James Edward Owen Atkins

 

Oct 27, 1886

Born in Brighton, Sussex, England to Albert Edward Owen and Lydia Mary Finch (nee Reade) Atkins

 

Jun 30, 1910

Embarked the RMS Tunisian in Liverpool with an aunt and uncle, Fred and Edith Bourne

 

Jul 8, 1910

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Carleton Place, Ontario

 

 

 

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario 

Ø      Number 59027 (temporary number 382)

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs. Lydia Atkins, mother, 28 Montpelier St., Brighton, England

Ø      Previous occupation given as Decorator

o       He had been a member of the Renfrew Citizens Band

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to “D” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “B” Company 

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

 

Jan 1, 1915

Appointed to the provisional rank of Lance Corporal

 

Mar 8, 1915

Promoted to the provisional rank of Corporal

 

 

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp near Hythe, Kent to continue training

 

Jul 1, 1915

Confirmed in the rank of Corporal

 

Jul 13, 1915

Appointed to the rank of Lance Sergeant to replace L/Sgt Rudge 59857, who had reverted in rank

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol in Folkestone

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

 

Sep 27, 1915

Promoted to the rank of Sergeant to replace Sgt W.J. Nesbitt 59743, who had been invalided to England

 

 

 

Jan 26, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with an accidental burn to his leg caused by a flare gun

 

Jan 27, 1916

Transported via No. 20 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 2 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) in Bailleul for further treatment

 

Feb 17, 1916

Transported via No. 19 AT and admitted to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne.  His burn wound became ulcerous

 

Apr 4, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel

Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Edmonton, Cornwall

 

Sep 22, 1916

Transferred to the CCH (Canadian Convalescent Hospital) in Woodcote Park, Epsom

 

Jan 10, 1917

Discharged from hospital as a patient and placed On Command to the Woodcote Park hospital for duty

 

Jan 23, 1917

Classified PB (Permanent Base) meaning that he was no longer fit for service at the front

 

Mar 12, 1917

Posted to the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

 

Apr 22, 1917

Reported for duty to the 6th Reserve Battalion from the Ante Gas Course

 

Jul 9, 1917

On Command to the Canadian Training School in Bexhill

 

Sep 17, 1917

Rejoined the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

 

Oct 26, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Warrant Officer Class II and appointed to the position of CSM (Company Sergeant Major) with pay and allowances

 

Feb 28, 1918

Granted permission to marry

 

Apr 3, 1918

Married to Mary Jane Veacy in the St. Nicholas Church, Brighton.  One of the witnesses to the marriage was Cecil Adrian Giroux, a member of “C” Company, 21st Battalion

 

Sep 10, 1918

His next of kin was officially changed to read Mrs. Mary Jane Atkins, 19 Grove Rd., North Finchley, London, England

 

Jan 15, 1919

Reverted to his permanent rank of Sergeant as a result of no longer being employed as a CSM

 

Jan 16, 1919

On Command to the No. 1 Detachment of the CAPC (Canadian Army Pay Corps) in London

 

Feb 16, 1919

Rejoined the 6th Reserve Battalion from the CAPC

 

Aug 5, 1919

Medical Board in London determined that he was suffering from chronic gastritis and because of poor appetite, feels week most of the time and subject to occasional vomiting.  Recommended for return to Canada for discharge

 

Oct 25, 1919

Embarked the SS Carmania in Liverpool with his wife

 

Nov 3, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Ottawa, Ontario for duty with the CAPC

 

Dec 22, 1919

SOS the CAPC on being posted to the Casualty Company in Kingston, pending discharge

 

Dec 27, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston

Ø      Rank on discharge Sergeant

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 184037

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge Kingston, Ontario

Following the war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at PO Box 22, Kingston

 

Jun 1, 1921

The Canadian Census shows him living at 67 Main St., Portsmouth (now Kingston) Ontario with an occupation listed as Guard

 

May 6, 1960

Died in Kingston, Ontario


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