Rank	Private, Regimental Sergeant Major
Service #	189764
Unit #	91st, 186th Battalion, 18th Canadian Battalion
Resident	Chatham

Albert J. Julien served three years with the Governor General’s Foot Guard; three years with the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, and as Lieutenant with the 61st Regiment, Monmagnie, Quebec.

Private Albert J. Julien transferred from the 91st to the 186th Battalion as Regimental Sergeant Major, leaving Halifax for overseas March 26th 1917. He trained at Bramshott Camp until November 9th, 1917, proceeding to France with reinforcements for the 18th Canadian Battalion. He received shrapnel wounds in the left hand May 30th, 1918, received hospital treatment in France, and returned to duty. He was admitted to hospital in England from bullet wounds in the right fore arm received August 28th, 1918, and after convalescence left for Canada on the “Empress of Britain” January 14th, 1919, arriving at Halifax January 22nd, 1919.

Private Albert J. Julien received his discharge February 13th, 1919, due to demobilization.

Julien stands as one of the key French‑speaking intermediaries who helped integrate Franco‑Ontarian volunteers into Western Ontario’s CEF battalions. His service across the 70th, 91st, and 186th places him at the centre of the only sustained Franco‑Canadian recruiting stream in Southwestern Ontario.

Julien’s progression:

70th Battalion (initial enlistment context)
91st Battalion (transfer)
Regimental Sergeant Major, 186th Battalion
later service with the 18th Battalion overseas

His later RSM appointments show he was valued as a recruiter and organizer with strong administrative ability, high discipline standards and trust from senior officers. His Quebec militia background gave him credibility with French‑Canadian families.

Julien’s pre‑war service in Montmagny, Québec (61st Regiment) meant he could speak directly to French‑language military culture, Quebec militia traditions and concerns about discrimination in Ontario units. His presence would have reduced linguistic barriers during attestation, reassured Catholic families, signaled cultural safety inside an Anglophone battalion and encouraged enlistments from Pain Court, Grande Pointe, Dover, and Belle River.

Julien helped sustain Franco‑Canadian enlistment in a region where it was otherwise thin through French‑language accessibility, Catholic cultural reassurance, personal networks in Chatham‑Kent, parish‑based recruiting and battalion‑level authority as senior NCO.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

Chatham Daily Planet (12-09-1918), Chatham Daily Planet (25-01-1919), Allan Miller (8 Oct 2026)

Height	5'11"
Eye Colour	Brown
Age	33
Complexion	Dark
Hair	Black
Race	White
Birthplace	Ottawa, Ontario
Religion	Catholic
Last Place of Employment	Tailor for Self
Average Earnings	$ 20.00 per week
Marital Status	Married
Marriage Info	January 14th, 1907, Arnprior, Ontario
When Enlisted	January 3rd, 1916
Where Enlisted	Chatham, Ontario
Allowance from Patriotic Fund	$ 22.00 per month
Next of Kin	Wife- Mrs. Katherine Julien, Chatham. Son- Leo Julien, Glenn Julien.

Notice something wrong with this record? Or, do you have something to add? Report it using our online form.

Add A Chatham-Kent Hero

Submit a C-K Hero who served in WWI or WWIIAdd Hero

Julien, Albert Jean

Julien, Albert Jean

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Add A Chatham-Kent Hero