Remembering World War II

Alphonsus Thomas Sears

Sources: Antigonish Cenotaph Project (Bruce MacDonald) Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Name: Alphonsus Thomas Sears Rank: Private Service No.: F/76622 Service: West Nova Scotia Regiment, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps Date of Birth: December 8, 1916 Place of Birth: Lochaber, Antigonish Co., NS Date of Enlistment: January 5, 1943 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, NS Address at Enlistment: Lochaber, Antigonish Co., NS Age at Enlistment: 26 Height: 5 feet, 9 ½ inches Complexion: Ruddy Eyes: Blue Hair: Brown Trade: Truck Driver Marital Status: Single Next of Kin: Hannah Sears (Mother) Lochaber, NS Religion: Roman Catholic Date of Death: September 27, 1943 Age: 26 Cemetery: Bone War Cemetery, Algeria Grave: V. G. 9. Commemorated on Page 212 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 29 Alphonsus ‘Phonse’ Thomas Sears was the son of Andrew Bartley Sears (1883-1926) and Johanna ‘Hannah’ Carroll Sears (born in 1881), of Lochaber, Antigonish Co., Nova Scotia. Alphonsus had three brothers John F., Cameron G. and Albert S. and a sister Katherine. “Phonse’s father operated a farm that supported a meat and produce retail business. He passed away unexpectedly at the young age 43 on May 12, 1926, leaving Hannah to provide for five dependent children while operating the farm. No doubt, her Phonse and his older brother, John, assisted with daily chores. Likely due to the family’s circumstances, Phonse left school at age 16, having completed Grade 8. While he worked on the farm for two years, an employment form in his service file states that he had no desire to return to such work following military service. For five years prior to his enlistment, Phonse worked as a truck driver for Peter Fraser, who managed a logging operation at Sunny Brae, Pictou County. On December 15, 1942, Phonse reported to No. 61 Training Centre, New Glasgow, for training, as required under the National Resources Mobilization Act. The Centre provided compulsory military instruction for men between the ages of 21 to 24 years. While the regular program covered a time span of four months, Phonse completed only three weeks of training before volunteering for overseas service at Halifax, NS, on January 5, 1943.” Following training in Canada, Private Sears departed Canada on June 18, 1943, arriving in the UK on June 24, 1943. He was assigned to No. 7 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit, Airedale, Castleford, where he remained throughout the summer months. He embarked the United Kingdom on September 12, 1943, and disembarked in Algeria on September 24, 1943. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, Canadian Base Reinforcement Depot, at Philippeville, Algeria (now known as Skikda). The Depot was responsible for reinforcement of the Sicilian and Italian Campaigns. Private Alphonsus Thomas Sears died three days later on September 27, 1943, while on a swimming parade with his unit in North Africa. Private Cecil Dixon attempted to save him from drowning, but they both drowned. The following information was published In a Casket article on November 11, 1943. The item also included passages from a letter to Hannah from Acting Major Rev. J. Arthur Ryan, the Padre serving with No. 1 Canadian Base Reinforcement Depot: “Phonse’s death… was particularly unfortunate and tragic. He had arrived here only a few days before from England, and did not realize the strength of the undertow that prevails on the shore where we swim, so that he was caught in it and was unable to make shore. Despite the gallant efforts of Pte. Dixon, who gave his life trying to save him, and of the rest of the boys who were there and did all in their power, he was too exhausted to keep up. and when the body was recovered soon after it was too late to do anything for him.” “Quite a number of the boys from the West Nova Scotia Regiment” attended Phonse’s funeral and “erected a neat wooden cross over his grave.” Among the soldiers in attendance was local resident D. J. MacKinnon, who had lived with John MacPherson, North Grant, prior to his enlistment. The Casket article also noted that Hannah had written to the mother of Pte. Dixon, the young Halifax soldier who had lost his life in attempting to save Phonse, “to condole with her.” Another paper wrote of Alphonsus, “[a] young man with a sparkling sense of humour and a great heart filled to overflowing with routine acts of kindness…, remembered affectionately by a wide circle of friends. He was a general favourite.” Private Sears was initially buried in the British American Cemetery, in Philippeville, Algeria (Plot 1, Row A, Grave 2) with his comrade Private Cecil Dixon buried next to him in Grave No. 3. Alphonsus was then re-interred October 2, 1945, at the Bone Military Cemetery in Annaba, Algeria (Plot V, Row G, Grave 9) with grave consolidation. The cemetery gets its name from the seaport city of Annaba’s former name, which was Bon, Bona and Bône. Private Dixon was, once again, buried next to Sears in Plot V, Row G, Grave No. 8). Antigonish Cenotaph Project, by Bruce MacDonald