Charles Edward Bisset

Rank:

Sergeant

Regimental number:

55541

Unit at enlistment:

19th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers' Plot, Brantford, Ontario

Commemorated at:

Alexandra Presbyterian Church, Ancient Order of Foresters

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Essex

Birth city:

Shoeburyness

Address at enlistment:

3 Glanville Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

3 Glanville Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Mechanic

Employer:

Massey-Harris Co.

Religious denominations:

Presbyterian

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

BX September 3, 1914

With the Brantford Boys at Valcartier – Sergeant Bissett Writes Interestingly About the Volunteers and What They are Doing – Capt. Colquhoun is Still “Little Mac With the Big Company”

After the splendid send off from Brantford, everybody settled down to a long train journey. Stopping at Hamilton, some 150 of the 91st Highlanders, and 180 of the 13th Regiment were placed on our train and it was truly a sight never to be forgotten with the pipes and brass bands playing patriotic airs, thousands of people waving and shouting good-byes here and there a great strapping Highlander taking perhaps a fast kiss from his mother or father with his baby in his arms, trying to comfort his wife; for as the Kaiser is no respecter of treaties or nations, neither is patriotism a respecter of the patriot.

Nothing of any importance happened during the train ride until we got to Smith’s Falls where some hot coffee was served, coming in most acceptably. On arriving at Valcartier active service conditions at once commenced, camp kitchens being at once erected and a meal got ready for the hungry 38th by their efficient cooks. On Monday the camp routine became general and organization commenced the 38th and the 25th Dragoons being attached with the Queen’s Own Rifles to the 6th Battalion.

Every day during the week we have attended the ranges, which by the way, are the largest in the British Empire, and it is somewhat surprising to the Q.O.R., to see how well the 38th shoot with a strange weapon (Mark III Ross.) In fact, every man on the Brantford contingent made first-class efficiency pay. It is admitted on all sides that the 38th Company is one of the best in camp for both general efficiency and shooting.

The country about here is most picturesque. A fine large river (St. Jean) runs through the camp, with the Laurentian Mountains surrounding the Valcartier Plains, upon which the camp is situated. Everywhere is beautifully wooded with spruce, silver birch and jack pine. The farm houses here are very peculiar, compared with those of Brantford, every place being lime washed inside and out.

The weather here has been ideal for camp life during the day time; but at night one would imagine they were somewhere in the Arctic regions. All the Brantford Company feels the cold very keenly owing to the fact that they were told not to bring any underwear with them as they would be issued with it. This has not yet been done and several of the boys have been slightly indisposed with colds, although none have reported sick yet.

The regiment was paraded for medical inspection yesterday (Saturday), and everybody passed with the exception of some seven or eight, who will probably be returned for garrison duty. The second inoculations against typhoid will take place tomorrow and almost everybody has signified his intention of guarding themselves against the greatest life destroyer of modern warfare.

All the boys are very thankful for what has been done for their dependents at home and will leave Canada when the time comes with their minds at rest and their spirits high. Everybody here is looking forward to that time to come quickly now.

There are some 25,000 troops assembled now, the artillery arriving in batteries and detachments all day, and the latest comers were the 48th Highlanders from Toronto, the whole of their regiment being in full kilts and looking very fit after three weeks training at Long Branch.

The Y.M.C.A. held a great camp fire service tonight (Sunday). It was a great sight, thousands of troops in multi-colored uniforms standing and sitting around, singing the old hymns and listening to the splendid advice from the great body of men, strong in faith and courage.

Everyone is now getting nerved to camp life from the captain down, and he is a soldier, every inch of him and with his two admirable lieutenants, Lieut. P. Jones and J. Miller. He still remains Little Mac with the big company, having some 200 men under his immediate command, and the idol of every one of them.

In conclusion the Brantford Company again send their best wishes and will endeavor to uphold the good name of their fair city – the Telephone City – to the utmost of their ability.

P.S.: A few papers from home would come in most acceptable, while we are training here.

Thanking you again,

C.E. Bisset

BX July 5, 1916

Sergeant Charles Bisset Has Been Wounded – Is Now Recuperating In Hospital at Brighton, England

Sergeant Charles Bisset, who was with the Dufferin Rifles here has been wounded, and is now in Brighton, England. The following cable was received here today:

London, Kent, England

Mrs. George Bisset
3 Glanville Ave.,
Brantford, Ont.

