Sergeant Ashton Dean Brazier

Ashton Dean Brazier was born in Montreal, Quebec, on 7 February 1919, the son of George Frederick William Brazier and Margaret Jennie Dean. He attended Strathcona Academy and took commercial studies at Sir George Williams College. Before the war he worked for Canada Steamship Lines and as an office clerk and ledger keeper for Greenshields & Co. His interests included horticulture, sailing, sports and amateur theatre. After his father died in 1937, he helped support his widowed mother. Brazier enlisted at Montreal on 9 September 1939, service number D-81247, with the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. After service at Toronto, he sailed to Newfoundland aboard Antonia in June 1940. He returned to Halifax in August and embarked for Britain, arriving at Gourock on 4 September 1940. He then joined the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron, which was absorbed into the 8th Canadian Reconnaissance Battalion, the 14th Canadian Hussars, in March 1941. He qualified as a driver and clerk, attended assault and anti-tank courses, and advanced through corporal and lance-sergeant appointments. With the 1st Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit from June 1943, he worked as a basic-training instructor and later as an administrative NCO in its central registry. A pre-officer-training course did not lead to a commission. He attended further NCO, instructional and clerical courses, qualified as Clerk Group B and became a war-substantive Sergeant on 11 February 1945. In 1944 Brazier sought compassionate return to Montreal because of his mother's poor health and family responsibilities. His commanding officer supported the request, but headquarters declined it after a home-circumstances investigation. From March 1945 he served as a pay clerk with the Canadian Treasury Office at Lancaster. His wartime service was in Canada, Newfoundland and the United Kingdom, without service in a continental operational theatre. Brazier returned to Canadian depot strength in December 1945 and was discharged at Montreal South on 22 January 1946 on demobilization. He received the Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp, War Medal 1939–45 and General Service War Service Badge 623930. He hoped to find customs-excise or other clerical employment. He also applied for passage to Canada for his fiancée, Marjorie Armitage, but the file does not establish completion of that passage or a marriage. Ashton Dean Brazier died on 25 October 1972.

1919-02-07 — Born at Montreal, son of George Frederick William Brazier and Margaret Jennie Dean; Montreal, Quebec.
1935 — Waybill/general clerk with Canada Steamship Lines for one season; Montreal, Quebec.
1935 to 1936 — Completed Grade IX and part of Grade X, Strathcona Academy, Outremont; commercial course at Sir George Williams College in 1936 and three-month French conversation course in 1935; Montreal; Outremont, Quebec.
1936-11-24 to 1939-09-09 — Office clerk and ledger keeper for Greenshields & Co., stockbrokers, 507 Place D’Armes; Montreal, Quebec.
1937-08-28 — Father died of heart failure; Ashton later supported his widowed mother; Montreal, Quebec.
1939-09-09 — Enlisted voluntarily as Private, D-81247, 1 st Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, CASF. Single, office clerk, United Church, mother Jennie next of kin; prior militia connection declared; Montreal, Quebec.
1939-09-09 — Medical Category A; height 69.75 inches, weight 180 pounds, chest 38 inches expanded with 3 inches expansion; fair complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair, left pectoral scar; Montreal, Quebec.
1939-09-11 — Executed service will, later returned after release; Montreal, Quebec.
1939-09-19 — Medical record gives arrival at Toronto station, date faint; Toronto, Ontario.
1939-10-13 — Lance-Corporal appointment, date partly obscured; signed declaration as L/Cpl on 18 October; Toronto, Ontario.
1939-10-15 to 1939-10-30 — Qualified on NCO musketry and instructors course; Canada.
1939-12-15 — Dependants’ allowance investigation considered widowed mother’s income; allowance initially refused because annuity exceeded qualifying limit; Montreal, Quebec.
1940-01-11 — Dental examination and treatment requirements recorded; Toronto, Ontario.
1940-02-04 to 1940-02-20 — Hospitalized with mild influenza and elbow bursitis; recovered, four days’ sick leave or light duty advised. Service summary calls illness bronchitis; Christie Street Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.
