Private Athanase Thomas Dextras
Survivor of WW1
Date of Death:
Service Biography
Athanase Dextras, who served under the name Thomas Dextras, was born at Cornwall, Ontario, on 3 April 1897. He had previously served in the Canadian Forestry Corps during the First World War as 2157455 from 14 March 1917 to 1 April 1919, including service in France. He enlisted at Montreal on 8 May 1940 as D-57236 with Le Régiment de Maisonneuve. His Second World War service was entirely in Canada. After becoming illegally absent on 21 November 1940, he was declared a deserter by a Court of Inquiry on 12 December 1940. He was apprehended on 16 October 1941 and returned to military control; the charge was subsequently reduced to absence without leave and he was awarded detention. A Medical Board later found him unable to meet the required military physical standards because of a recurrent neck cyst and defective vision, and he was medically discharged at Montreal South on 25 February 1942.
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
2157455
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Regiment:
Canadian Forestry Corps
Battalion:
55 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Montreal, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
19 years 11 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
21 years 11 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
84 years 10 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Labourer
Next of Kin:
Rose Dextras (mother), 82 Mullarky Street, Montreal, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Mattawa, Ontario
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Place of Enlistment:
Mattawa, Ontario
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 8.5 in / 174 cm
Weight:
175 lbs / 79 kg
Chest:
39.0 in / 99 cm
Expansion:
2.0 in / 5 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Ottawa, Ontario
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
748 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Forestry Corps |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
55 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Forestry Corps |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
No. 3 Canadian Camp, Rhyl |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Forestry Corps |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Base Depot, Canadian Forestry Corps, Sunningdale |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Forestry Corps |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Base Depot, Canadian Forestry Corps, Sunningdale |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Forestry Corps |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Forestry Reinforcements / 230th Battalion |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Private |
Le Régiment de Maisonneuve |
Army |
No. 4 District Depot |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Private |
Le Régiment de Maisonneuve |
Army |
Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, C.A.S.F. |
|
|
|
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
War Medal 1939-45 |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
War Service Badge — General Service Class |
|
|
|
|
| WW1 |
British War Medal |
|
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Victory Medal |
|
|
|
|
| WW1 |
War Service Badge, Class A |
|
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1917-03-14 — Attested for the Canadian Expeditionary Force as 2157455
1917-03-16 — Medical examination completed; 5 ft 8½ in, 175 lb, chest 39 in with 2 in expansion
1917-03-23 — Transferred to 230th Battalion / forestry organization
1917-05-28 — Departed Canada for overseas service
1917-06-08 — Arrived in England aboard S.S. Olympic
1917-06-10 — Taken on strength of Base Depot, Canadian Forestry Corps
1917-07-21 — Struck off strength of Base Depot on posting to 55 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps
1917-07-22 — Disembarked in France with unit
1918-08-09 to 1918-08-27 — Granted 14 days leave to the United Kingdom and rejoined from leave
1918-09-01 — Appointed to a paid forestry duty at $1.75 per diem
1918-09-26 — Admitted to hospital with typhoid fever
1918-10-03 — Ceased drawing duty pay while hospitalized
1918-12-13 — Typhoid-fever illness period ended according to Medical Board history
1918-12-25 — Rejoined from hospital sick
1919-02-13 — Struck off strength of 55 Company for demobilization / return to Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot
1919-02-17 — Taken on strength of Base Depot, Canadian Forestry Corps
1919-02-28 — Medical Board classified him Category B2; no treatment required; recommended return to Canada
1919-03-14 — Struck off strength of Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot and posted to No. 3 Canadian Camp
1919-03-23 — Embarked for Canada aboard H.M.T.S. Empress of Britain
1919-03-26 — Struck off strength of Canadian Forestry Corps for Canada
1919-04-01 — Discharged on demobilization
Notes
He served under the name Thomas Dextras. His next of kin was his mother, Rose Dextras, of 82 Mullarky Street, Montreal. Medical records document longstanding defective vision of the right eye and typhoid fever beginning 26 September 1918. He was hospitalized in Rouen, France, and later rejoined his unit after recovery. A February 1919 Medical Board classified him B2, did not recommend treatment, and recommended return to Canada.
Additional Service Notes
Enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Mattawa, Ontario, on 14 March 1917 as 2157455. He served with Forestry Reinforcements, the Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot at Sunningdale, and 55 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps. He served in Canada, England and France, including hospitalization for typhoid fever in Rouen in 1918. He returned to Canada aboard H.M.T.S. Empress of Britain in March 1919 and was discharged at Ottawa on 1 April 1919 on demobilization.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Mother Rose Dextras was next of kin, recorded at 82 Mullarky Street, Montreal, Quebec. He was single during his WWI service.
Version: 7 Last modified: 2026-09-07 02:05:04
by: marc
