Albert Mark Amiro was born in Lower East Pubnico, Nova Scotia, the son of Albert Joseph and Rose Amy Amiro. He had a younger brother and a sister. He had completed Grade VIII and was working as a labourer when he enrolled in the 2nd Battalion of the West Nova Scotia Regiment (Militia) on 21 November 1940. He had been working on a bridging crew with the Canadian National Railroad and also had some farming experience.
Albert transferred to active service on 11 February 1942 at Number 60 Basic Training Centre in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. By 12 March, he was at A5 Canadian Engineer Training Centre in Camp Petawawa, Ontario. With his previous experience, he was quickly qualified as Pioneer Group ‘C’ and in May sent to Number 3 Construction Company (later re-designated Number 1 Construction Company). He arrived in the United Kingdom in June and was stationed at Hawley. He was there only a few months before being posted to the 16th Field Company in October 1942.
The 16th Field Company were among the first to land on Juno Beach on D-Day. The Battle of Normandy went on for nearly three more months before the Allies were able to break out of the bridgehead. The 16th Field Company was involved in every action of the 3rd Infantry Division throughout and supported the clearing of the Channel Ports and the Battle of the Scheldt. They had been in the Breskens Pocket since the initial assault across the Leopold Canal in early October. In the last week of October, the company was occupied in route and bridge maintenance tasks to support heavy traffic near the town of Breskens. An entry in their war diary of 31 October summarizes that of the original war establishment of 249 all ranks who landed on D-Day, 123 had been struck off strength for all reasons - killed, wounded, missing, sickness and injuries. Only three of their original officers were still with the unit – two wounded and two promoted and transferred. Morale was however still relatively high.
Sapper Albert Mark Amiro accidentally drowned in the Ghent Canal during operations on 1 November 1944. He is buried in the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery. He was 25 years old.
Note: Albert’s brother Rubin Emile Amirault also served in the Second World War. The name Amiro is also spelt Amirault (Acadian). Albert’s birth certificate is so recorded (Musuee, West Pubnico, registy or births - page 94 number 7).
Return to Part 5: Tributes to the Fallen Sappers of the Scheldt