Private John Mansfield

Private, No. 2 Canadian Construction Company, Canadian Forestry Corps (Army).

Son of Samuel Mansfield and Mary Mansfield (nee Medley); younger brother of Dennis Mansfield and Ada Elizabeth 'Bessie' Brown (nee Mansfield) and older brother of Daniel Mansfield; uncle of Clifford John Mansfield (Service No. 4052608)

The No. 2 Construction Battalion (an all Black battalion) served in France with the majority of the men being assigned to the No. 5 Canadian Forestry Corps (Jura Group).

This soldier was ill and his story was featured in Anthony Sherwood's docudrama film "Honour Before Glory". Mansfield fell sick and white medical doctors refused to take care of him saying "he was just faking." A few days later, Mansfield died of his illness. After he died, Chaplain William White penned a poignant remark in his diary saying "Now they know Mansfield wasn't faking."

Died of syncope

His Date of Birth is declared only as 1876. According to the 1881 Canadian Census, he was 15 years old, which, if correct, would mean that his Year of Birth was more likely to have been 1866

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