William John Balch

 

 

Apr 2, 1892

Born in England

 

Oct 19, 1914

Shown on the payroll of the 42nd Lanark and Renfrew Regiment, Canadian Militia

 

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø      Number 59033 (temporary number 390)

Ø      Next of kin given as William Carr, Antrim, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Labourer

o       Later noted as Farmer

Ø      Previous military experience given as 6 months in the 42nd Regiment, Canadian Militia

Ø      Religion given as Methodist

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

 

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

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 

Sep 15, 1915

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

 

Oct 5, 1916

Admitted to the No. 10 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a contusion to his right knee resulting from an accidental injury.  He was transferred the same day to the No. 10 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

 

Oct 8, 1916

Transferred via the No. 14 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 16 Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport, where the diagnosis was changed to read Synovitis of the right knee.

 

Oct 24, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 Convalescent Depot in Le Treport to continue therapy

 

Oct 31, 1916

Discharged to Base Details

 

Nov 1, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre

 

Nov 2, 1916

Left the CBD to join his unit

 

Nov 6, 1916

Rejoined the 21st Battalion in the front lines

 

Dec 8, 1916

Granted 10 days leave

 

Dec 19, 1916

Admitted to the King George Hospital, Stanford St., London, while on leave with a diagnosis that reads Laryngitis and complained of hearing loss in his right ear 

Struck off the strength of the battalion on being admitted to hospital in England and TOS the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital

 

Jan 3, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bromley

 

Jan 9, 1917

Transferred to the Ontario Military Hospital, Orpington, Kent and deafness is added to the diagnosis along with the Laryngitis

 

Feb 22, 1917

Discharged to the 3rd CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) at St. Leonard’s Hospital for physical therapy

 

Mar 10, 1917

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

 

Mar 29, 1917

Discharged from St. Leonard’s Hospital and posted to the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

 

Apr 21, 1917

Posted to the 21st Battalion

 

Apr 22, 1917

Arrived at the CBD in the Rouelles Camp, Havre France and TOS the 21st Battalion

 

Apr 24, 1917

Left the CBD to join the battalion

 

May 21, 1917

Rejoined the 21st Battalion in Billets in Aux Rietz as part of a draft of 50 reinforcements

 

Aug 18, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal with pay to replace A/Cpl Elms, 141902, who had died of wounds, and later promoted to the rank of Corporal and back dated to this date

 

Nov 14, 1917

Admitted to the No. 11 CFA with a diagnosis that reads Bronchitis

 

Nov 15, 1917

Transferred to the No. 12 CFA and transferred the same day to the No. 98 Field Ambulance

 

Nov 26, 1917

Transferred to the No. 134th Field Ambulance

 

Nov 28, 1917

Transferred to the No. 17 CCS

 

Dec 17, 1917

Arrived at No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples.  He left the same day to join the 21st Battalion

 

Dec 20, 1917

Rejoined the 21st Battalion

 

Jan 5, 1918

Reverted to the rank of Private at his own request

 

Jan 15, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

 

Jan 31, 1918

Rejoined the battalion from leave

 

Feb 1, 1918

Admitted to the No. 3 CFA with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea). 

 

Feb 20, 1918

Transferred to the 1st CFA

 

Mar 12, 1918

Transferred to the No. 6 CCS

 

Mar 24, 1918

Declared to be dangerously ill

 

Mar 29, 1918

Transferred via No. 20 AT

 

Mar 30, 1918

Admitted to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital and the diagnosis is changed to read VDG and Broncho Pneumonia

 

Apr 18, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel

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

On arrival in England he was admitted to the 1st Western General Hospital in Liverpool

 

Apr 19, 1918

Transferred to the Auxiliary Military Hospital, Tranmere, Birkenhead

 

May 21, 1918

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital, Kirkdale and the diagnosis is changed to read Pulmonary Tuberculosis

 

Jun 6, 1918

Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Llandovery Castle, embarking in Liverpool

 

Jun 17, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

 

Jun 20, 1918

Admitted to the Queen’s Military Hospital, Kingston with a diagnosis that reads Tuberculosis in the lungs

 

Jun 21, 1918

Transferred to the Mowat Sanatorium, Kingston

 

Jun 27, 1918

Medical Board at the Mowat Sanatorium notes

Ø      General condition is poor, emaciated and nervous

Ø      Has been confined to bed, chiefly because of a lack of clothes

Ø      Recommendation of 6 months of Sanatorium treatment

Ø      Probable duration of condition is indefinite

 

Jul 31, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario 

Ø      Rank on discharge Private

Ø      War Service Badges Class “A” and “B” were issued

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge c/o ISC (Invalided Soldier’s Commission) 

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at RR #1 Antrim, Ontario

 

Jun 28, 1920

Married to Ella Foster in Smith’s Falls, Ontario

 

Jul 19, 1964

William Balch died and was buried in the Merrickville Union Cemetery, Merrickville, Ontario

 


Return to Tribute list

Home

Contact