Earle Edward Stoutley , nickname Blackie,  enlisted with the 48^th Highlanders of Canada on 13 September 1939 and was given the service number B73262.

Following training,  largely on the CNE grounds with barracks in the Horse Palace, Pte Stoutley with the 1^st Battalion, 48^th Highlanders departed by CN train from Toronto, boarded the Reina del Pacifico in Halifax on the 18^th as part of a convoy carrying the 1^st Canadian contingent overseas. They disembarked on 31 December in the Clyde and went by train to Corunna Barracks in Aldershot, arriving on New Year’s Day. He was made A/Cpl there in C Company in January. In June 1940, he was with the battalion when they sailed to France, 2 weeks after the evacuation of the British and Allied forces from the beaches of Dunkerque. The battalion penetrated 300 km into France to Sable sur Sarthe before being ordered to return to England. Commandeering their train at gunpoint, they returned to the coast, catching one of two remaining ships at St. Malo.

He was promoted to A/Sgt on 8 Sept 1940 (confirmed Sgt in April 41). Sgt Stoutley was injured on 8 October 1941 while the battalion was at Redhill in Kingswood, training and doing Ceremonial Drill in preparation for an Anniversary Parade on 12 October, marking the 50^th year since the regiment was founded in 1891. Sgt Stoutley was appointed Acting CSM (Company Sergeant Major) on 23 June 1942.  On 17 December 1942 he was Struck Off Strength to N.E.T.D.  (Non Effective Transit Depot). After returning to the battalion he was injured on 6 February 1943 while the battalion was in Little London in the Uckfield area preparing for a mortar shoot.

In early February he volunteered for action in North Africa with the British Army and joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the 78^th Division. In North Africa he was wounded (type of wound not in our records) and then returned to the 48^th Highlanders on 11 April. On his return he came down with malaria, another “experience”  from North Africa. On 14 April he participated in a talk to the 48^th Officers, relating his battlefield actions and learnings. Our regimental history “Dileas” has a picture of the WOs and Sgts taken in the early spring of 1943 and CSM Stoutley is in the front row.

On 26 April 1943  CSM Stoutley was transferred to 4 CIRU (a Reinforcement Unit) with the designation “Category C2”. Family records indicate he then spent 3 years as Instructor and Observer with the Ministry of Supply. According to documents included in his military records … He was considered an expert on the construction and use of enemy weapons. He gave instructions, lectures and demonstrations on stripping, assembling weapons such as MG34, MG42, Schmeisser Machine Pistol, Lugar Pistol, German Service Rifle and Anti-tank Rifle. CSM Stoutley was discharged from the military on 4 October 1945. (Service records required for details of service from April 43 to Oct 45.)

CSM Stoutley was awarded the MBE and was entitled to the North Africa Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, The Defence Medal and the 1939-1945 War Medal.

NOK: Beatrice Stoutley, wife, “C” Toronto