Feb 21, 1877

Born in Hampsthwaite, England to William and Mary Anne (nee Richardson) Bielby

Apr 30, 1904

Married to Mary Elizabeth Farrell in Hersham, Surrey, England

Embarked the SS Empress of Ireland in Liverpool

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Vancouver, British Columbia

His wife and children followed a year later to join him in Vancouver

Attested into the 242^nd Battalion CEF in Vancouver, British Columbia

Ø  Number 1049014

Ø  Next of kin given as Mary Elizabeth Bielby, wife, White Rock, British Columbia

Ø  Previous occupation given as Gardener

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Embarked the SS Mauretania in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Nov 30, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England

Jan 16, 1917

Attached to the Canadian Forestry Corps Headquarters in London for temporary duty

Jan 22, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps Headquarters in London for permanent duty

Dec 1, 1917

Transferred to Canadian Forestry Corps District No. 53 Warehouse in Egham, England

Jan 19, 1918

Transferred back to Canadian Forestry Corps Headquarters in London

May 30, 1918

Transferred to the CFCBD (Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot) in Sunningdale, England

Jun 3, 1918

Transferred to the 1^st Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Sep 13, 1918

Transferred to the 29^th Battalion

Sep 14, 1918

Arrived at the Canadian Infantry Base Depot in Etaples, France and Taken On Strength of the 29^th Battalion

Sep 19, 1918

While still at the base depot, he was transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Private Bielby joined the 21^st Battalion at the front a short time later and was posted to “A” Company

Nov 9, 1918

While near Elouges, Belgium, Private Bielby received a slight wound to his right thigh

Nov 10, 1918

Admitted to the 145^th British Field Ambulance

Nov 12, 1918

Transferred to the No. 3 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Nov 15, 1918

Transferred to the No. 3 General Hospital in Boulogne, France

Nov 16, 1918

Transferred to the No. 8 General Hospital in Rouen, France

Nov 29, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Patrick

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the No. 4 Canadian General Hospital in Basingstoke for treatment of his leg wound and Influenza and Laryngitis were added to the diagnosis

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

Dec 16, 1918

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

Granted 10 days sick leave

Jan 9, 1919

Attached to Kinmel Park, Rhyl pending return to Canada

Jan 18, 1919

Embarked the SS Aquitania in Liverpool

Jan 24, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Vancouver, British Columbia where he was Taken On Strength of Military District No. 11 Depot at Hastings Park

Feb 1, 1919

Granted leave until February 17, 1919

Apr 11, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Vancouver, British Columbia

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge White Rock, British Columbia

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at White Rock, British Columbia

Jan 16, 1953

James William Bielby died of a heart attack brought on by Pneumonia while a patient of the Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia and was buried in the Christ Church Cemetery, Surrey, British Columbia