1940-03-15 — Reverted to Private at own request, effective date partly obscured; Toronto, Ontario.
1940-03-29 to 1940-04-11 — Fourteen days’ furlough; Canada.
1940-06-16 — 72-hour embarkation leave recalled in later compassionate application; last visit home before overseas service; Montreal, Quebec.
1940-06-17 — Embarked on Antonia for Newfoundland; movement record gives Quebec/Valcartier; Quebec, Quebec.
1940-06-22 — Disembarked at Botwood, Newfoundland; personal later account gives 23 June
1940-07-30 to 1940-07-31 — Admonished for drunkenness at Newfoundland Airport; conduct sheet gives 30 July, main service entry appears 31 July; Newfoundland Airport, Newfoundland.
1940-08-10 — Embarked Duchess of Richmond at Botwood for return to Halifax; Botwood, Newfoundland.
1940-08-12 to 1940-08-13 — Disembarked Halifax, duplicate dates 12/13 August; proceeded Aldershot training camp; Halifax; Aldershot, Nova Scotia.
1940-08-22 — Embarked transport E-62 at Halifax; Canadian strength ended 22 August, overseas strength began 23 August; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1940-09-04 — Disembarked at Gourock; detailed record and signed later account control faint 1 September copy; Gourock, Scotland, United Kingdom.
1940-09-13 to 1940-09-19 — Transferred from Black Watch to 5 th Canadian Infantry Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron. Departure 13 September, receiving 14 September in duplicate and 19 September in main ledger; Aldershot, England, United Kingdom.
1940-09-23 to 1940-09-28 — Landing leave; England, United Kingdom.
1940-11-29 — Dental restorations while with 5 th Reconnaissance Squadron; United Kingdom.
1941-03-08 — Acute enteritis; excused duty 24 hours; 5 th Reconnaissance Squadron, United Kingdom.; 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, United Kingdom.
1941-03-11 — Taken on strength 8 th Canadian Reconnaissance Battalion,14 th Canadian Hussars, after squadron departure 10 March; rank Trooper; United Kingdom.
1941-03-25 — Appointed paid Acting Lance-Corporal; duplicate gives 27 March; United Kingdom.
1941-04-01 — Four days’ leave in duplicate movement ledger; United Kingdom.
1941-04-13 — First privilege leave, nine days; United Kingdom.
1941-05-15 to 1941-06-01 — Qualified B on 2 nd Canadian Division assault course; attachment date amended to 18 May in service ledger, duplicate course detail incomplete; United Kingdom.
1941-06-01 — Appointed paid Acting Corporal; qualified driver internal combustion, apparently Class III, licence C; United Kingdom.
1941-06-24 to 1941-07-03 — Privilege leave; duplicate records seven days from 2 July; United Kingdom.
1941-09-01 — Confirmed Corporal; duplicate ledger gives 11 August; United Kingdom.
1941-09-24 to 1941-10-01 — Leave and dental work; duplicate leave begins 21 September; United Kingdom.
1941-10-16 to 1941-10-30 — Attached 125 OCTU Royal Artillery for 2-pounder anti-tank course; not an officer commission. Application summary gives end 13 November, main attachment ends 30 October; United Kingdom.
1942-01-15 — Reverted to Trooper at own request; 8 th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment, United Kingdom.; 8th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment, United Kingdom.
1942-02-04 to 1942-02-13 — Treated at 11 Field Ambulance for hand/forearm infection or blood poisoning; service ledger ends 13 February, later medical history 14 February; United Kingdom.
1942-02-14 to 1942-02-15 — Sick-parade follow-up, handwritten diagnoses vary between conjunctivitis, cold in head and cellulitis of hand; short duty restrictions; United Kingdom.
1942-03-01 — Dependants’ allowance for mother authorized at$15 monthly, later raised to$25 from 1 January 1943; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-04-20 — Qualified Clerk Group C; trades pay from 16 May; United Kingdom.
1942-05-18 — Appointed Acting Lance-Corporal; United Kingdom.
