Jan 24, 1886

Born in Starffordshire, England

Dec 7, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario 

Ø      Number 59066 (temporary number 1145)

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs. Eliza Bimson, wife, 64 Upper Charles St., Kingston, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Labourer

o       Later recorded as Leather Tanner, employed at the Davis Tannery, Kingston

Ø      Previous military service given as 7 years in the 3^rd Royal West Kent Regiment in England

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to the Depot Company 

The battalion trained in Kingston over the winter of 1914-15

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 to continue training

Sep 2, 1915

Transferred from the Depot Company to “B” Company

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Oct 15, 1915

Admitted to the No. 9 Stationary Hospital, Havre, with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea).  This was later recorded as Syphilis

Note the discrepency in the diagnosis!

Dec 4, 1915

Discharged to the Base Details, Havre

As punishment for contracting VDG, he forfeited 50 cents per day while in hospital from October 22 until December 14.

Dec 29, 1915

Admitted to No. 9 Stationary Hospital, Havre, with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined).  This was later changed to read VDG

Jan 5, 1916

Discharged from hospital to Base Details, Havre

His pay is deducted a further 50 cents per day while in hospital as it was for further treatment of his Gonorrhea

Jan 13, 1916

Transferred to the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre

Jan 15, 1916

Left the CBD to join his battalion

Jan 18, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Ridgewood

Feb 19, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) and placed in their Divisional Rest Station with a diagnosis that reads Myalgia

Feb 26, 1916

Transferred to the North Midland Divisional Rest Station and the diagnosis is changed to read Lumbago

Mar 4, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne

Mar 27, 1916

Discharged to the Marlborough “D” Camp, Boulogne

Apr 17, 1916

Medical Board classified him as PB (Permanent Base), meaning he was not fit for combat and restricted to duties in a base camp.  As a result of this, he was posted to the 39^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling

Apr 18, 1916

Invalided to England and admitted to the Military Hospital in Shorncliffe where the diagnosis is changed to read Syphilis

Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital

Apr 26, 1916

Transferred to the Cherryhinton Military Hospital, Cambridge

May 18, 1916

Discharged from hospital

May 20, 1916

On Command to the CETD (Canadian Engineer’s Training Depot) for duty at Shoreham

Jun 19, 1916

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital, Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Rheumatism.  This was later recorded as Pleurisy and Myalgia. 

Jul 20, 1916

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital, Epsom

Aug 23, 1916

Discharged from hospital and placed On Command to the 2^nd CTD (Canadian Training Depot) for 6 weeks of PT (Physical Therapy)

Sep 22, 1916

Posted to the 39^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling for full duty

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling.  The 6^th Reserve Battalion later moved to Seaford to continue training.

Mar 6, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion and arrived at the CBD in Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Mar 31, 1917

Left the CBD to join the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion

Apr 2, 1917

Joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion in Hersin as part of a draft of 53 reinforcements destined to join the 21^st Battalion

Apr 4, 1917

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in Bois des Alleux, preparing for the attack on Vimy Ridge

May 25, 1917

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA with a contused right knee for first aid then transferred the same day to the No. 5 CFA

Jun 4, 1917

Transferred to the No. 2 Australian General Hospital in Wimereux

Jun 8, 1917

Transferred to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne

Jun 9, 1917

Transferred to the No. 3 Rest Camp to recuperate

Jun 11, 1917

Transferred to the No. 5 Convalescent Depot

Jun 12, 1917

Joined the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples

Jun 17, 1917

Left the CIBD to join the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion in Hersin

Jun 22, 1917

Admitted to the No. 7 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples with complications from his old injury to his leg

Jul 8, 1917

Transferred to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot, Cayeux

Jul 11, 1917

Transferred to the No. 5 Convalescent Depot, Cayeux

Aug 28, 1917

Discharged to the CIBD, Etaples

Sep 6, 1917

Left the CIBD to join the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion

Sep 9, 1917

Joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion in Hersin

Oct 8, 1917

Left the entrenching battalion and joined the CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in Villers au Bois

Feb 23, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Mar 16, 1918

Left the CCRC and rejoined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Gouy-Servins

Apr 2, 1918

While under an enemy artillery bombardment, Private Bimson received wounds to his shoulder from pieces of an exploding gas shell and was admitted to the No. 6 CFA for first aid.  He was transferred to the No. 3 CCS the same day for further treatment

Apr 4, 1918

Transferred via the No. 29 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 47 General Hospital where surgery was performed to remove shrapnel

Apr 9, 1918

Admitted to the No. 47 General Hospital, Le Treport with a wound to his right shoulder and placed on the seriously ill list

Apr 12, 1918

Removed from the seriously ill list

Apr 19, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Guildford Castle

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital

Apr 20, 1918

Admitted to the No. 4 Canadian General Hospital, Basingstoke

Jul 9, 1918

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Park, Epsom

Sep 18, 1918

Discharged from hospital and placed On Command to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot), Seaford

Nov 6, 1918

Ceased to be On Command to the 3^rd CCD and assigned to the Depot Company, EORD, Seaford

Nov 7, 1918

Discharged from the 3^rd CCD to the EORD

Nov 22, 1918

SOS to Canada

Nov 23, 1918

Embarked the HS Aquitania in Southampton

Nov 28, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario

Posted to the Casualty Company in the Exhibition Camp, Toronto

Dec 4, 1918

Granted leave with subsistence until December 18, 1918.

Jan 6, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø      Rank on discharge Private

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge 2 Centre St., Toronto, Ontario

He was to be treated as a hospital out-patient for 6 months by the ISC (Invalided Soldier’s Commission)

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 7 Midland Place, Toronto, Ontario

 
The owner of these medals does not have the 1914-15 Star.  If you are aware of it's location, please contact the webmaster

Nov 28, 1923

His wife Eliza, died in the St. John’s Hospital, Toronto, of Emphysema

Dec 26, 1923

Alfred Bimson died at Christie Street Hospital, Toronto from Valvular Heart Disease.

His death was deemed to be as a result of his war time service and the Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his daughter, Alice Bimson, c/o Soldiers’ Aid Commission, 621 Jarvis St., Toronto

No Memorial Cross was issued.

Jan 10, 1924

Next of kin changed to read Miss Eliza Bimson, daughter, c/o Mrs. Sayers, 9 Midland Place, Toronto, Ontario