Nov 19, 1895

Born in Dundee, Scotland

Mar 30, 1905

Embarked the SS Kensington in Liverpool, England as part of a group of 271 boys under the care of the Barnardo’s Boys Home

Apr 11, 1905

Disembarked in Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario as a Home Child.  He was eventually placed with the Bowen family in Manvers Township, near Millbrook, Ontario

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59062 (temporary number 727)

Ø  Next of kin given as John Frederick Bethell, Primrose, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø  Posted to “G” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “D” Company

o   He was later transferred to the Transport Section

He attested under the surname Bethyll, however, on November 13, 1918, he filed a report that he had used a false name on attesting, and his surname was changed to read Bethell

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

Feb 5, 1915

Admitted to Kingston Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Bronchitis

Feb 10, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Mar 14, 1915

Forfeited 2 days pay for being absent

Apr 1, 1915

Private Bethell embarked a ship in Halifax, Nova Scotia along with the Transport Section, their horses and wagons, for England to prepare for the arrival of the full battalion

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Dec 30, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment #1 for neglect of duty

Oct 4, 1916

Attached to the Division Mule Fatigues for duty in Albert, France

Oct 15, 1916

Rejoined the battalion from fatigue duty

Nov 10, 1916

Admitted to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads ICT (Inter-Connective Tissue) infection of the left knee caused from an accidental injury

Nov 12, 1916

Discharged to duty

Jan 3, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Jan 17, 1917

Rejoined the battalion from leave

Mar 25, 1917

Admitted to the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples with a diagnosis that reads Contusion to his left leg from an accident when a horse fell on him

Mar 29, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Lanfranc

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Reading War Hospital in Reading

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Apr 27, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Apr 28, 1917

Transferred to the Manor County of London Hospital in Epsom

May 11, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Epsom

Recommended for mounted duty due to flat feet

May 16, 1917

Transferred to the St. Leonard’s Hospital for Physical Therapy

Sep 20, 1917

Sentenced to 4 days Field Punishment #2 and forfeited 1 day’s pay for being absent

Discharged from hospital care and transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Oct 26, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Oct 27, 1917

Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France as part of a draft 11 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Oct 30, 1917

After leaving the base depot, Private Bethell joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Villers au Bois, France

Nov 20, 1917

After leaving the reinforcement camp, he rejoined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Camblain L’Abbe, France

Dec 2, 1917

Attached to the 4^th Canadian Infantry Brigade Headquarters for duty

Aug 31, 1918

Granted permission to marry

Sep 29, 1918

Attached to the 4^th Light Trench Mortar Battery for duty

Nov 2, 1918

Rejoined the 4^th Canadian Infantry Brigade Headquarters

Nov 13, 1918

He filed a sworn statement that he had used a false name, Bethyll, on attesting, and his surname was changed to read Bethell

He was granted leave and married Alice Hannah King in London, England

Nov 27, 1918

Rejoined his unit from leave

Dec 13, 1918

Crossed the Bonn Bridge with the battalion on entering Germany as part of the occupying force

Feb 14, 1919

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Seaford on proceeding to England for discharge

Mar 19, 1919

Shown on leave

Apr 4, 1919

Rejoined the regimental depot and posted to the Depot Company in Seaford

May 8, 1919

Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending returning to Canada

Jun 21, 1919

Embarked the SS Scandinavian in Liverpool

Jul 1, 1919

Disembarked in Quebec City, Quebec

Jul 6, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Quebec City

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 132176

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Sheerness, Alberta

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Stanmore, Alberta

Jul 30, 1940

The 1940 Voter List shows him living in Calgary, Alberta with his wife at 213 20^th Avenue and his occupation is listed as Grain Buyer

Jul 30, 1953

The 1953 Voter List shows him living in Vancouver, British Columbia, at 254 G Street, with his wife and his occupation is listed as Retired

Nov 19, 1967

Percival Frank Bethell died in Vancouver, British Columbia and was buried in the Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery, Surrey, British Columbia.  His wife Alice, was buried there in November, 1992