1942-06-01 — Appointed Acting Corporal; United Kingdom.
1942-07-20 to 1942-09-24 — Regimental Clerks Course 807 Serial 8, CTS, with 1 CACRU. Course 20 July–12 August in application, CTS attachment ended 23 August; qualification dates 22/24 September in ledgers; United Kingdom.
1942-08-29 to 1942-09-16 — Attached Records CMHQ, then school/reinforcement establishments; duplicate GHQ/CGRU/CRU designations and end dates differ; United Kingdom.
1942-09-01 — Confirmed Corporal effective 1 September while on reinforcement-unit strength; United Kingdom.
1942-09-25 — Returned to 8 th Reconnaissance Regiment after 1 CACRU departure 24 September; mother’s address changed to 468 Jean Talon West; United Kingdom.
1942-10 to 1943-01 — Privilege leave recorded late October,9–16 December and 14–23 January; late October entries differ 20–27 versusseven days from 30 October; United Kingdom.
1942-10-21 — Appointed Acting Lance Sergeant; United Kingdom.
1943-01-21 — Confirmed Lance Sergeant; United Kingdom.
1943-04-29 to 1943-05-20 — Applied for commission in RCASC/RCAPC or CAC; commanding officer recommended office ability, selection board considered suitable for pre-OCTU; United Kingdom.
1943-04-30 — Reverted to regimental pay rate$1.90 daily, Clerk C; United Kingdom.
1943-05-10 — Appointed Acting Sergeant; duplicate effective date 15 May; United Kingdom.
1943-06 to 1943-07-10 — Pre-OCTU Course 6; departure 20/28 June in duplicate records, ceased attachment 10 July. Final 11 July report graded E and unsuitable; no commission followed; England, United Kingdom.
1943-06-02 — Taken on strength 1 st Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit from 8 th Reconnaissance; departure 1 June. Employed as basic-training instructor; United Kingdom.
1943-08-02 to 1943-08-20 — Pay/attachment entries for 2 nd Echelon and Canadian Section GHQ; duplicate school wording unclear; United Kingdom.
1943-09-13 to 1943-09-25 — Attached School of Tank Technology for three-week course/period, ceased 25 September as recorded; United Kingdom.
1943-10-01 to 1943-11-06 — ENT referral followed admission 2 October to 17 Canadian General Hospital for acute laryngitis; treated with inhalations and swabbing, returned to unit 6 November; Pinewood, England, United Kingdom.
1943-11-17 to 1943-12-01 — Fourteen days’ privilege leave, start appears 17 November; United Kingdom.
1944-01-16 — CVSM clasp recorded; United Kingdom.
1944-03-05 to 1944-04-23 — Y-list and 3 Wing CTS attachment for CMHQ Course 1213 Serial 2, NCO improvement/refresher; qualified Q 2 on 22 April, returned 1 CACRU 23 April; United Kingdom.
1944-04-30 — Reverted to war-substantive Lance Sergeant; United Kingdom.
1944-08-04 to 1944-08-11 — Medical examination at Inkerman Barracks,Woking, then 8 August board at Cove; P 3 profile for overweight, fit Lines of Communication duties, approved 11 August; Woking, Surrey; Cove, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom.
1944-09-01 to 1944-09-16 — Attached CTS permanent staff; Methods of Instruction Assessment course 10–16 September. Limited French vocabulary prevented proposed French training-centre instructional posting; United Kingdom.
1944-09-19 to 1944-11-21 — Requested compassionate return to help ill mother and family while remaining in Army. CO and minister supported request; investigation found no extreme hardship, NDHQ declined 15 November and CMHQ advised 21 November; United Kingdom; Montreal, Quebec.
1944-11-04 — Fourteen days’ privilege leave with ration allowance; United Kingdom.
1944-11-08 — Qualified Clerk Group B; trade/pay dates also have uncertain February variants in duplicate; United Kingdom.
1944-11-11 — Appointed Acting Sergeant again; central-registry NCO clerk duties recorded from 15 November; United Kingdom.
