A First War Pair to the Canadian Engineers; Gassed on November 6th 1918

British War Medal (2678801 SPR. A. DELISLE. C.E.); and Victory Medal (2678801 SPR. A. DELISLE. C.E.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, light contact, cleaned, glue residue on their reverses from previous board mounting, very fine. Accompanied by his CEF For Service at the Front Badge (bronze and enamels, numbered "247088" on the reverse, 22.3 mm, screwback) and a Canadian Engineers Cap Badge (bronze, 44 mm x 48 mm, intact lugs), both are also very fine. Footnote: Armand Delisle was born on March 18, 1898 in Quebec City, Quebec. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Sapper (2678801) on May 2, 1918, at the Engineer Training Depot in Quebec City, at the age of 20, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Joseph Isidore Delisle of Quebec City, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Mechanic (also acknowledged later as an Electrician). The Canadian Engineers were responsible for all defensive measures, including wiring, trenches, gun emplacements, offensive and defensive mining subways, roads, bridges, railways, medical accommodations, water supply and purification and numerous other vital tasks. All accommodation and storage huts were built by the engineers and they were also charged with maintaining sanitation standards. His unit embarked Canada on June 29, 1918 aboard the S.S. Saturnia, arriving in England on July 22nd. Delisle was posted to the Canadian Engineers Reserve Battalion at Seaford on August 6th, then posted to the Canadian Engineers Pool on September 19th, arriving in France the following day. Ten days later, he was transferred to the 11th Battalion, Canadian Engineers in the field on September 29th. During the final week of the war, while in the trenches in Belgium on November 6, 1918, a mustard gas shell exploded, with Delislesuffering burns to his scrotum, buttocks and the inside of his thighs, along with contracting conjunctivitis in his eyes (AKA pinkeye). He was initially admitted to No. 13 Canadian Field Ambulance, then transferred to No. 33 Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Six days later, he was admitted to No. 7 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples on the 12th, where he was stabilized before being invalided wounded to England aboard the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth and was posted to the Canadian Engineer Regimental Depot at Seaford on November 23rd. Delisle was admitted to the 1st Western General Hospital at Liverpool on the 24th, and placed at Druid's Cross Auxiliary Hospital, Wavertree, Liverpool for the next four weeks, before being transferred to the Princess Patricia Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Cooden Camp, Bexhill on December 21st. It was here that it was recommended that further treatment was necessary and after three and a half weeks at Bexhill, he was discharged on January 14, 1919. He was posted to the Canadian Engineer Reinforcement Depot at Seaford on November 24th. In early 1919, he was posted to the 2nd Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalion on January 14th, then posted to the 1st Canadian Engineer Reserve Battalion on January 22nd, followed by his posting to the Casualty Company at No. 5 Wing, Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park, North Wales for return to Canada on February 3rd. He was struck off strength to Canada on February 16th, sailing the following day for home aboard the H.M.T. Empress of Britain, arriving in Canada on the 25th. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated March 13, 1919 at Quebec City, the doctor documented the "scrotal dermatitis" that he suffered as a result of the mustard gas attack in Belgium. He also described the events of that fateful day: "While sitting in the trenches he became unconscious from (a) gas shell, when he awoke he found that his scrotum was burning and itching. Entered hospital and was there two months. Skin (from the) scrotum came off. At present the skin is reddish in aspect and irritated looking. Man complains of constant burning and itching especially if he becomes in any heated." It was recommended that he be discharged and transferred to the Invalided Soldiers' Commission (I.S.C.) for further treatment and that he "Should pass under his own control." Delisle was discharged as being "Medically Unfit" on March 20, 1919, at Dispersal Station "E", Military District No. 5 in Quebec City, credited with having served in Canada, England, France and Belgium, entitled to wear both the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 80199 and the War Service Badge, Class "B", number 50282. For his First World War service, he was was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Delisle died on October 7, 1942, at the age of 44.