troops	Army	Canadian Railway Troops Depot
TOS C.R.T.D. at Purfleet.
WW1	Private	Canadian Labour Corps	Army	2nd Canadian Labour Battalion
WW1	Private	Canadian Expeditionary Force	Army	10th Reserve Battalion
WW1	Private	Canadian Expeditionary Force	Army	163rd Battalion
Service no.660169.
WW1	Private	Canadian Expeditionary Force	Army	69th Battalion
Earlier service no.120121; medically unfit discharge.

Service Chronology

1915-08-09 — Earlier CEF enlistment as Private 120121, 69th Battalion.
1915-10-15 — Discharged from 69th Battalion as medically unfit because of malunited old fracture of left femur.
1916-01-24 — Re-attested as Private 660169, 163rd Battalion CEF.
1916-11-27 — 163rd Battalion sailed for overseas service.
1916-12-06 — Arrived in England aboard S.S. Metagama.
1917-01-07 — Transferred from 163rd Battalion to 10th Reserve Battalion.
1917-01-23 — Transferred to 2nd Canadian Labour Battalion.
1917-02-16 — Admitted with laceration of scalp after falling while walking along a street.
1917-04-12 — Struck off strength on transfer from the labour battalion to railway-construction service.
1917-04-13 — Taken on strength of the Canadian Railway Troops Depot.
1917-04-14 — Transferred to 8th Canadian Railway Troops.
1917-06-01 — Embarked for France.
1917-08-24 — Debility following shell shock began after shell exposure; later history states he was nearly buried by shell explosions.
1917-09-03 — Invalided to England suffering debility following shock.
1917-09-05 — Admitted for debility/shock; prolonged hospital and convalescent treatment followed.
1917-10-20 — Medical board at Monks Horton assessed debility/shock and permanent category limitations.
1917-11-08 — Placed on command pending return to Canada.
1917-12-07 — Embarked from Liverpool for Canada aboard S.S. Justicia.
1917-12-22 — Taken on strength Casualty Unit, Military District No.4.
1918-01-14 — Admitted Dominion Convalescent Hospital for debility following shell shock.
1918-03-16 — Invalid medical history completed; debility following shell shock assessed.
1918-03-18 — Medical Board found him Category E and recommended discharge.
1918-03-30 — Recorded with M.H.C.C. 'A' Unit immediately before discharge.
1918-03-31 — Discharged as medically unfit due to debility following shock (shell).
1918-03-30 — Recorded with M.H.C.C. 'A' Unit immediately before discharge.
1918-03-31 — Discharged as medically unfit due to debility following shock (shell).

Notes

Born Saint-Rémi, Quebec; Roman Catholic; painter; married. Attestation: 5 ft 6 in, dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, chest 35-38 in. March 1918 invalid medical history records 140 lb, grey eyes, brown hair and scar left temple. Prior military service included 64th and 57th Canadian Militia and earlier CEF service with 69th Battalion under no.120121.

Additional Service Notes

Pierre Leclerc had two documented CEF service episodes. He first served as Private 120121 with the 69th Battalion in 1915 and was medically discharged for a pre-existing malunited fracture of the left femur. He re-attested at Montreal on 24 January 1916 as Private 660169 with the 163rd Battalion. After reaching England he transferred to the 10th Reserve Battalion, then the 2nd Canadian Labour Battalion, and in April 1917 to the Canadian Railway Troops, serving with the 8th C.R.T. He went to France, where in August 1917 he developed debility following shell shock after being nearly buried by shell explosions. He was evacuated to England, later returned to Canada, and served under Military Hospitals Commission administration until medical discharge on 31 March 1918.

Additional Next of Kin Notes

Wife Elizabeth G. Leclerc (also written Elizabeth Guinier Leclerc), initially 152 Murray Street, Montreal; later records show 68 Murray Street and 17 St. Charles Street / Iberville, Quebec. She received separation allowance and $15 monthly assigned pay.

Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-20 02:41:24 by: marc