Pte
Alfred Ernest Shields
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 09/01/1894 |
|
Place of birth: Maugerville, Sunbury County, New Brunswick, Canada |
General information
|
Last known residence: Maugerville, Sunbury County, New Brunswick, Canada |
|
Profession: Paysan et bûcheron |
|
Religion: Baptist |
Army information
|
Country: Canada |
|
Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 818164 |
|
Enlistment date: 05/04/1916 |
|
Enlistment place: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
|
Units: — Canadian Infantry, 26th Bn. (New Brunswick) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 06/11/1917 |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 23 |
Cemetery
|
Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: I Row: C Grave: 30 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Alfred Ernest Shields was born on 9 January 1894 in Maugerville, Sunburry County, New Brunswick, Canada. He was the son of Franks Shields. Before enlisting, he worked as a farmer and lumberman. On 4 April 1916, at the age of 22, he enlisted in Saint John, New Brunswick. He was initially assigned to the 140th Battalion (St. John’s Tigers). Upon arrival in the United Kingdom, he was transferred to the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick), 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division.
Alfred was killed on 6 November 1917 during the capture of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) left Potijze on 4 November around 11 p.m. and moved towards Seine Dump, arriving there around 1 a.m. the next day. There, the men dug in and tried to get some rest before moving out again around 11 p.m. towards their start positions for the attack on 6 November. These start positions stretched from the present-day Passendalestraat to near Vienna Cottages and were reached between 2:30 and 3 a.m. on 6 November. The attack on Passchendaele itself was to be carried out by battalions of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, who would take the village. The men of the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) of the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade were also to attack, taking responsibility for the right flank. Their objective line ran in an arc from just northeast of the village to just south of it, past Tiber.
Shortly after reaching their start positions, the men of the battalion came under artillery and machine-gun fire, causing the first casualties. The attack began at 6 a.m. and was executed by “A”, “B” and “D” Company, while “C” Company remained in reserve. A barrage covered the advancing troops, and by 6:20 a.m. the extreme right positions were already in the hands of “A” Company. Then, at 6:40 a.m. and 7 a.m., the central and extreme left positions were captured by “B” Company and “D” Company respectively. All companies encountered relatively little resistance but still suffered several casualties, mainly from machine-gun crews who offered the stiffest opposition. After securing the enemy positions, contact was established between the companies and the lines were consolidated. Throughout the day, the Canadians endured artillery, sniper, and machine-gun fire. Enemy aircraft also strafed the newly captured positions all day long. During the night of 6–7 November, several patrols were sent out. A German counterattack was repelled by artillery. On 7 November, the newly established front remained relatively calm, although the Canadians endured several minor bombardments. At 10 p.m. that same day, the battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). During the capture of the enemy positions, 205 German prisoners were taken, but the battalion lost 42 killed, 206 wounded, and 1 missing.
Alfred was killed at the age of 23. He was buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot I, Row C, Grave 30.
Alfred was killed on 6 November 1917 during the capture of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) left Potijze on 4 November around 11 p.m. and moved towards Seine Dump, arriving there around 1 a.m. the next day. There, the men dug in and tried to get some rest before moving out again around 11 p.m. towards their start positions for the attack on 6 November. These start positions stretched from the present-day Passendalestraat to near Vienna Cottages and were reached between 2:30 and 3 a.m. on 6 November. The attack on Passchendaele itself was to be carried out by battalions of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, who would take the village. The men of the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) of the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade were also to attack, taking responsibility for the right flank. Their objective line ran in an arc from just northeast of the village to just south of it, past Tiber.
Shortly after reaching their start positions, the men of the battalion came under artillery and machine-gun fire, causing the first casualties. The attack began at 6 a.m. and was executed by “A”, “B” and “D” Company, while “C” Company remained in reserve. A barrage covered the advancing troops, and by 6:20 a.m. the extreme right positions were already in the hands of “A” Company. Then, at 6:40 a.m. and 7 a.m., the central and extreme left positions were captured by “B” Company and “D” Company respectively. All companies encountered relatively little resistance but still suffered several casualties, mainly from machine-gun crews who offered the stiffest opposition. After securing the enemy positions, contact was established between the companies and the lines were consolidated. Throughout the day, the Canadians endured artillery, sniper, and machine-gun fire. Enemy aircraft also strafed the newly captured positions all day long. During the night of 6–7 November, several patrols were sent out. A German counterattack was repelled by artillery. On 7 November, the newly established front remained relatively calm, although the Canadians endured several minor bombardments. At 10 p.m. that same day, the battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). During the capture of the enemy positions, 205 German prisoners were taken, but the battalion lost 42 killed, 206 wounded, and 1 missing.
Alfred was killed at the age of 23. He was buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot I, Row C, Grave 30.
Sources 3
|
5th Canadian Infantry Brigade. (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, 4886, T-10682, 253). https://library-archives.canada.ca Sources used |
|
Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8864 - 17). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
|
War diaries: 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4934, Microfilm reel number: T-10737 - T-10738, File number: 421). https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng Sources used |
More information 3
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=2cf41e57-24d5-4844-82be-b2a55e570abe |
|
The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/464602?Alfred%20Ernest%20Shields |
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464602 |