Thomas Baird MMwBar

 

 

May 1, 1893

Born at County Ayrshire, Scotland

 

Feb 22, 1916

Attested into the 155th Battalion at Bancroft Ontario 

Ø      Number 636689

Ø      Next of kin given as John Baird (father) of 72 Welbeck St., Kilmarnock, Scotland

Ø      Previous occupation given as Laborer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Presbyterian

 

Jul 22, 1916

Appointed to rank of Lance Cpl

 

Sep 20, 1916

Particulars of Family form notes his mother’s name as Margaret Wright of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland

 

Sep 28, 1916

Promoted to rank of Cpl

 

Oct 18, 1916

Embarked the SS Northland at Halifax Nova Scotia

  

 

Oct 28, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England and proceeded to Bramshott Camp

 

Dec 8, 1916

Transferred to 154th Battalion at Bramshott

 

Jan 5, 1917

Reverts to rank of Pte at own request in order to proceed to France 

Transferred to 21st Battalion

 

Jan 6, 1917

Arrived at CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at Havre France and TOS (Taken On Strength) 21st Battalion

 

Feb 14, 1917

Left CBD to join 2nd Entrenching Battalion

 

Feb 19, 1917

Arrived at 2nd Entrenching Battalion

 

Feb 24, 1917

Left to join unit

 

Feb 26, 1917

Joined the 21st Battalion in the field 

The Battalion was in the Elbe Trench near Vimy Ridge

 

Jun 23, 1917

Appointed to rank of Acting Lance Cpl without pay

 

Nov 14, 1917

Appointed to rank of Lance Cpl

 

Dec 9, 1917

Granted 14 days leave

 

Dec 24, 1917

At duty from leave

 

Jan 1, 1918

Promoted to rank of Cpl

 

Mar 18, 1918

Announced in the Battalion’s War Diary the award of the Military Medal as per London Gazette #30652

  

Citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  In connection with a raid on the enemy trenches.  the first of the raiding party encountered heavy wire.  This NCO under fire from cylindrical sticks and bombs and with great courage, cut the wire with hand wire cutters and allowed the party to pass.  He continued cutting gaps and by his action made it possible for our wounded to be evacuated.  He then joined the attacking party and assisted in bombing the cellars.

AFW 3121  4-3-18

 

Jul 16, 1918

Appointed to rank of Lance Sgt

 

Aug 27, 1918

Wounded by machine gun bullet to knee and leg and admitted to No 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) then transferred to the CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

 

Sep 1, 1918

Invalided to England aboard a Hospital Ship 

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital 

Admitted to Auxiliary Military Hospital at Weston Favell, Northampton England

 

Sep 4, 1918

Announced in the Battalion’s War Diary the award of a  Bar to the Military Medal as per London Gazette #31142

  

This was for acts of bravery during the attack at Marcelcave on Aug 8, 1918

 

Oct 8, 1918

Transferred to Kettering General Hospital

 

Nov 26, 1918

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital at Epsom

 

Apr 8, 1919

Transferred to No 5 Canadian Hospital at Liverpool

 

May 5, 1919

Embarked the Hospital Ship Essequibo at Liverpool and Invalided to Canada

 

May 17, 1919

Disembarked at Portland Maine, USA, and proceeded by train to Kingston Ontario

 

May 18, 1919

Posted to the Hospital Section at Queen’s Military Hospital, Kingston

 

May 19, 1919

Granted leave with subsistence until June 2, 1919

 

Jul 15, 1919

Transferred to the Casualty Company, Military District #3 at Kingston

 

Jul 18, 1919

Discharged from the CEF 

Ø      Reason for discharge – Medically Unfit for General Service

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued, number 213705

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge – Hybla Ontario

Ø      Rank shown on Discharge Certificate - Cpl

 

Nov 21, 1922

British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to Hybla (Hastings County) Ontario

Rank shown on Medals Card - L/Sgt 

 

Jun 26, 1934

Deceased in Rochester New York, USA and buried in the Grove Place Cemetery, Monroe County, New York, USA

 

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