Albert Victor Stuart

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

109630

Unit at enlistment:

4th Canadian Mounted Rifles

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Prisoner of war:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers' Plot, Brantford, Ontario

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

York

Birth city:

Toronto, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

17 Arthur Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

17 Arthur Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Coremaker

Employer:

Goold, Shapley and Muir Co.

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

BX March 9, 1916

All Will be Needed Before War is Over

Postman Alfred Stuart has received a chatty letter from his brother, Private Albert Stuart, with “B” Squadron of the C.M.R., now in the trenches in France. Reference is made to the injury sustained by their brother Jack, who is now back in the trenches after being wounded while with the transports. The letter follows:

Dear Brother Alf.,

Got your letter coming out of the trenches and would have written sooner, but you know how it is in this wet and muddy country, and then we have been on working parties every night. We go “in” again for a short time and then out for a rest of a few days. I am doing my bit and have had several close shaves and you never know how soon you will get it. I am glad Roy Brown is going through for a lieutenant and hope he gets a good bunch to back him up in it. I think it will be a long, long war. I had a letter from Willie. He is in base in France now, and I hope he gets no farther, as this is no picnic here. I heard that Jack fell off a transport and got hurt, but could not locate him. Andy wrote to his colonel to see if it was true. Last time I saw him was just a minute when coming out of the trenches. That chewing tobacco you spoke of will go fine if you can find time to send a bit. If “Fritz” doesn’t get me inside of a month I will get my ten days in England and I guess I have earned it, with four months in France.

Best love to all,

Albert

BX October 4, 1916

Lieutenant Cockshutt Is Not a Prisoner – Pte. Albert Stuart, Now in German Camp at Minden Makes a Report

That Lieutenant Harvey Watt Cockshutt is dead is the opinion of Pte. Albert Stuart, a Brantford boy, who was in his company and is now a prisoner of war in Germany. In July, when Mrs. Thomas Stuart, 142 Alfred Street, was writing to her son, she asked him to find out, if possible, if Mr. Cockshutt was living. The letter from her son, who is now a prisoner of war in Minden, Germany, is self explanatory:

I received your letter, dated July 10, and was pleased to hear from you. In your letter you ask for information as regards to Mr. Cockshutt. I was attached to his company and was with him in the front line during the bombardment when the Germans made their attack. I was in a shell hole with Mr. Cockshutt and a wounded man. I made for a better position about 15 yards from him, but I am sorry to say he must be dead, as he put up a determined fight. He is not among the prisoners and he is not in hospital.

As for Harry Laird, he was in “C” Company, and they were in the front line. From enquiries made he is not a prisoner nor in hospital. The most of the Brantford boys were in “A” Company. I saw Tom Ross early in the fight and have never seen him since. Sergt.-Major Vair is a prisoner. The slight wound I got is in the head is better now and the Germans gave me every attention when I was sick. I received the parcel of food stuff. The bread was in poor condition. I also received a parcel from Mrs. J. Cockshutt. You can write letters and send parcels every week or more. We are only allowed to send two letters and four postcards a month, so I will expect one every week.

BX June 28, 1916

A telegram was received from Ottawa this morning by Mrs. Thomas Stuart, 142 Alfred Street, stating that her son Trooper Albert Victor Stuart had been missing since June 8. Trooper Albert Stuart enlisted with the 4th C.M.R. and left here early in the beginning of the war. He was with Lt. Harvey Cockshutt’s squadron with whom he left for overseas, his commanding officer also being missing. Previous to enlistment Trooper Stuart, who is a single man, 26 years of age was employed as a coremaker at the Goold, Shapley and Muir plant here. Four brothers are also on active service. William of the 19th Battalion, and Jack of the 4th Battalion being in France, Stanley with the 125th Battalion and Charles with the 215th Battalion.

BX July 3, 1916

Is a Prisoner

Trooper Albert Stuart, 4th C.M.R., reported missing a few days ago, is a prisoner of war in Germany. This morning his mother, who resides at 142 Alfred Street, received a card from him stating that he was a prisoner at Dulmen, Westphalia, Germany.

BX September 19, 1918

Is Transferred

Private Albert Victor Stuart of this city, who has been a prisoner in Germany for some time at Minden, is officially reported to have been transferred to Friedrichsfeld bei Wesel. Pte. Stuart is a brother of Postman Alfred Stuart and has made two endeavors to escape from the Hun captivity. Another brother was today reported killed.

BX December 9, 1918

The little yellow envelopes are bringing new messages now, news of joy. One was delivered to Mrs. Thomas Stuart, 181 Sheridan Street, Saturday morning, telling her that her son, Pte. Albert Victor Stuart was safe in England, after being a prisoner in a German camp for two years and five months. Pte. Stuart was a member of the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, and he was taken prisoner on June 2, 1916. The last letter received from him just came Saturday morning too, a letter and a card. Pte. William Stuart, his brother, is at Buxton hospital; another brother, Private Jack Stuart, is at Newmarket hospital, and Pte. Stanley was killed in September.