Charles wounded at Brighton. Feeling much better. Waiting for news from Ottawa.

George Bisset

BX March 19, 1918

Returning Home

Charles Bisset, Percy Sykes, John Houison, Henry Carruthers, John Partridge, George Sutton and Thomas Tyrrell

The above list of men returning home has been received by Secretary MacDonald of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission, and the party is expected to arrive tomorrow. The usual reception by Mr. MacDonald will be tendered the men and there will be nothing special in the nature of the welcome from a civic standpoint, as it was thought at a representative meeting this morning that the relatives of the men had the first and only call on the time of the men when they first arrived home. At the meeting this morning, which was attended by Board of Trade representatives, manufacturers, ladies of the Patriotic League and representatives of other bodies, it was unanimously decided, on motion of C.G. Ellis and John S. Dowling, to give a banquet at an early date to all returned men, and that the cooperation of the Women’s Patriotic league be secured to this end. Mrs. Livingston, the president, and Miss Raymond were present and promised cooperation for the league.

Another conference will be held with the ladies when the banquet will be gone into in more detail.

The committee appointed to complete arrangements was as follows: Mayor MacBride, Mrs. Livingston, Mrs. Hurley, George Macdonald, Ald. Boddy, Ald. Harp, C.G. Ellis, George Stinchcombe, J.W. Shepperson and F.W. Thompson. There have been 366 men returned so far to Brantford and all will be included in the civic invitation to dine.

It is also proposed to hold a soldiers’ week this summer in Brantford, and the following committee was named to prosecute the matter: C. Jarvis, chairman; W. Lahey, A.G. Brown, L. Waterous. A big soldiers’ picnic is also to be arranged for, when it is hoped that a medal will be ready for distribution by the city. The idea is that of the mayor, who hopes to have a medal designed which will not be any cheap trinket, but suitable as an expression of civic gratitude and pride in the wearer.

BX February 23, 1949

Edward Charles Bisset

Charles Edward (Charlie) Bisset husband of May Battram, 136 Stanley Street, died this morning, at the Brant Sanatorium, in his 56th year. Mr. Bisset was born in Shoeburyness, England. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Bisset. He came to Brantford as a boy and has resided here for more than 40 years. For the past 25 years, Mr. Bisset was employed with the C.N.R., in the Express Department. During the war 1914-1918, Mr. Bisset served overseas with the 19th Battalion as sergeant, and until 1940 was actively associated with the Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles. In the Second World War he served as sergeant with the Highland Light Infantry of Canada and went overseas with the H.L.I. While in England, he later became identified with headquarters staff, in the Identification Branch of the Canadian Army. He was one of Brantford’s best known and most popular sergeants Charlie Bisset, as he was known to a host of friends, was also a fine marksman. Surviving, besides his widow, are four sons, Keith of Shilo, Manitoba; Robert, George and Richard Bisset, at home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Bisset, Brantford; two grandchildren; six sisters, Bertha Bisset, Margaret Bisset both of Brantford, Mrs. William Linington, Hamilton, Mrs. Earl Crandall, Erindale, Mrs. L. Roberts, Brantford, Mrs. Roy Graham, Vancouver. Mr. Bisset is resting at Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home, from Thursday noon. The service will be conducted on Friday afternoon. Interment will be in the Soldiers’ Plot, Mount Hope Cemetery

BX February 26, 1949

Edward Charles Bisset

Many friends and relatives attended the funeral of Charles Edward Bisset, husband of May Battram, 136 Stanley Street, which was conducted on Friday afternoon from Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home. Rev. C.V. Tomkins, of St. Luke’s Anglican Church was in charge of the service at the funeral home and the committal service at Mount Hope Cemetery. A large representation was present from Branch 90 of the Canadian Legion. The pallbearers, fellow employees of the Canadian National Express were W. Holloway, D. Barker, C. McConkey, J. Buskard, L. Dinsmore and G. Oliver. The flower-bearers were G. Webster, F. Wilde, M. May, A.H. Davis, P. King and J. Crow. Interment was in the Soldiers’ Plot, Mount Hope Cemetery. Last Post was sounded by Bugler G. McGregor.