9052 Sergeant Arthur Stewart Houston was born on 6 September 1878 at Waterdown, Ontario, son of Rev. Stewart Houston, MA who served as Dean of Niagara. He attended Niagara Falls Public School and Collegiate Institute. He entered the service of the Bank of Commerce 15 June 1897 and was working at the Bloor and Dufferin, Toronto Branch when he enlisted in the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. He returned to the Bank on 13 May 1919.

In June of 1917 he was granted permission to marry which would suggest he’d met his wife in England although we’ve been unable to trace a marriage record. Her Christian names appear to be Mary Frances however it appears she was known as Pattie. She arrived via the Grampion at St. John, New Brunswick on 20 April 1919.

Service Record

• Four years total previous WWI service with the Queen’s Own Rifles, 57th Battalion, Governor General’s Foot Guards and the 90th Battalion
• 22 August 1914 – Enlisted in the 3rd Battalion, CEF with rank of Sergeant
• 21 September 1914 – Orderly Room Sergeant
• 23 April 1915 – Wounded slightly in the head from shell.
• 7 April 1916 – Granted 9 days leave
• 21 April 1916 – Attached to Canadian Section, 3rd Echelon, General Headquarters at Regimental rate of pay from 17 April 1916
• 1 May 1916 – Admitted to No 8 General Hospital with Scabies
• 10 May 1916 – Discharged to duty (Rouen)
• 26 June 1916 – In confinement awaiting trial
• 21 July 1916 – Tried and convicted by a Field General Court Martial of “when on Active Service, Drunkenness” and sentenced to be reduced to the ranks
• 23 July 1916 – Sentence confirmed by Brigadier General G.B. Hughes, General Officer Commanding 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade
• 30 November 1916 – Taken on strength by 12th Reserve Battalion pending commission (West Sandling)
• 7 February 1916 – Attached for duty to the Adjutant General Branch
• 4 February 1916 – Admitted to hospital under care of Dr H.J. Hamilton, Essex House, Bowes, London
• 17 November 1916 – Transferred to C.T.D. Shorncliffe for the purpose of attending an Officer’s Training Course with the view to being granted a commission
• 8 June 1917 – Granted permission to marry
• 4 October 1917 – 12th Reserve Bn to be Acting Sergeant
• 11 May 1918 – Reverts to ranks
• 13 May 1918 – Transferred to 1 Central Ontario Regimental Depot
• 7 June 1918 – On ?? to 1st Detachment, Canadian Army Pay Corps
• 15 July 1918 – Transferred to Canadian Army Pay Corps, London
• 30 November 1918 – Appointed Lance Corporal
• 11 March 1919 – Struck off strength of CAPC and transferred to ?? Depot for demobilization
• 23 April 1919 – Demobilized in St John, New Brunswick