Oscar Bourdigon


Jan 11, 1891

Born in Matawatchan, Ontario to Joseph and Alexandria Bourdigon

 

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59084 (temporary number 399)

Ø  Next of kin given as Joseph Bourdigon, father, Parry Sound, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Miner

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to “D” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

o   Member of No. 13 Section, 5 Platoon

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

 
 

 

From the personal diary of AW Symes

 

 

May 15, 1915

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

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 

 

Sep 15, 1915

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

 

 

 

Sep 15, 1916

Private Bourdigon received a shrapnel wound to his left knee during the attack on the heavily defended sugar factory south of Courcelette, France.  He was evacuated to the nearby field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station for further treatment

 

Sep 18, 1916

Transferred to the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples

 

Oct 13, 1916

Transferred to the No. 6 Canadian Convalescent Depot in Etaples to continue his recovery

 

Oct 15, 1916

After being medically classified as TB (Temporary Base), he was posted to the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre

 

Nov 5, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Bourdigon rejoined the 21st Battalion in the trenches west of Lens, France

 

Nov 6, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

 

Dec 31, 1917

Granted 14 days leave

 

Jan 15, 1918

Admitted to the King George Hospital in London while on leave with a diagnosis that reads Measles

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

 

Apr 22, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bear Wood Park, Wokingham to continue his recovery

 

Apr 30, 1918

Discharged from hospital and attached to the 3rd Canadian Command Depot in Seaford

 

Jun 13, 1918

Medical Board at Seaford notes

Ø  Patient complains of pain in his left foot when marching

Ø  2nd toe of left foot overlaps the 3rd toe

Ø  The arch is slightly fallen in left foot

Ø  There is a bunion on the great toe left foot

The board recommended 1 week of treatment

 

Jun 20, 1918

Discharged from hospital care and transferred to the General Depot in Seaford

 

Jul 19, 1918

Transferred to the CAVC Base Depot (Canadian Army Veterinary Corps) in Shorncliffe

Attached to the CASC Depot (Canadian Army Service Corps) in Woolwich for duty

 

Sep 19, 1918

Rejoined the Veterinary Corps in in Shorncliffe

 

Oct 15, 1918

Proceeded to France to join the Veterinary Corps Hospital

 

Nov 25, 1918

Admitted to the No. 39 General Hospital with a diagnosis that reads VDS (Venereal Disease Syphilis)

 

Jan 28, 1919

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Panama

 

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Special Division Military Hospital in Chiseldon and the diagnosis was changed to read Gonorrhea

Posted to the CAVCRD (Canadian Army Veterinary Corps Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

 

Feb 13, 1919

Transferred to the Princess Patricia Canadian Red Cross Hospital in the Cooden Camp, Bexhill

 

Feb 20, 1919

Discharged from hospital and transferred to the General Depot in Witley

 

Mar 14, 1919

Transferred to MD #3 Wing in Rhyl pending return to Canada

 

Mar 23, 1919

Embarked the SS Empress of Britain in Liverpool

 

 

Mar 31, 1919

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

 

Apr 1, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 230646

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Renfrew, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him c/o Mr. Joseph Bourdigon at Parry Sound, Ontario

 

 

 

Jul 15, 1953

Voter’s list shows him living at 426 Rhodes Ave., Toronto, Ontario with Lena Bourdigon.  His occupation is listed as Retired

 

Nov 5, 1954

Oscar Bourdigon died and was buried in the Pine Hills Cemetery, Scarborough, Ontario

 
 



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