Italian Canadian Soldiers:
From Sarcee Camp to England

Pte. Barba trained at Sarcee Camp with the 1st Depot Battalion, Alberta Regiment. He proceeded overseas during the final phase of the war, arriving in England on August 15, 1918, where he was assigned to the 21st Reserve Battalion, Alberta Regiment — responsible for training and supplying reinforcements to Canadian units serving in France and Belgium.

Although the war ended before Barba could be deployed into front-line combat, his overseas service qualified him for the British War Medal. He remained with the 21st Reserve Battalion through the post-armistice period, returning to Canada during demobilization. He remained overseas until July 5, 1919, and was discharged on July 18, 1919.

Following enlistment and training with the 1st Depot Battalion, Alberta Regiment, Pte. Bot embarked from Halifax on August 4, 1918, arriving in Liverpool on August 15, 1918. He was taken on strength by the 21st Reserve Battalion at Camp Bramshott, part of the Canadian reinforcement system.

Pte. Bot remained in England through the final phase of the war and the post-armistice demobilization period, including time with the Canadian Concentration Camp system used to organize returning Canadian troops. He embarked for Canada on August 9, 1919, and was discharged on August 28, 1919.

Pte. Costanzo arrived in England on August 15, 1918, and was stationed at Bramshott before being transferred to the Canadian Army Medical Corps (C.A.M.C.). His service included postings with the C.A.M.C. Reserve and Training Depot and No. 4 Canadian General Hospital at Park Prewett, Basingstoke — one of the largest Canadian military hospitals in England.

On January 11, 1919, he was posted to No. 166 Canadian General Hospital at Orpington, Kent. He returned to Canada on August 14, 1919, and was discharged on August 21, 1919. His record reflects the role of Italian-Canadian recruits not only in combat formations, but also within the Canadian military medical system.

Attached to the 1st Depot Battalion, Alberta Regiment, Pte. Serrani trained at Sarcee Camp before proceeding overseas. He arrived in England on October 12, 1918, and was posted to the 21st Reserve Battalion, where Canadian reinforcements were organized and distributed to units serving in France and Belgium.

Serrani remained within the reinforcement system through the end of the conflict and subsequent demobilization. His record reflects the experience of many late-war Italian-Canadian recruits whose service took place primarily within reinforcement structures in England rather than front-line combat formations.

Pte. Tessarolo arrived in England on April 10, 1916, and was assigned to the Canadian Army Medical Corps, serving with No. 8 Field Ambulance. His overseas service was marked primarily by repeated periods of hospitalization — initially for bronchitis and hernia-related conditions, followed by a later diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

He was repatriated to Canada in December 1916 and medically discharged in Calgary on May 16, 1917. A note in his military file records that Pte. Tessarolo died on January 20, 1951. He is buried at Burnsland Cemetery in Calgary, Alberta.

Pte. Yannucci proceeded overseas as part of the Canadian reinforcement system, embarking for England on August 25, 1918. He was assigned to the 21st Reserve Battalion, Alberta Regiment. During his overseas service, the 21st Reserve Battalion reinforced both the 31st and 50th Battalions serving in France — units in which other Italian-Canadian soldiers from southern Alberta also served.

Although the war ended before Yannucci could be deployed into front-line combat, his overseas service qualified him for the British War Medal. He was discharged on July 13, 1919.

Pte. Zanggellini first enlisted on January 11, 1917, at Calgary for service with the Canadian Army Medical Corps Training Depot No. 13 — but was discharged shortly afterward as underage. He re-enlisted on May 18, 1918, and this second attestation was accepted for service with the 1st Depot Battalion, Alberta Regiment.

He embarked for England on August 25, 1918, and was posted to the 21st Reserve Battalion. He returned to Canada on July 1, 1919, and was discharged following the end of hostilities. His record reflects the experience of underage immigrant recruits whose military service spanned both early enlistment attempts and later formal participation in the CEF's reinforcement system.