Stanley Blyth


May 2, 1888

Born in Ashford, Kent, England

 

Oct 22, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59075 (temporary number 157)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Sarah Blyth, mother, YWCA Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Ø  Previous occupation given as painter

Ø  No previous military experience given

o   He later claimed to have had a previous enlistment with the RCHA

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “A” Company

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

 

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

 

Sep 6, 1915

Forfeited 1 day’s pay for being absent

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 

 

Sep 15, 1915

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

 

Oct 5, 1915

Sentenced to 2 days Field Punishment #2 for being drunk and for interfering with the Military Police

 

Oct 15, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Field Punishment #2 for being absent from the 1:45 pm parade.  This was significant because the battalion was forming up to proceed to the front line trenches

 

Nov 8, 1915

Proceeded to the Bombing School for a course of instruction

 

Nov 14, 1915

Rejoined the battalion from course

 

May 28, 1916

Granted 9 days leave.  This was extended to June 7, 1916

 

Sep 15, 1916

During the attack on the sugar factory south of Courcelette, France, Private Blyth received shrapnel wounds to his left hand and shoulder.  He was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a coastal hospital

 

Sep 19, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Patrick

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Northampton War Hospital in Duston, Northampton

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

 

Oct 26, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

 

Nov 13, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre in Shoreham

 

Nov 14, 1916

Attached to the Canadian Command Depot in Shoreham and admitted to the St. Leonard’s Hospital for therapy

 

Dec 19, 1916

Transferred to the 1st CCTB (Canadian Corps Training Battalion) in Hastings

 

Jan 24, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6th Reserve Battalion in East Sandling.  Shortly after the formation of the battalion, it was moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

 

Mar 6, 1917

Transferred to the 21st Battalion

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 26 reinforcements from England and Taken On Strength the 21st Battalion

 

Apr 2, 1917

After leaving the base depot he joined the 2nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin, France as part of a draft of 53 reinforcements destined to join the 21st Battalion

 

Apr 4, 1917

After leaving the entrenching battalion he joined the 21st Battalion in billets near Villers au Bois rehearsing for the attack on Vimy Ridge

 

Apr 9, 1917

During the attack on Vimy Ridge, Private Blyth received a bullet wound to his face.  The bullet entered his left upper jaw and exited the right side of his face causing several bones to fracture and suffered the loss of several teeth.  He was first evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station.

 

   

 

Apr 10, 1917

Transferred to the Liverpool Merchants Hospital in Etaples

 

Apr 22, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Grantully Castle

  

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Edinburgh War Hospital in Bangour, West Lothian, Scotland

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

 

May 2, 1917

Transferred to the 2nd Scottish General Hospital in Edinburgh

 

Sep 10, 1917

Transferred to the Ontario Military Hospital in Orpington and granted extended sick leave until January 23, 1918

 

Jan 25, 1918

Transferred to the Queen’s Hospital, Sidcup, England where 4 different surgeries were performed to repair damage done to his face and jaw.  During his stay he was periodically treated as an out patient

 

Sep 30, 1918

Granted permission to marry

 

Oct 8, 1918

Attached to the 3rd CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) while in hospital care

 

Oct 15, 1918

Granted sick leave from hospital until October 31.  This was later extended for a further 2 weeks

 

Oct 16, 1918

Married to Florence Maud Burgin in Bromley, Kent

The following June a son was born, Stanley Wilson Blyth

 

Nov 22, 1918

Surgery performed to repair dental damage done by his bullet wound

 

Dec 19, 1918

Granted sick leave until January 2, 1919

 

Jan 22, 1919

Transferred to the Parkwood Hospital for further surgery

 

Feb 24, 1919

Transferred back to the Queen’s Hospital in Sidcup

 

Mar 1, 1919

Transferred to the Abbey Lodge Hospital for additional surgery

 

Mar 27, 1919

Transferred back to the Queen’s Hospital in Sidcup

 

May 2, 1919

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Orpington

 

May 21, 1919

Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Araguaya from Liverpool

 

 

May 30, 1919

Disembarked in Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec

 

Jun 2, 1919

Granted leave until June 16, 1919.  This was extended until August, 13, 1919.  His address on leave recorded as RR Miramonte Ranch, Dunlop, Fresno County, California, USA

 

Oct 1, 1919

Surgery performed at the Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec Hospital to repair damage to his face

 

Dec 1, 1919

Transferred to the No. 2 District Depot and admitted to the Dominion Orthopedic Hospital, Christie St., Toronto, Ontario

 

Mar 30, 1920

Medical Board at the orthopedic hospital notes

Ø  Most of his teeth were lost from his wound

Ø  Large loss of bone in his jaw

Ø  A hole remains in his palate causing difficulty in eating

Ø  Currently has both upper and lower dentures to replace lost teeth

Ø  Will require new dentures within 1 year

Ø  Speech is impaired due to bone damage

Ø  He is unable to resume his previous occupation

Ø  Board recommends that he be discharged from the CEF as Medically Unfit

Apr 8, 1920

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 119087

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 1701 Fifth Ave., Los Angeles, California, USA

Ø  Permitted to wear 2 Gold Wound Stripes

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 1211 East 28th Ave., Denver, Colorado, USA

 

Aug 7, 1920

Stanley’s wife Florence, embarked the SS Megantic with their 18 month old son Stanley Wilson Blyth

 

 

Aug 18, 1920

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to the USA to join her husband

 

 

 



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