Wilfred Baker


Feb 21, 1891

Born in Brockville, Ontario to Joseph and Mary (nee Tobin) Baker

 

Nov 9, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 34

Ø  Next of kin given as Joseph Baker, father, 35 Georgina St., Brockville, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  Previous military experience given as 56th Regiment for 2 weeks

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to “A” Company

 

Dec 30, 1914

Sentenced to 2 days in the Guard Room for being drunk

 

Feb 13, 1915

Sentenced to 10 days Detention and forfeited 2 day’s pay for being absent

 

Feb 19, 1915

Fined $6.00 for being drunk

 

Mar 9, 1915

Sentenced to 10 days Detention and fined $6.00

 

Mar 18, 1915

Struck Of Strength of the 21st Battalion for Drunkenness

 

Feb 28, 1916

Attested into the 156th Battalion CEF in Brockville, Ontario

Ø  Number 639755

Ø  Next of kin given as Joseph Baker, father, 35 Georgina St., Brockville, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Machinist

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

 

May 30, 1916

Forfeited 3 day’s pay for an unrecorded offence

 

Sep 30, 1916

Forfeited 7 day’s pay and fined for being drunk

 

Oct 19, 1916

Embarked the SS Northland in Halifax, Nova Scotia

 

 

Oct 28, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Witley to continue training

 

Nov 1, 1916

Transferred to the 123rd Battalion in Witley

 

Nov 26, 1916

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre)

 

Nov 28, 1916

Medical Board in Bramshott notes that both of his feet are markedly flat and he is unable to march

His medical category was changed to C2 meaning he was only fit for non combat base duty

 

Jan 5, 1917

Attached to the 156th Battalion in Witley

 

Feb 1, 1917

Attached to the Canadian Forestry Corps in Sunningdale

 

Feb 7, 1917

Admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Etchinghill with a diagnosis that reads Venereal Disease Chancroid

 

Feb 20, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

 

Mar 8, 1917

Sentenced to 3 day’s Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeited 7 day’s pay for being AWL (Absent Without Leave) for 4 days

 

Apr 10, 1917

Admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Etchinghill with a diagnosis that reads Urticaria (a skin rash) and Otitis Media, an ear infection.  While in hospital he received additional treatment for his venereal infection

 

Apr 18, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

 

May 1, 1917

Transferred to the CFCBD (Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot) in Sunningdale

 

May 12, 1917

Transferred to the 36th Company Canadian Forestry Corps in Sunningdale

 

May 13, 1917

The 36th Company Canadian Forestry Corps arrived in Havre, France and proceeded to Conches

 

May 23, 1917

Forfeited 2 day’s pay and admonished for being absent from 9 am May 20 until arrested at 9:45 am May 21

 

Jun 19, 1917

Admitted to the British Detention Hospital in Paris with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

 

Jun 25, 1917

Transferred to the No. 51 General Hospital in Etaples, France

 

Aug 28, 1917

Discharged from hospital and reported to the CGBD (Canadian General Base Depot) in Etaples

 

Sep 5, 1917

After leaving the base depot, he rejoined the 36th Company in Jura, France

 

Oct 30, 1917

Admitted to the Jura Hospital, La Joux Jura, France with a diagnosis that reads Adenitis of the neck, an inflammation of the glands

 

Nov 20, 1917

Transferred to the No. 8 General Hospital in Rouen, France and diagnosis was changed to read Tuberculosis

 

Dec 11, 1917

Reported to be seriously ill

 

Dec 16, 1917

The diagnosis was changed to read Hodgkin’s Disease

 

Jan 13, 1918

Private Wilfred Baker died of Hodgkin’s Disease while a patient of the No. 8 General Hospital and was buried in the Bois Guillaume Communal Cemetery Extension, Rouen

 

Following his death, the Memorial Cros, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to his mother, Mrs. Joseph Baker, 35 Georgina St., Brockville, Ontario

The Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Joseph Baker at the same address.

 The family erected a marker on the family plot in the Old St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Brockville, Ontario.  Note that the Plaque sent to his father was embedded into the headstone

 

 


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