Private Louis Togno

Private Louis Togno served Canada during the final and most intense phase of the First World War on the Western Front.

The First World War

49th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force

Louis Togno was born on 5 September 1890, with his place of birth recorded in his First World War service file as “Viena, Italy.” This entry does not correspond to a known geographic location and is best understood as a clerical or phonetic rendering entered at enlistment, when formal documentation was often unavailable and personal details were recorded as they were spoken. As a result, “Viena” remains the only contemporary record of his birthplace, pointing broadly toward northern Italy without allowing a precise identification of origin.

Louis was living in Crossfield, Alberta, working as a railroad labourer when he enlisted at Calgary on 23 January 1918, entering the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the final year of the First World War. He was initially taken on strength with the 1st Depot Battalion, Alberta Regiment.

He embarked from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in April 1918, sailing to England aboard the S.S. Olympic. After arriving in the United Kingdom, he underwent further training and reinforcement processing before being drafted to the front.

In August 1918, Louis was deployed to France and posted to the 49th Battalion (Edmonton Regiment). His arrival placed him directly into the final phase of the war — the Last Hundred Days, a period of sustained Allied offensives in which Canadian formations played a significant operational role on the Western Front.

His service record captures a brief disciplinary episode in the closing weeks of the war’s aftermath. On 14 December 1918, while still on active service, he was recorded as absent without leave (AWL) from the morning parade. The entry was followed by a sentence of 21 days of Field Punishment No. 1, a formal disciplinary measure used by British and Canadian forces for offences short of court martial. FP No. 1 was the most severe category of field punishment, involving controlled restraint and supervised labour under regulated military conditions.

Following the end of hostilities, Louis was returned to England and struck off strength on 5 March 1919 in preparation for repatriation. He embarked from Liverpool on 5 March 1919 aboard the R.M.S. Carmania, arriving back in Canada later that month. He was formally discharged on 22 March 1919, completing his overseas service.

At discharge, he was described as 29 years old, with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair, standing 5 feet 5½ inches tall.

For his service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, and issued the War Service Badge, recognizing honourable service and return to civilian life.

Louis Togno died on 13 June 1974.

Sources

• Library and Archives Canada, First World War Personnel Records (RG 150), Accession 1992-93/166, File 278045, Reg. No. 3206582.

Researched and compiled by Luigi Audia