Gustave Adolph Soderstrom MM

Rank:

Lance Corporal

Regimental number:

772036

Unit at enlistment:

125th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers' Plot, Brantford, Ontario

Awards or decorations:

Military Medal

Commemorated at:

St. George Memorial Plaque

Birth country:

Sweden

Birth city:

Stockholm

Address at enlistment:

St. George, Ontario

Next of kin address:

St. George, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Apprentice

Religious denominations:

Baptist

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Gallantry medals:

Yes

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

London Gazette: 31142
Date: January 24, 1919
Honour or Award: Military Medal
Authority: C.O. 1886, September 2, 1918
Name: Gustave Adolph Soderstrom (772036)
Unit: 4th Battalion

BX January 10, 1919

Military Medal

Lance Corporal Gustave Adolph Soderstrom, 187 Drummond, won the Military Medal, September 3, 1918. He was wounded severely, losing his right leg, and is expected home this month. The word of his decoration came yesterday.

BX February 2, 1921

Veteran Termed “A Dirty German” - Opprobrious Title Started Row Which Ended in the Police Court

“You dirty German!” was the epithet which Gus Soderstrom, a one-legged returned soldier had hurled at him by one of his neighbours. He defended a charge of using abusive and insulting language in the police court this morning by declaring that Rebecca Sterling had given him provocation. Such provocation was the vile Hun epithet, which two witnesses of the Bordeaux family declared had really been uttered. Mrs. Sterling insisted that the insult was one of inference only, her language having been much milder.

The Sodertrom’s, the Sterling’s and the Bordeaux live in apartments over James’ grocery on Colborne Street. Mrs. Sterling was alleged to have piled packing boxes against a doorway across the hallway. This impeded the entry of the Soderstrom’s into their rooms and they protested to Mrs. Sterling. An altercation ensued and the evidence showed that while Soderstrom had talked none too mildly to his neighbor, she had previously called him a German. Soderstrom was dismissed without payment of costs and a charge of using insulting language preferred against Mrs. Soderstrom was dropped.

BX February 5, 1947

Gustave A. Soderstrom

The death occurred at Christie Street Hospital, Toronto, this morning of Gustave Soderstrom, husband of Ann Pritchford, 8 Bowes Avenue, in his fifty-second year. Mr. Soderstrom was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and has resided in this district for the past twenty-one years. During the First World War, Mr. Soderstrom enlisted with the 125th Battalion, and later was transferred to the “Mad Fourth.” He was overseas for four years. He had been in Christie Street Hospital a short time. Left to mourn, besides his widow, are five daughters, Mrs. Harry McDonald and Mrs. Clarence Hart, Elmsdale, Ontario, Mrs. Ernest Burrows, Brantford, the Misses Dorothy and Patricia Soderstrom, at home and one son, Gustave W.E. Soderstrom, Brantford. Mr. Soderstrom will be resting at Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home from Friday noon. The service will be conducted Saturday afternoon. Interment will be in the Soldiers’ Plot, Mount Hope Cemetery.

BX February 7, 1947

Gustave A. Soderstrom

The funeral of Gustave A. Soderstrom was conducted Saturday afternoon from Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home to the Soldiers’ Plot, Mount Hope Cemetery. Rev. A. Schweitzer, Minister of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church was in charge. The “Mad Fourth” Battalion was represented by Percy Hawley, President, and Bob Cross, Vice-President and Secretary. The pallbearers, members of the Canadian Legion, Post 90 were M.E. Hawes, D. Monkman, I. Deary, J. Lune, D.B. MacKellar and A. Mattice. The party was in charge of E.R. Edwards. Bugler W.S. Holloway sounded the Last Post.