INTRODUCTION

This webpage is dedicated to the men and officers who, during the months of November 1915 and August 1916, attested for service with the 117th Eastern Townships Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Despite the passage of 87 years since the end of WWI, it is my desire to honour these men and bring them together, as they were in 1916, as the 117th Eastern Townships Overseas Battalion.

Although I have only been working on this project for over a year, one can say it actually began on May 24th 1916, when on a warm, rainy day in Sherbrooke, Roy Trussler attested with the 117th Bn. Arthur Trussler, Roy's younger brother attested one day earlier. Both Arthur and Roy sailed to England with the 117th and both saw service at the front with the 24th Bn and 5 CMR, respectively. In May 2003, Roy Trussler's medals were dusted off and thus began my research and the genesis of this website.

Though I knew that Roy Trussler had served, it wasn't until I began my research I learned that Arthur Trussler also served. Being the history major that I am I could not limit myself to researching Roy and not Arthur, thus completing some long awaited family history. However, as I began my research into the Trussler boys, I realized that information on the 117th Bn is limited, and that an official history was never written. Again, being the history major that I am, I could not limit myself to only two men. Thus began the arduous, but enjoyable, task of compiling a complete nominal roll, and determining the final disposition of these men.

The disbandment of the 117th in late 1916 posed a dilemma for my research. With the men transferred to various battalions, was my research to include the history of these battalions as well? By doing so the scope of my project, apart from exponentially increasing the workload, loses the central focus of the 117th Bn. As such, I chose to represent the men, to the best of my ability, within the formation of the 117th Bn.

In May 2005, my wife and I enjoyed a pilgrimage to France and Belgium to follow the footsteps of 749164 Pte Roy Trussler (my wife's Grandfather), who served with 5 CMR. Since the majority of 117th boys served with 5 CMR, following Roy's footsteps gave us the best opportunity to follow as many boys from the 117th.

While in France and Belgium I photographed the gravesites of 146 117th boys who fell in Europe. In total 169 117th men were killed as a result of wounds received. 23 of those men are buried in England, Quebec, Ontario, and USA. I hope to visit their gravesites in the near future.

I believe that the purpose of our pilgrimage was two fold. First, it allowed us to put into perspective the atmosphere of WWI. It is one thing to read history books and try to imagine what it all means. It is another thing to be there and see first hand the time and space of war. I had read about the Menin Gate and the 55,000 names that are etched on the stone walls. However, to see the magnitude of 55,000 names, the appreciation of the Belgian people, and the daily ceremony to remember those who fell is an experience my wife and I will never forget. Secondly, by photographing the gravesites and compiling them on this website I feel as if I was able to "bring them home" to be side by side with those whom they attested with so many years ago.

This project is a work in progress. It is in its infancy stage and will grow and improve in the future. At this time I felt it more important to present the information rather than making it aesthetically pleasing. My goal is to present a photograph and as much information on each soldier listed in the nominal role. These pages will be updated as I get more information. If you have any information regarding any of the soldiers of the 117th I ask you to contact us. Credit will be given for photographs and other information. I welcome any questions, comments, or criticisms.

If you would like a photograph of a soldier or his gravesite, please contact me. I would be happy to provide you with a higher resolution jpeg free of charge. All I ask is that you ask me. Thanks.

Navigating through this website.

ATTESTATION ROLL is the main page of this website. It is a complete listing of all the soldiers who attested with the 117th Battalion regardless if they sailed to England or not. Here you will find links to individual soldiers and pertinent information to that soldier. It is my goal to complete a link to every soldier listed in the Attestation Roll.

NOMINAL ROLL is a quick reference table of those soldiers who sailed to England as part of the 117th Battalion.

THE ROLL OF HONOUR is a quick reference table to those soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice. Listed in the table is where they are buried, a grave reference, and if a photograph of the grave is available. If a photograph is available you will find it linked to the soldier's name in the Attestation Roll.

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HELPED

Throughout the past year, many have provided me with information and services to assist me in compiling this website. Without their help, understanding, and eclectic knowledge this project would not have been possible.

1. Dr. Derek Booth, retired, Bishop's University, Lennoxville, Quebec

2. Members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group

3. Eastern Townships Research Centre, Bishop's University, Lennoxville, Quebec

4. Lennoxville-Ascot Historical & Museum Society (LAHMS) - access to scrapbooks of newspaper articles and clippings. The scrapbooks were compiled by Ada Willard - date unknown.

5. La Société d'histoire de Sherbrooke

6. National Archives of Canada

8. Charlotte Cardoen-Descamps, www.varletfarm.com, Poelkapelle, Belgium - her local knowledge of Passchendaele and Source Farm is greatly appreciated. The Varlet Farm is an excellent B&B which I highly recommend.

9. Michael Dorosh, www.canadiansoldiers.com - CEF cap badge images

10. Major Christopher Galvin, DCO Sherbrooke Hussars

11. Mr. Eric Trussler, Lennoxville, Quebec - info and memorabilia on 749164 Pte R Trussler and 749163 Pte A Trussler

And finally, but not least, I would like to display my appreciation to my wife whose patience and understanding is always at the fore. Her devotion to this project never waned and her tears shed at our Commonwealth War Graves visits highlights the importance of this project and why lest we forget.

Disclaimer: Information that is presented in these pages are from public sources and I have not presented any confidential or private materials without consent from those concerned. I have, to the best of my knowledge, sought and recieved permission to use photos and images that are not from public sources or do not belong to me. All photographs of gravesites are copyrighted and belong to the owner of this site.

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