778207 Bugle-Major Albert (Alf) Cousins served overseas during the First World War and was Bugle-Major of the 2^nd (Reserve) Battalion in Canada during the Second World War.

He was born in Kent, England on 6 February, 1899 to Phillip Sydney Cousins and Ellen Barber. In January 1916, lying about his age, he volunteered for active service with the 127^th York Rangers CEF stating he had previous service with the 12^th Regiment York Rangers and that his civilian trade was clerk. Cousins arrived in England in August of 1916 serving with the 127^th Battalion which became the 2^nd Canadian Railway Troops. In June 1917 he was returned to Canada as medically unfit and released from active service in January 1918.

Cousins joined the Queen’s Own Rifles as a Bugler in 1929. In 1940 he applied for overseas service with the 1^st (Overseas) Battalion of the Queen’s Own but was rejected for medical reasons. He remained in the 2^nd (Reserve) Battalion of the Queen’s Own in Canada being appointed as Bugle-Major, an appointment he filled until the end of the war in 1945.

Cousins married Florence Dorothy Cain in 1922, he died in March 1961 and is buried in Sheffield, England.

Timeline of Military Service:

• 1916, 3 January, attestation 127^th Bn, York Rangers;
• 1916, August arr England;
• 1917, June arr Canada;
• 1918, 26 Jan, discharged as medically unfit;
• 1929, Bugler in QOR Bugle Band, QOR photo;
• 1940, 1 May applied for overseas, QOR documents;
• 1941, listed as Bugle-Sergeant in photo;
• 1942, listed as Bugle-Major in photo;
• 1945, listed as Bugle-Major.