Gunner John Edward Massan
Survivor of WW1
Service Biography
John Edward Massan was born in Huntingdon, Quebec, on 16 September 1898. A labourer living in Montreal, he enlisted there on 16 April 1918 as a Gunner with the 79th Depot Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. He proceeded to England in July 1918. During his overseas service he was hospitalized for acute appendicitis and underwent surgery at Witley, England. He returned to Canada in April 1919 and was discharged on demobilization at Montreal on 11 April 1919.
General Information
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
2522658
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Canadian Field Artillery
Battalion:
79th Depot Battery
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Huntingdon, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
19 years 7 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
20 years 7 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Labourer
Next of Kin:
E. J. Massan, father, 612 Moreau Street, Montreal, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
612 Moreau Street, Montreal, Quebec
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 8.0 in / 173 cm
Weight:
120 lbs / 54 kg
Chest:
32.0 in / 81 cm
Expansion:
2.0 in / 5 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Montreal, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
360 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Gunner |
Canadian Field Artillery |
Army |
79th Depot Battery |
|
|
|
| Representative operational/artillery unit and enlistment unit. |
| WW1 |
Gunner |
Canadian Field Artillery |
Army |
Canadian Reserve Artillery / Canadian Artillery reinforcement organization |
|
|
|
| Exact intermediate unit wording requires targeted reread. |
Service Chronology
1898-09-16 — Born.
1918-04-16 — Attested/enlisted as Gunner; stated no previous military service.
1918-06-20 — Proceeded overseas from Canada.
1918-07-07 — Arrived in England.
1918-07-11 — Taken on strength in the Canadian artillery organization at Witley.
1918-08-27 — Taken on strength, Canadian Field Artillery, on command at Frensham Pond.
1918-09-16 — Admitted to Canadian Special Hospital with balanitis.
1918-09-25 — Discharged from hospital after treatment for balanitis.
1918-09-26 — Readmitted to Canadian Special Hospital for venereal-disease treatment.
1918-10-10 — Discharged from Canadian Special Hospital following venereal-disease treatment.
1918-10-11 to 1918-10-14 — Granted hospital pass for recreation.
1918-10-17 — Admitted to No. 12 Canadian General Hospital with appendicitis.
1918-10-16/17 — Operative treatment for acute appendicitis; appendix removed during the October hospitalization.
1918-11-05 — Transferred to No. 11 Canadian General Hospital after appendicitis treatment.
1918-11-16 — Transferred onward in the hospital sequence following appendicitis.
1919-01-10 — Hospital movement recorded during continuing treatment/recovery.
1919-02-18 — Discharged from hospital to duty.
1919-03-25 — Struck off strength for return to Canada / Military District No. 4 demobilization processing.
1919-03-28 — Demobilization medical/dental examination completed.
1919-04-01 — Embarked at Liverpool for Canada.
1919-04-11 — Discharged on demobilization.
Notes
Born in Huntingdon, Quebec. At enlistment he was a labourer living at 612 Moreau Street, Montreal. His father, E. J. Massan, was named as next of kin.
Additional Service Notes
Served as a Gunner with the 79th Depot Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. He proceeded overseas in June 1918 and arrived in England on 7 July, serving with Canadian artillery organizations in the Witley/Frensham Pond area. His service included hospital treatment for balanitis and venereal disease in September–October 1918, followed by acute appendicitis requiring surgery and a prolonged hospital/recovery sequence. He was returned to Canada for demobilization and discharged at Montreal on 11 April 1919.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Father E. J. Massan was next of kin at enlistment, address 612 Moreau Street, Montreal, Quebec.
Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-08-31 02:05:03
by: marc
