Walter Conrad Bongard



Apr 8, 1880

Born in Prince Albert, Ontario to Conrad Thomas and Jane Elizabeth (nee Tewkesbury) Bongard

 

Jun 14, 1902

Married to Gertrude Mary Dyson in Toronto, Ontario

 
Occupation listed on registration Machinist

 

Nov 26, 1908

His mother, Jane, passed away in Toronto, Ontario

 

Oct 21, 1914

Shown on the payroll of the 15th Regiment, Canadian Militia in Belleville, Ontario with rank of Private

 

Nov 1, 1914

Shown on the payroll of the 15th Regiment with the rank of Sergeant

 

Nov 9, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59079 (temporary number 829)

Ø  Next of kin given as Conrad Bongard, 109 Ashdale Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Toolmaker

o   Later noted as Shoe Maker

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø  Assigned to “H” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “D” Company

Ø  Rank on enlistment Private

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

 

Mar 5, 1915

His father, Conrad, passed away in Toronto, Ontario

 

Mar 11, 1915

Proceeded to Quebec City, Quebec for the Armourer’s Course at the Ross Rifle factory.

 
There is no entry in the file for his return, however a newspaper article indicates he returned near the end of March.

 

 

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

 

Rank shown on the Embarkation Roll - Sergeant

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

 

Aug 9, 1915

Reverted to the rank of Private

 

Aug 19, 1915

Qualified as Assistant Armourer and rank shown as Acting Sergeant

 

Sep 6, 1915

Appointed to the position of Armourer Corporal and transferred 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 25, 1915

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Myalgia

 
The doctor’s report indicates that an artillery shell exploded near him and punctured his left ear drum and caused him to suffer from shock

 

Nov 3, 1915

Discharged to duty from the field ambulance

 

Nov 7, 1915

Readmitted to the No. 5 CFA with a diagnosis that reads Myalgia

 

Nov 8, 1915

Transferred to the 2nd Division Rest Station at Locre, Belgium and Rheumatism is added to the diagnosis

 

Nov 20, 1915

Transferred to the No. 13 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, France and the diagnosis was changed to read Neurasthenia

 
Walter Bongard was then invalided to England and admitted to the Manor House Hospital in Folkestone

 
Posted to the 39th Reserve Battalion while in hospital

 

Dec 19, 1915

Transferred to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital

 

Jan 4, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital with the 39th Reserve Battalion

 

Feb 22, 1916

Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre)

 

Feb 23, 1916

Attached to the CCDD (Canadian Casualty Discharge Depot) in Bath

 

Mar 11, 1916

Embarked the SS Sicilian in Liverpool

 

 

Mar 24, 1916

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

 
On arrival in Kingston, Walter Bongard was admitted to the Elmhurst Convalescent Home

 

May 1, 1916

Shown on the payroll of the Military District #3, Casualty Company, Kingston with the rank of Corporal

 

Jun 27, 1916

Medical Board in Kingston recommended he be discharged as medically unfit

 
Proceedings on Discharge form filed in Kingston, while still in hospital

Ø  Rank on discharge Corporal

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 273 John St., N., Belleville, Ontario

 
From the file, it is unclear whether he was actually discharged on this date.  There is a note that he transferred to the COC (Canadian Ordnance Corps) instead of being discharged

 

Jul 1, 1916

Discharged to duty from the convalescent home

 

Aug 1, 1917

Admitted to the Ongwanada Hospital in Kingston

 

Sep 1, 1917

Transferred to the Elmhurst Convalescent Home in Kingston

 

Nov 12, 1917

Medical Board at the Queen’s Military Hospital, Kingston notes:

Ø  Unit Canadian Ordnance Corps

Ø  Service number 789

Ø  Rank, Armament Staff Sergeant

Ø  Disability noted as Neuritis and Deafness in left ear caused by shell explosion

Ø  60% incapacitated due to frequent Neuralgic headaches and deafness

Ø  Recommends re-examination for the Neuritis in 6 months

Ø  Deafness considered to be permanent

Ø  Recommends no further hospital treatment

 

Feb 28, 1918

Note on War Service Gratuity form that he was discharged from the military on this date.  Also noted that War Service Badges Class “A” and “B” were issued

 
Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 273 John St., N., Belleville, Ontario

 

May 1, 1945

Listed on the Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan voter list with his wife.  His occupation was listed as retired

 

 

Jan 24, 1949

Walter Bongard died in Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan and was buried in the Lakeview Cemetery there

 
 


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