Alfred Sim

Police Constable 470, Toronto Police Force | Private, 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada) CEF

Alfred Sim was born on the 1st of September, 1891 at Aberdeen, Scotland. After serving a year with the Edinburgh City Police, Sim emigrated to Canada and joined the Toronto Police Force, and was sworn in as Police Constable No. 470. Sim was single and lived at 94 Isabella Street.

On November 16th 1915, Constable Sim enlisted in Toronto’s 92nd Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), CEF. He landed in France on 28 August 1916 as a reinforcement in the 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), CEF, and proceeded to the front. Sim served a short stint with the 1st Canadian Engineer Battalion in September 1916, returning to the 15th Battalion on September 27th. On Friday, October 6th 1916, during the opening stages of the Battle of Ancre Heights, Sim’s unit took up support positions at the ruins of the Sugar Refinery near Courcelette. Two companies began digging a trench system that was to be used for a forward jumping-off position for the main attack, while the other two companies moved into the front line. While performing one of these tasks, Sim was killed by the enemy.

With no known grave, Constable Alfred Sim is commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.

Research Sources:

  • H. Grasett – Annual Report of the Chief Constable of the City of Toronto for the Year 1914, Page 58. Toronto: The Carswell Co Ltd City Printers, 1915.
  • Library and Archives Canada. Service File of No. 192688 Alfred Sim.
  • Library and Archives Canada. War Diaries of the First World War – 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1915/04/01 – 1916/04/30.
  • Library and Archives Canada. Circumstances of Death Registers Card – No. 192688 Alfred Sim.
  • Veterans Affairs Canada – Canadian Virtual War Museum. No. 192688 Alfred Sim.
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Casualty Details for No. 192688 Alfred Sim.
  • The Toronto Telegram (1915, November). “Off The Beat to Do Their Bit” (Photo).
  • The Toronto Daily Star (1915, December 1st), Page 5. “8 More Policemen Enlist”.
  • The Globe [Toronto] (1921, January 22nd), Page 21. “Inscribe Names on Honor Roll – Toronto Police Laud Memory of Heroic Dead and Living Erect Memorial Tablet” .
  • 48th Highlanders Museum Online: Private Alfred Sim (Photo).
  • Toronto Police Military Veterans Association – MVA22 Tour of Remembrance Photos (Photo).