James Cameron Browne


May 20, 1891

Born in Pembroke, Ontario to Charles and Margaret (nee Barber) Browne

 

Jan 8, 1915

Attested into the 21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59109 (temporary number 1213)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. CR Browne, Pembroke, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Mechanic

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø  Posted to the Depot 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 2, 1915

Posted 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

 

Jan 9, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal with pay to replace L/Cpl WW Chamberlain who had been promoted

 

Mar 23, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Diarrhea

 

Mar 26, 1916

Transferred to the Division Rest Station at Locre, Belgium and the diagnosis was changed to read Dysentery

 

Mar 30, 1916

Discharged to duty from the rest station

 

Apr 28, 1916

Promoted to the rank of Corporal to replace Cpl Seigel who had proceeded to England

 

May 22, 1916

Granted 9 days leave.  This was extended to June 1, 1916

 

Sep 15, 1916

During the fighting at the sugar factory south of Courcelette, France, Corporal Browne received a shrapnel wound to his right hand that caused fractures of several bones and severed small arteries that supplied blood to his hand and fingers.  He was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station.  He was then transported to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne for surgery

 

Sep 19, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis

 

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Middlesex Hospital in London where additional surgery was performed

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

 

Sep 22, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 London General Hospital in Wandsworth

 

Jan 18, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bromley

 

Feb 19, 1917

Embarked the Hospital Ship Essequibo in Liverpool

 

 

Mar 1, 1917

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Quebec City, Quebec

 

Mar 10, 1917

Medical Board in Quebec City notes that he has limited movement of his hand and that this considered permanent.  There have been 5 operations to remove shrapnel, bone fragments and to permit drainage.  It is recommended that he be placed in a convalescent home for treatment

 

Mar 17, 1917

Admitted to the Fleming Convalescent Home, Ottawa, Ontario and treated as an out-patient.

 

Apr 2, 1917

Admitted to the Fleming Convalescent Home as an in-patient

 

Apr 26, 1917

Medical Board in Ottawa notes that he has 50% loss of use of his right hand and 50% loss of movement of his right wrist and this loss is considered to be permanent.  He is recommended for a discharge as Medically Unfit and to receive a disability pension

 

May 18, 1917

To be treated as an out-patient of the Fleming Convalescent Home

 

May 19, 1917

Transferred to the “C” Unit, MHCC (Military Hospitals Commission of Canada) and admitted to the Kingston, Ontario Convalescent Home

 

Jun 30, 1917

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston

Ø  Rank on discharge Corporal

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Box 61, Pembroke, Ontario

Following the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 455 Laurier Ave. W., Ottawa, Ontario

 

Jul 30, 1920

Lyla Browne died while a patient in the St. Luke’s Hospital in Ottawa of complications from pregnancy

James later married Edna Gladys Davidson in Craik, Saskatchewan

He joined the Federal Civil Service and served in the Department of Northern Affairs and Natural Resources where he oversaw several national parks

 

May 11, 1958

James Cameron Browne died in a hospital in Hamilton, Ontario and was buried in the Pinecrest Cemetery, Ottawa

 

 

 



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