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Apr 25, 1893
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Born in Lakefield, Ontario
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Jan 5, 1915
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Attested into the 21st Battalion in
Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59035 (temporary number 41)
Ø Next of kin given as Mary Balsdon, mother, Lakefield, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Labourer
Ø Previous military experience given as 2 weeks in the 46th
Regiment, Canadian Militia, in Port Hope, Ontario
Ø Religion given as Wesleyan
Ø Assigned to “A” Company
o He was later assigned to the Machine Gun Section
The battalion trained in the Kingston area
through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport, England and the
battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the
battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Sep 22, 1915
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Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment #2 for
“stating a falsehood”
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Jan 17, 1916
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Private Balsdon was wounded in the chest
overnight 17th/18th near Kemmel, Belgium, and received first aid
from the battalion’s Medical Officer
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Jan 18, 1916
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Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) and transferred the same day to the No. 2 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) in
Bailleul, France for treatment
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Jan 19, 1916
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Transferred via the No. 5 AT (Ambulance Train)
and admitted to the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples
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Feb 14, 1916
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Transferred to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot to
continue his recovery
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Feb 27, 1916
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Classified as TB (Temporary Base) meaning that
he is able to perform light duties and not able to serve at the front
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Mar 1, 1916
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Assigned to light duties at the No. 3 Base Depot
in Etaples
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Apr 18, 1916
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Left the Base Depot to join the battalion
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Apr 20, 1916
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Rejoined the 21st Battalion in the
front lines near Voormezeele
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Oct 31, 1916
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Proceeded on the Lewis Gun Course at Le Touquet,
near Etaples
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Nov 20, 1916
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Attached to the Lewis Gun School as an
instructor
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Jan 24, 1917
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Rejoined the 21st Battalion in
billets in Bully Grenay from the Lewis Gun School
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Jan 25, 1917
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Granted 10 days leave
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Feb 9, 1917
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Rejoined the battalion from leave
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Feb 23, 1917
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Returned to the Lewis Gun School as an
instructor
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Nov 13, 1917
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Attached to the CCRC (Canadian Corps
Reinforcement Camp) for employment in Calonne Ricouart
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Feb 11, 1918
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Granted 14 days leave
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Feb 20, 1918
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Attached to the 2nd Division Wing
CCRC for duty
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Feb 22, 1918
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Ceased to be attached and TOS (Taken On
Strength) the CCRC
Appointed Acting Sergeant with pay
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Feb 26, 1918
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Rejoined the CCRC from leave
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Mar 9, 1918
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Permission was granted for him to get married
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Jul 5, 1918
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Admitted to the No. 6 CFA diagnosed with ICT
(Inter Connective Tissue) infection in his face
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Jul 12, 1918
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Transferred to the No. 4 CFA
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Jul 17, 1918
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Discharged to duty with the CCRC from hospital
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Jan 12, 1919
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Granted 14 days leave
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Feb 27, 1919
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Proceeded to England and TOS the EORD (Eastern
Ontario Regimental Depot) Seaford pending return to Canada
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Mar 8, 1919
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Posted to the 6th Reserve Battalion
at Seaford
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Apr 1, 1919
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On Command to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot)
in Buxton pending return to Canada
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May 13, 1919
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Embarked the SS Minnedosa in Liverpool
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May 20, 1919
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Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec
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May 22, 1919
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Discharged from the
CEF in Montreal
Ø Rank on discharge
Sergeant
Ø War Service Badge
Class “A” issued number 303954
Ø Proposed
residence on discharge Lakefield, Ontario
o This was later
changed to 433 Plymouth Ave., Buffalo, New York, USA
The 1914-15 Star,
British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Lakefield, Ontario
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Jul 28, 1919
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Entered the United States at Niagara Falls, New
York, on his way to visit his sister, Mrs. Nellie Freeborough, at 698 Broadway, Ave.,
Buffalo, New York with his wife, Edith.
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Aug 24, 1919
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Entered the United States at Niagara Falls, New
York, on his way to visit his sister, Mrs. Nellie Freeborough, at 698 Broadway, Ave.,
Buffalo, New York. He listed his occupation
as Motor Mechanic
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| Jul 16, 1936 |
Along with a large
contingent of 21st Battalion veterans, Fred and Edith embarked the SS Montcalm in
Montreal, Quebec to attend the unveiling of the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France
The photo below
shows part of that group, with Fred 2nd from the left seated in the 2nd row
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May 6, 1957
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Fred’s wife, Edith, died in Buffalo, New
York
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May 22, 1957
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Just 16 days after his wife’s death, Fred
Balsdon died in Buffalo.
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