Reginald Barton

Thank you to Bruce Kettles for providing the service file

 

May 24, 1895

Born in London England

 

Oct 20, 1917

Medical examination held at Port Hope Ontario under the MSA (Military Service Act) of 1917.  Reginald Barton was classified A2, meaning that he was fit for service after conditioning and training.

 

Jan 7, 1918

Drafted into the 1st Depot Battalion EOR (Eastern Ontario Regiment) under the MSA of 1917 

Ø      Number 3055522

Ø      Next of kin given as Jack Wade, friend, of Port Granby Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Farmer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Methodist

 

Feb 21, 1918

Embarked the SS Melita at Halifax Nova Scotia as part of the 3rd Draft of the 1st Depot Battalion EOR

 

Mar 4, 1918

Disembarked at Liverpool England and proceeded to Seaford where the Draft was absorbed into the 6th Reserve Battalion

 

Aug 9, 1918

Transferred to the 21st Battalion and embarked for France 

Upon arrival at the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) at Etaples he was TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion

 

Aug 13, 1918

Left the CIBD to join the Battalion

 

Aug 15, 1918

Joined the 21st Battalion rear details near Marcelcave with 47 other reinforcements.  The main body of the 21st Battalion was involved in front line fighting near Foquescourt

 

Aug 27, 1918

Just 12 days after joining the Battalion, Pte Barton received a fatal gun shot wound during the advance on the Sensee River near the village of Gaumappe.  He was taken to a field ambulance where he was given first aid and then transferred to the No 33 Casualty Clearing Station, where he died from his wounds 


Wancourt British Cemetery
Pas de Calais France
 

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his friend Jack Wade at Port Granby Ontario, as he was listed as his next of kin. 

There was no Memorial Cross issued as he was single and his mother had predeceased him.

 

Below is the Newtonville Ontario War Memorial which honours the men of that village lost in the war



 Reginald Barton is also remembered on a plaque at the entrance to the cemetery in Orono, Ontario
that honours members of the community lost in the Great War

2008

During the Remembrance Day ceremonies in 2008, Veteran's Affairs Canada conducted a vigil each night for the week leading up to November 11.  This vigil consisted of projecting the names of every Canadian soldier who is listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on various buildings and monuments across Canada, and in London England.  The photo below shows Pte Reginald Barton's name being projected on the outside wall of Canada House in London England.


 

2010

For the 7 nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers were projected onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres.  At the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across Belgium and Canada.  The image above shows the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010. 

Below on the left is the name of Reginald Barton being projected on that wall.  Below right shows the name being broadcast to the schools.  Each name appeared for 25 seconds and each night 9,700 names were shown.


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