Sergeant Albert Smith

Albert Smith was born on January 4, 1885 in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England. He immigrated to Paris and worked as a knitter at Penmans Mill No.1. He was married to Annie Smith and lived on Elm Street. They were members of the Paris Congregational Church. Albert was 30 years of age when he enlisted with the 125^th Battalion in Paris.

Albert was a member of the 10^th Platoon that embarked aboard the S.S Scandinavia on February 12, 1916. The 9^th and 10^th Platoons were the first contingent of soldiers from Paris, nearly 100 men, to go overseas. He seems to have remained with the 125^th Battalion, where he earned the rank of Sergeant, but he transferred on March 15, 1918 to the Canadian Railway Troops.

The 4th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops (CRT), formed in January 1917, 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. 

Canadian Railway Troops (CRT) were frequently under 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.

Sergeant Albert Smith seems to have avoided serious injuries on this dangerous job. He demobilized on May 25, 1919 in Canada.