Robert "Bob" Kempster Banting

 

Jul 1, 1884

Born in Newbridge, Ireland to William Robert and Helen Teresa (nee Kempster) Banting

 

Feb 24, 1910

Embarked the SS Hesperian in Moville, Ireland

 

Mar 5, 1910

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario

 

Dec 15, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario 

Ø      Number 59036 (temporary number 1168)

Ø      Next if kin given as Capt. W.R. Banting, Remount Depot, Wembley Park, Middlesex, England

Ø      Previous occupation given as Tyre (Tire) Finisher

o       Previously employed at the Goodyear Tire Company, Toronto, Ontario

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to “G” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “D” 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

 

May 20, 1915

Married to Emily with the permission of the Commanding Officer and the next of kin was changed to read Mrs. Emily Blanche Banting, Yarrow Lodge, Waldegrave Road, Teddington, England

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 

Sep 15, 1915

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

 

Sep 25, 1915

Attached to the 2nd Division Mining Section for duty

 

Nov 11, 1915

Taken to the CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) in La Clytte with a sprained ankle.  After having his ankle wrapped, he was discharged to duty the same day

 

Jan 12, 1916

Transferred to the newly organized 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Company in St. Marie Capelle, north of Hazebrouk

 

Mar 5, 1916

Admitted to the No. 2 CFA with a diagnosis that reads Influenza

 

Mar 12, 1916

Discharged to duty from the CFA

 

Jun 7, 1916

7 days leave granted

 

Jun 15, 1916

Rejoined the unit from leave

 

Jun 1, 1917

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

 

Oct 2, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

 

Oct 13, 1917

Rejoined unit from leave

 

Nov 4, 1917

Private Banting received a shrapnel wound to his left hand during the fighting at Passchendaele and was admitted to the No. 14 CFA for first aid.  He was transferred to the No. 3 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) at Poperinge where the ring finger of his left hand was amputated.

 

Nov 6, 1917

Transferred via the No. 36 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 53 General Hospital in Boulogne

 

Nov 9, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Andrew

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Norfolk & Norwich War Hospital, Norwich

Posted to the CERD (Canadian Engineers Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

 

Feb 2, 1918

Transferred to the Coonoor Avenue, Thorpe St Andrew Hospital

 

Mar 4, 1918

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Parke, Epsom

 

Apr 15, 1918

Transferred to the Ontario Military Hospital, Orpington, Kent

 

May 14, 1918

Transferred back to the Military Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Parke, Epsom

 

Jun 12, 1918

Discharged from hospital and attached to the #3 CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) to continue his recovery

 

Aug 30, 1918

On Command to the 1st CERD (Canadian Engineers Regimental Depot)

 

Sep 23, 1918

Attached to the CSS (Canadian Signals School) at Seaford for duty

 

Nov 28, 1918

Rejoined the CERD

 

Dec 19, 1918

Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot), Buxton pending return to Canada

 

Dec 23, 1918

Embarked the SS Tunisian in Liverpool

 

Jan 4, 1919

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

 

Jan 5, 1919

On arrival in Kingston, he was granted leave until January 19th with subsistence and attached to the MD#3 Sub Depot in Ottawa while on leave

 

Jan 20, 1919

Returned to Kingston and posted to the MD#3 Casualty Company

 

Feb 1, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario 

Ø      Rank on discharge Private

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge General Delivery, Kingston, Ontario 

Following his discharge the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 84 Summerhill Ave., Toronto, Ontario

He subsequently found employment with the Toronto Star newspaper

 

Below is from the summer 1958 issue of The Communiqué, the battalion's post war newsletter


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