The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have identified human remains recovered in Loos-en-Gohelle, France, as those of Private Albert Henry Detmold. His identity was confirmed through historical, genealogical, anthropological, archaeological, and DNA analysis.
Albert (Bert) Henry Detmold was born on July 9, 1884, in Hamburg, Germany, to a prominent British family. He was the third of four children born to Frederick William and Nellie Rita (née Isaacs) Detmold. In 1902, he and his older brother Julius Frederick (known as Fred) 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 or the 107th (Winnipeg) 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.
After initial training in Canada, the 107th Battalion was converted to a pioneer battalion upon arrival in Britain. Pioneers are trained infantry soldiers whose primary duty is to perform basic combat engineering tasks, often under dangerous battlefield conditions. During its service in France, the 107th Battalion consolidated captured trenches, maintained light railway tracks, and cleared roads, among other tasks.
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. He and his fellow pioneers were 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. He left behind a fiancée in London, England.
In August 2020, a set of human remains was found during a construction project in Loos-en-Gohelle, France. Through analysis, and with the assistance of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the Casualty Identification Review Board identified the human remains as those of Private Detmold in December 2025.
The CAF has notified the family of Private Detmold of his identification and is providing them with ongoing support. He will be buried in France by his unit, in the presence of family, at the earliest possible opportunity.
