Albert Cusworth Townsend enlisted in July 1916 from Vernon, British Columbia. He served as a private in the 54th Battalion and 225th Battalion.

He was killed in action a year later at Passchendaele on November 14, 1917. In January 1918, commanding officer A. Robertson wrote to Georgiana, Townsend’s sister, explaining that Townsend was wounded after the Germans attacked the left flank as he was delivering rations to the front line. Robertson said Townsend’s battalion “was the only one that got their rations through and got them through on time,” and would deliver rations even if the shelling was bad. But on this night, he was hit.

“It was only a small piece not much larger than the top of the little finger, but it must of cut an artery in the stomach,” Robertson wrote. “He wasn’t suffering a great deal and was quite talkative and cheery.” Townsend died an hour after reaching the dressing station.

He’s buried at Tyne Coy Cemetery in Belgium.

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