INSLEY Ernest Alfred

Alfred Ernest Insley enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Belleville, Ontario, Canada on 19th February 1915.  On his attestation paper he gave his date of birth as 15th March 1892 in London, England, his occupation given as a plumber and his next of kin as his mother, Mrs T.B. Insley, Sunnyside, Vernon Park, St Johns, Worcester, England. Alfred was 5ft 5¾ins tall with brown eyes, dark brown hair and a dark complexion.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission database records Alfred’s age as 19 which conflicts with the date of birth given by him at the time of his attestation  Further research has revealed that Alfred appears to have given false information at the time of his attestation, changing his names around and dropping 6 years from his actual age.  His birth is registered as Ernest Alfred Insley in the March Quarter 1898 under the Lambeth Registration District making him 17 and not 23 years of age.

In April 1915 Alfred spent several weeks in hospital in Canada being treated for influenza. He sailed on the S.S. Missanabie from Montreal, Canada on 24th June 1915.  In early November Alfred spent a week in the isolation hospital in Le Havre, France with pyrexia, the cause being unknown.  On 25th December Alfred was sentenced to 120 hours detention for being 1) Absent without leave 2) Malingering.  He was wounded in action on 9th April 1917 and died later the same day.

Alfred married Evelyn May ?? on 14th June 1915, his next of kin amended to show his wife and later further amended to Mrs Evelyn May Gill, widow, nee Mrs E.M. Insley, 78 Shaftesbury Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada and a note added to records relating to a Separation Allowance states: Account cancelled. Married after enlistment without officer’s consent.  However, it would appear that some payment was made to his widow.

National Archives of Canada Reference: RG150, Accession 1992-93/166,Box 4703 – 31.

The Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty) records the following information on Private ernest Alfred Insley:
Previously reported wounded now “Died of Wounds”
He was wounded in the head by shrapnel whilst taking part in the attack on Vimy Ridge, and died shortly after being taken to a dressing station.

A photograph of Private E.A. Insley can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 26th May 1917, available at Worcestershire Archives.