Bruce Rodney Blanchard, MM

 

Apr 19, 1894

Born at Lakefield Ontario

 

Oct 23, 1914

Shown on the pay sheet for the 57th Regiment, Peterborough Rangers

 

Nov 3, 1914

SOS 57th Regiment on proceeding to Kingston

 

Nov 4, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59072 (temporary number 500)

Ø      Next of kin given as William Blanchard (father) of 346 Water St, Peterborough Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Chauffeur

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø      Assigned to “E” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “C” Company

 

Jan 3, 1915

Appointed to provisional rank of Lance Corporal with pay

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec

  

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent

 

Jul 1, 1915

Confirmed in rank of L/Cpl

 

Sep 8, 1915

Reverts to rank of Pte at own request

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone

  

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer

 

Apr 9, 1916            Wounded during the fighting at the St Eloi Craters 

From a Medical Report filed in England "was hit in right arm and shoulder with a bullet and in right hip, back and right eye with shrapnel.  All these occurred at the same time.” 

Noted later in file that the bullet wound was from one of his own men.

 
Above is from the 21st Battalion War Diary 

Although he most likely would have been treated initially at a Canadian Field Ambulance then evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station, neither of these events are recorded in the file. 

Admitted to the No 24 General Hospital at Etaples

 

Apr 14, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen

  

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

 

Apr 15, 1916

Admitted to No 2 London General Hospital

 

May 3, 1916

Transferred to Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley

 

Jul 5, 1916

Transferred to the Granville Special Hospital at Ramsgate

 

Oct 5, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to CCAC

 

Oct 7, 1916

Placed On Command to the Canadian Musketry School for duty

 

Oct 10, 1916

Admitted to Westcliffe Eye and Ear Hospital at Folkestone with complications from wounds received in the field and placed On Command to 39th Reserve Battalion

 

Oct 11, 1916

Awarded the Military Medal per the London Gazette #29780


 

Oct 19, 1916

Discharged from hospital and ceases to be On Command to 39th Reserve Battalion

 

Oct 28, 1916

Attached to CASCTD (Canadian Army Service Corps Training Depot)

 

Oct 30, 1916

Attached to CASC (Canadian Army Service Corps) for PBD (permanent Base Duty)

 

Nov 4, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

 

Nov 7, 1916

Attached to D of S&T at Sandgate

 

Nov 28, 1916

Attached to Canadian Arms Inspection & Repair Depot at East Greenwich for duty

 

Mar 10, 1917

TOS EORD and attached to CSH&L Regimental Depot at Hastings

 

Jun 4, 1917

Ceases to be attached and returned to EORD

 

Jun 14, 1917

Placed On Command to CAPC (Canadian Army Pay Corps), London & Crowborough Area, London

 

Jun 16, 1917

Ceases to be On Command on posting to CAPC London

 

Jul 5, 1917

TOS EORD at Seaford from CAPC

 

Jul 7, 1917

Admitted to the Military Hospital at Warlingham with a case of Gonorrhea

 

Sep 21, 1917

Transferred to Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Epsom

 

Oct 8, 1917

Discharged from hospital and posted to 6th Reserve Battalion at Seaford

 

Oct 27, 1917

Posted to EORD and placed On Command to 3rd CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot)

 

Nov 22, 1917

Ceases to be On Command

 

Jan 11, 1918

Granted leave with a free travel warrant 

There is no indication as to length of leave granted

 

Mar 2, 1918

Medical Board notes 

Ø      Shrapnel fragment lodged in right eye

Ø      Right clavicle deformed from wound

Ø      Limited movement of right arm

Ø      Weak grip

Ø      Poor circulation

Ø      Myalgia (muscle pain) at times

Ø      Not likely to improve

Ø      Makes note of 3 different surgical procedures on right arm

Ø      Also noted that no surgery has been performed on right eye

Ø      Placed in Category BIII for permanent duty in England

 

Apr 11, 1918

Placed On Command to CASC for duty

 

Jun 7, 1918

Transferred to CAMCD (Canadian Army Medical Corps Depot) at Seaford

 

Jun 26, 1918

Transferred to Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Monks Horton for duty

 

Aug 1, 1918

Attached to the Canadian Special Hospital at Edgehill

 

Aug 14, 1918

Ceases to be attached at Edgehill

 

Aug 16, 1918

Posted to CAMC Depot

 

Aug 26, 1918

Posted to No 11 Canadian General Hospital at Shorncliffe

 

Feb 15, 1919

TOS CAMC Depot, but remains attached to No 11 Canadian General Hospital for duty

 

Mar 8, 1919

Admitted to Moore Barracks Hospital diagnosed with Influenza

 

Mar 10, 1919

Transferred to No 11 Canadian General Hospital, Shorncliffe

 

Mar 29, 1919

Ceases to be attached and posted to “C” Company, CAMC Bexhill while in hospital

 

Apr 15, 1919

TOS No 11 Canadian General Hospital

 

May 29, 1919

Discharged to duty from hospital

 

Jun 4, 1919

TOS No 12 Canadian General Hospital at Bramshott for duty with the Escort Pool

 

Jun 24, 1919

TOS CAMC Casualty Depot, Bramshott

 

Jun 26, 1919

TOS “O” Wing at Witley pending return to Canada

 

Jul 25, 1919

Embarked the RMS Saturnia at Glasgow Scotland

  

TOS MD#2 at Toronto Ontario

 

Aug 6, 1919

Disembarked at Montreal Quebec and proceeded to Toronto Ontario

 

Aug 7, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at Toronto Ontario 

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued, number 388518

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge – Westcot Apts, Fuller Ave, Toronto Ontario

 

Sep 21, 1921

British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to RR #1 Cainsville Ontario c/o JW Clarke

 

Jun 13, 1972

Deceased at Toronto Ontario

 


From the Toronto World newspaper, November 10, 1917 about the Blanchard family contribution to the war effort

 


Above is from the August 1972 Communiqué

Below is from a happier time at the 1935 21st Battalion reunion at Peterborough Ontario.  Bruce is 2nd from the right in the front row


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