Sergeant Percy Brydges
Percy Brydges was born in London, England on February 4, 1884. He immigrated to Paris and was employed as a machinist in the Penmans Machine Shop. He attended St. James Anglican Church. Before the war, he served for three years in the Militia Engineers. He was married to Sarah Brydges and 31 years of age when he enlisted with the 125th Battalion in Paris. Percy was a corporal with the 10th Platoon that embarked aboard the S.S Scandinavia on February 12, 1916. The 9th and 10th Platoons were the first contingent of soldiers from Paris, nearly 100 men, to go overseas. He was transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops on October 25, 1916.
The 1st Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops (CRT) which had just been formed. It was later renamed the 1st Construction Battalion. It was a crucial World War I unit composed of experienced railway workers, organized in England, and deployed to France in February 1917 to build and maintain vital railway infrastructure on the Western Front, supporting logistics and troop movement until the war's end. The military planners recruited skilled railway workers from across Canada, ensuring technical expertise. They were essential for building, maintaining, and operating railway lines to transport troops, ammunition, and supplies, keeping the war effort moving.
While the 1st Canadian Railway Troops (CRT) were not front-line infantry tasked with attacking enemy trenches, they frequently experienced intense and deadly enemy fire. Because their primary mission was to push rail lines as close to the front as possible to support major offensives, they operated in highly dangerous zones. Unlike infantry who had the protection of trenches, railway troops often worked above ground in the open to build or repair tracks. This made them prime targets for artillery shelling and aerial bombing. And they were constantly in such danger because there were often roughly 100 breaks per day due to enemy shell fire. During the massive German Spring Offensive in March 1918, CRT units were forced to abandon railway work and were instead used as emergency combat troops to build rear defense trench systems under fire.
Percy was confirmed in his rank of Sergeant on July 13, 1917. On July 21, he was admitted to hospital, though the cause is not mentioned in the record. He was granted several leaves after his hospitalization until January 13, 1919 when he was transferred in preparation for his demobilization. He was discharged from service on March 22, 1919.