A Canadian soldier of the First World War has been identified as Private Albert Henry Detmold. His remains will be buried in France by his unit in the presence of family.

In August 2020, a set of human remains was found during a construction project in France. The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) identified the recovered human remains through historical, genealogical, anthropological, archaeological, and DNA analysis.

Private Detmold was killed in action on August 15, 1917, at the age of 33, on the first day of the Battle of Hill 70.  A news release from the Government of Canada says his unit was working under heavy shellfire to extend communication trenches across no man’s land to newly captured German positions. Members of the 107th Battalion remained on the battlefield to search for the dead and wounded, despite suffering casualties from mustard gas. Unfortunately, Private Detmold remained missing.

“Bert” Detmold was born on July 9, 1884, in Hamburg, Germany, to a prominent British family. In 1902, he and his older brother Julius Frederick immigrated to Canada from London, England. Bert settled on a homestead near Roblin, Manitoba.

In February 1916, Bert enlisted in Winnipeg and joined the 107th Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, also known as the 107th (Timber Wolf) Battalion. His two brothers also served: Fred with the Australian Imperial Force and Godfrey William with the Royal Flying Corps (Britain). His brothers both survived the war.