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.
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 soldiers 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, human remains were found during a construction project in Loos-en-Gohelle in the northeast of France. Through analysis, and with the assistance of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Casualty Identification Review Board identified them as those of Private Detmold in December 2025.
His family was notified of his identification, and the CAF is providing them with ongoing support. Private Detmold will be buried in France by his unit, in the presence of family, at the earliest possible opportunity.