1945 — Completed one-week jobs-method training and one-week jobs-instruction courses, exact dates not supplied; United Kingdom.
1945-02-11 — Promoted war-substantive Sergeant; brief 1 February copy outweighed by formal service histories; United Kingdom.
1945-02-21 — Personnel interview recommended administrative duties in static unit; transfer entry to No. 2 Unit unclear. Central registry service assessed favourably; 1 CACRU, United Kingdom.; 1CACRU, United Kingdom.
1945-02-28 — Nine days’ privilege leave; United Kingdom.
1945-03-13 — Taken on strength Canadian Treasury Office, Lancaster, after 1 CACRU departure 12 March; approximately eight months pay-clerk work; Lancaster, England, United Kingdom.
1945-07-28 to 1945-08-06 — Nine days’ privilege leave; United Kingdom.
1945-08-20 — Defence Medal entitlement certified and published in unit orders; Canadian Treasury Office Overseas, United Kingdom.
1945-11-02 — Taken on strength repatriation establishment after Treasury Office departure 1 November; later interview at 4 Canadian Repatriation Depot 30 November; exact transfer code 592 CD/TD 4 unclear; United Kingdom.
1945-12-05 to 1945-12-12 — Overseas strength ended 5 December; taken on Canadian depot strength 6 December and reported 12 December. No ship, port or precise physical landing date established; No. 4 District Depot, Montreal South, Quebec.; No.4DistrictDepot, Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-12-13 to 1946-01-16 — Leave with ration allowance; Canada.
1946-01 to 1946-02-06 — Requested Canadian passage for fiancée Mrs.Marjorie Armitage, divorced, living at Omeath,Woodside Way,Salfords,Redhill,Surrey.6 Februaryletter required three certified Divorce Decree Absolute copies; passage/marriage not established; England, United Kingdom; Montreal, Quebec.
1946-01-17 to 1946-01-21 — Release medical assessments: chronic pharyngitis/sinus symptoms, mild functional dyspepsia and obesity; final P 3, DVA referral. Negative chest film and normal barium-series contours; No. 4 District Depot, Montreal South, Quebec.; No.4DistrictDepot, Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-01-22 — Normal discharge to civil life on demobilization under CARO 1029(5); Sergeant, Clerk B, trade certificate Business Office Employee. Badge 623930 acknowledged; clothing allowance 100 and 30 days rank pay; Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-01-31 — Service will executed 11 September 1939 returned to civilian address; Montreal, Quebec.
1946-02-08 — Gratuity 1413.32 gross less 26.76 pay/allowance overpayment=1386.56 net,10 monthly instalments stated 138.65.2327 qualifyingdays,1931 overseas, nil non-qualifying service; re-establishment credit 1060.25; Montreal, Quebec.
1946-04-21 — Counselling record dated 21 April: sought customs-excise work, alternative ledger keeping; referred NES and DVA. Earlier repatriation interview also suggested club management at Chateauguay Aquatic Club; Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-06-03 to 1946-06-27 — Requested West in address be corrected because cheques went east; headquarters acknowledged and notified Paymaster General; 468 Jean Talon Street West, Montreal, Quebec.; 468JeanTalonStreetWest, Montreal, Quebec.
1948-04-28 to 1948-05-25 — Asked about ribbons, Star and Victory medal; Records Office confirmed Defence,CVSMwithclasp,War Medal, ruled ineligible 1939–45 Star because service was outside operational theatre and explained no WW 2 Victory Medalauthorized; 7645 Marquette Street, Montreal, Quebec.; 7645MarquetteStreet, Montreal, Quebec.
1949-11-23 — Defence Medal, CVSMwithclasp and War Medal dispatched; Montreal, Quebec.
1953-10-23 — Previous-service screening recorded Sergeant, Clerk B, P 3 for overweight, nil forfeiture and no unpaid leave; screening alone does not establish re-enlistment; Canada.
1972-10-25 — Died 25 October 1972; notification 3 November 1972 records place not stated