Nov 1, 1893
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Born in
Kingston, Ontario to Archibald and Letitia (nee Robertson).
His birth is registered with the given name of Archie
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Jan 11, 1915
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Attested into
the 21st Battalion at Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59110 (temporary number 1271)
Ø Next of kin given as Margaret Brownlee, sister, living at the corner
of Union and Ontario Streets, Kingston, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Labourer
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Ø Assigned to the Depot Company
The original
Attestation form shows his name spelled as Brownley, but was later corrected.
Even though
his attestation papers were signed on this date, he shown on the payroll of the 14th
Regiment, Princess of Wales’ Own Rifles at Kingston
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Mar 1, 1915
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His payroll
sheet was transferred on this date to the 21st Battalion
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS
Metagama at Montreal Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Devonport, England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent
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Sep 2, 1915
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Transferred to
“C” Company from the Depot Company
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St
Seiriol at Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked at
Boulogne, France and proceeded to St Omer
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Feb 26, 1916
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Admitted to the
Divisional Rest Station at the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) diagnosed with
Tonsillitis and Laryngitis
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Mar 5, 1916
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Discharged to
duty from the Rest Station
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Apr 22, 1916
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Admitted to the
No. 9 Stationary Hospital at Havre with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined). This was later changed to read VDS (Venereal
Disease Syphilis)
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Jun 11, 1916
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Discharged to
the No. 12 Camp at Harfleur
As punishment
for his VDS, he forfeited 50¢ per
day he was hospitalized (April 23, 1916 to June 11, 1916), a total of 50 days
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Jun 28, 1916
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Left the camp at
Harfleur to join the Battalion
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Jun 30, 1916
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Rejoined the 21st
Battalion in billets in the Micmac Camp
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Sep 15, 1916
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During the
attack on the Sugar Refinery at Courcelette he was struck by a splinter of shrapnel in the
left eyelid and a wound to his left thigh when he was partially buried by a shell
explosion
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Sep 17, 1916
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Invalided to England
aboard the Hospital Ship St Patrick
Posted to the CCAC
(Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital
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Sep 18, 1916
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Admitted to the
County of Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury with shrapnel wounds to his face and thigh. He was also noted as suffering from Shell Shock.
Surgery was
recommended to remove the shrapnel pieces, but Private Brownlee refused to allow the
surgery to take place.
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Oct 19, 1916
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Transferred to
the Military Hospital at Shorncliffe
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Oct 26, 1916
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Transferred to
the Convalescent Hospital at Hermitage
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Nov 7, 1916
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Discharged from
hospital
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Nov 11, 1916
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Reported to the
CCAC from hospital
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Nov 14, 1916
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On Command to
the CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) at Shoreham
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Jan 24, 1917
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Ceased to be On
Command and posted to the 6th Reserve Battalion at East Sandling
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Mar 6, 1917
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Transferred to
the 21st Battalion, and arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 26 Reinforcements from England. He was then TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st
Battalion.
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Mar 31, 1917
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Left the CBD to
join the 2nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion
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Apr 2, 1917
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Joined the 2nd
Entrenching Battalion at Hersin as part of a draft of 53 Other Ranks destined for the 21st
Battalion
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Apr 4, 1917
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Left the 2nd
Entrenching Battalion as part of a draft of 30 Reinforcements and joined the 21st
Battalion in billets at Bois des Alleux. The
Battalion was engaged in the final training for the attack on Vimy Ridge
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Apr 23, 1917
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Private Brownlee
was killed in action near the Vimy-Farbus Railway Embankment and was buried near where he
fell.
When the war
ended, an attempt was made to move the battlefield burials into proper cemeteries. Pte Brownlee’s remains could not be located
and he is honoured on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.
Following the
war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, (these 3 are shown below) Plaque
(Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his sister, Mrs. R. Ferguson, 29 Main St.,
Kingston, Ontario.
There was no
Memorial Cross issued
If you know
the location of the Plaque or Memorial Cross, please contact the webmaster
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