George Bertram Blann
(aka Arthur Reid)

 

 

Jan 16, 1882

Born in Kenley, Surrey, England to James William and Louisa Amilia (nee Ward) Blann

 

Nov 20, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario under the name of Arthur Reid

Ø      Number 59827 (temporary number 1071)

Ø      Next of kin given as James Reid, brother, 24 Glenfarg Road, Catford, Kent, England

Ø      Previous occupation given as Labourer

o       This was later noted as Electrician

Ø      Previous military experience given as Royal West Kent Regiment in England for 7 ½ years

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to the Signals Section

The 21st Battalion carried out training exercises in the Kingston area

 

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, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

 

Jun 17, 1915

Signed a declaration stating that his real name is George Bertram Blann and that he attested under the false name of Arthur Reid.

 

Sep 9, 1915

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal to replace L/Cpl CS Manners 59632

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 

Sep 15, 1915

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

 

Feb 9, 1916

Reported sick to the battalion’s Medical Officer with diarrhea and was treated by him

 

Mar 20, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Diarrhea.  He was transferred the same day to the Divisional Rest Station in the No. 6 CFA

 

Mar 22, 1916

Discharged to duty

 

Mar 23, 1916

Reported sick to the battalion’s Medical Officer again and was admitted to No 4 CFA then transferred the same day to No 13 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined)

Mar 25, 1916

Transferred to the Divisional Rest Station at Locre

 

Mar 28, 1916

Discharged to duty but was readmitted to the No. 4 CFA diagnosed with Enteritis, then transferred to the No. 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) at Bailleul

 

Mar 29, 1916

Transferred via the No. 5 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 13 Stationary Hospital with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined)

 

Apr 8, 1916

Discharged to the #1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne and the diagnosis was changed to read Enteritis

 

Apr 12, 1916

Discharged to the Base Details, Boulogne, for light duties

 

Jun 12, 1916

Left Base Details in Boulogne for the CBD (Canadian Base Depot)

 

Jun 14, 1916

TOS the CBD in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, and classified as TB (Temporary Base) meaning he is temporarily unfit for front line duty

 

Jun 16, 1916

Admitted to the No. 2 General Hospital, Havre, with a diagnosis that reads Dysentery and placed in isolation

 

Aug 4, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Maheno from the Isolation Hospital in Havre

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

 

Aug 6, 1916

Admitted to the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Taplow

 

Aug 8, 1916

On giving his medical history, he stated the following

Ø      In 1898 he suffered from Pleurisy and spent 2 months in hospital

Ø      In 1904, while serving with the Royal West Kent Regiment in Ceylon, he suffered from Dysentery and spent a total of 87 days in hospital

Ø      In 1905 he suffered a relapse of the Dysentery and spent 21 days in hospital

Ø      In 1906 hospitalized twice

Ø      In 1907 spent 21 days in hospital in Singapore

Ø      In 1908 hospitalized in Singapore again for 63 days and invalided back to England and discharged from the army as Medically Unfit.  All of the above periods of hospitalization from 1906 to 1908 were for relapses of Dysentery.

 

Aug 26, 1916

Transferred to the Hillingdon House Convalescent Hospital, Uxbridge

 

Sep 15, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the CCAC

 

Sep 17, 1916

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital bleeding from his bowels

 

Oct 10, 1916

Transferred to the Military Hospital in Shorncliffe

 

Oct 23, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the CCAC

 

Oct 30, 1916

On Command to the Convalescent Depot at Shoreham for 6 weeks of Physical Therapy and exercise

 

Mar 10, 1917

Posted to the EORD while convalescing

 

Mar 13, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal while employed as a Physical Training instructor

 

Mar 17, 1917

TOS EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) and shown On Command to 3rd CCD for recuperation

 

Apr 1, 1917

On Command to #1 CCD Headquarters and employed at St. Leonard’s Hospital as a PT instructor

 

May 9, 1917

Attached to the 2nd CCD but stayed at St. Leonard’s Hospital

 

May 10, 1917

Discharged from St. Leonard’s Hospital and posted to the 6th Reserve Battalion, Seaford and reverted to the rank to Private

 

Jun 23, 1917

Transferred to the CETD (Canadian Engineers Training Depot) in Crowboro for duty

 

Jul 27, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal with pay while employed as an instructor at the CSS (Canadian School of Signals) at Seaford

 

Nov 30, 1917

TOS permanent staff of the CSS as an instructor

 

Jan 15, 1918

Appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant with pay while employed as an instructor at the CSS

 

Apr 1, 1918

Absent for 1 day and forfeited 1 day’s pay

 

Apr 3, 1918

Reverted to the rank of Sapper (the engineering equivalent of Private) as punishment for his absence

 

Apr 30, 1918

Transferred to the Signal Company of the CETD at Seaford

 

May 2, 1918

Posted to the 1st CERB (Canadian Engineers Reserve Battalion)

 

Nov 1, 1918

Transferred to the 2nd CERB

 

Dec 7, 1918

Attached to the CMP (Canadian Military Police) for temporary duty

 

Dec 16, 1918

On Command to Kinmel Park, Rhyl, pending return to Canada

 

Dec 28, 1918

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

 

Dec 30, 1918

Reported for duty from being AWL and sentenced to 4 days Field Punishment #2 and forfeited a total of 7 day’s pay

 

Jan 9, 1919

SOS (Struck Off Strength) on being posted to Military District #3 in Canada

 

Jan 11, 1919

Embarked the RMS Olympic in Southampton

 

Jan 17, 1919

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

 

Jan 20, 1919

TOS #3 District Depot Casualty Company, Kingston

 

Jan 21, 1919

Granted leave with subsistence until February 3, 1919

 

Feb 17, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston 

Ø      Rank on discharge Private

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 90159

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge Salvation Army Hostel, Kingston

Following the war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 59 Colborne St., Kingston, Ontario

 

Jul 5, 1919

Married to Hessie May Day in Kingston, Ontario

 

Apr 30, 1957

The Canadian Voter’s list shows him as being a patient in the Rideaucrest Nursing Home, Rideau Street, Kingston

 

Sep 9, 1959

Died in the Veteran’s Pavilion of the Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston 

Shown below are his 1914-15 Star and British War Medal

 

Interestingly, the 1914-15 Star shows his rank as Private, while the British War Medal shows his rank as Acting Sergeant.

The Victory Medal is missing.  If you know of it's location, please contact the webmaster.

 


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