BX December 11, 1918

In the list of casualties issued from Ottawa this morning Albert Victor Stuart, Brantford, is among the prisoners repatriated from Germany, While Charles Arthur Taylor, 393 Colborne Street, is among those wounded.

BX January 31, 1919

Prisoners of War Repatriated, Reach Home – Privates Albert Victor Stuart and Percy Russell Mead were in Hun hands

Tell of Brutality

Some 18 Brantford boys, who crossed the Atlantic on the giant liner Aquitania arrived home yesterday afternoon. Among the lads arriving and who received an especial welcome from their families and friends were Private Albert Stuart and Pte. Percy R. Mead, both of whom had been prisoners in Germany and who got out of that country directly after the armistice was signed. Private Stuart endeavored to escape to less than three times being nailed every time. The first attempt was the most successful, Pte. Stuart being caught 200 yards from the border of Holland. On his other two attempts he got across the river.

Private Stuart was taken prisoner at Sanctuary Wood, June 2, 1916. He was wounded in the arm and in the eye. He remembered seeing Lieut. Harvey Cockshutt very well, and was probably the last man to see this well known Brantford officer, who doubtless gave up his life in that eventful push by the Germans. Lieut. Cockshutt was about 10 yards on the right of Stuart, badly wounded, and was holding his neck when last seen. Just then Stuart says a trench mortar shell came over, completely burying Lieut. Cockshutt. He was probably killed instantly. It would have been impossible for him to have gotten back, as the Huns were rushing all around them.

After being in hospital three months, Private Stuart was taken to Minden, where he was sent out on a working party with 21 others. When they arrived at the place they found that they were to work on munitions and refused. Two of them had to stand over a hot fire for three hours. The others went to the black hole in a civilian jail for three days and three nights. Then Private Stuart had to go to Munster for trial, and was awarded five days’ solitary confinement for his recalcitrance. After doing this time he was sent to a coal mine with 12 others. Here the conditions were terrible. He made his three attempts to escape from this mine, men being killed and their hands and fee being taken off nearly every day by accidents from their work. For his first attempt to escape, Stuart got 21 days, and for his two subsequent attempts he got 14 days each. It is interesting to note that when released he had just put on three days of a three year sentence for striking a German sentry, in one of his endeavors to get away. He was released by officers of the German marines, and in five days was out of the country. When the armistice was signed, German officers had a hard time. They were stopped on the streets and their badges cut off and their swords taken from them.

According to Stuart, the world is also a small place to live in. He ran across a German who used to work on the post office construction in this city. This fellow was called to the colors in 1913, and responded from this city.

Both Stuart and Mead told of the fact that 143 Germans, including camp commandants and even doctors were being brought to England where they were to be tried on the charge of manslaughter and murder, according to the nature of their crimes against prisoners.

Private Stuart said that for the first four months, the prisoners faced starvation as they received no parcels. After that the Canadian Red Cross saved their lives, and they probably received 75 percent of the parcels of food and clothing. The work in the mine was terrible, and one London Rifle Brigade man was shot for his refusal to work.

“It was Britain’s blockade,” said Stuart, “which beat the Germans. They had a big army left, but the civilians were facing slow starvation, and the soldiers were feeling the pinch”. Glad to get home? “Well rather.” And Stuart looked the part as he said. When he left Germany, he was as fat as a match with the wood removed, which is going some in descriptive.

BX May 16, 1947

Albert Victor Stuart

The death occurred yesterday in Detroit of Albert V. Stuart, 59, a native of Brantford. Prior to enlisting during the First World War, he lived in this City and worked at the Massey-Harris plant. He went overseas with the Fourth Canadian Mounted Rifles and was a prisoner of war for three years. After returning from overseas he moved to Detroit, and had resided there since, being employed with the Chrysler Corporation. His wife, who predeceased him, was Madge Walters, of this City. Surviving are four brothers, Alfred, William, Thomas and Chester, all of Brantford, and two sisters, Mrs. Joseph Ward and Mrs. Stanley Cramer, both of Detroit. He is to arrive at the Beckett Funeral Home from Detroit this evening and funeral services will be conducted there Sunday afternoon, with interment in Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers’ Plot.

BX May 19, 1947

Albert V. Stuart

The funeral of Albert V. Stuart was held yesterday, from the Beckett Funeral Home to Mount Hope Cemetery. Rev. John Kelman, Chaplain of the local Branch of the Canadian Legion, was in charge. Pallbearers, all members of the Legion, were D. Monkman, J. Lune, J. Percival, E. Flath, D. McKellar and W. Thompson. Comrade E.R. Edwards was in charge. Many relatives, including several from Detroit and many friends were present.