Sep 10, 1898

Born in Braeside, Ontario to Edward and Isabella (nee Alloway) Burnett

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59116 (temporary number 405)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. E. Burnett, mother, Arnprior, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

o   This was later recorded as Lumberman, and then as Lumber Mill Worker

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Assigned to “D” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

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

 
There are several places in his service file where the surname is spelled Burnette.  There are instances where his signature also spells the surname with an “e” on the end.  However, the predominant spelling is without the “e” and that is how his name is spelled on his medals.  His birth registration spells the surname as Brunette.

May 1, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days detention for an unspecified offence

May 3, 1915

Released from detention after serving only 3 days as the balance of the sentence was remitted

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

Aug 10, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days detention for Insubordination

Aug 27, 1915

Admitted to the St. Martin’s Plain Tent Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Gonorrhea

Sep 14, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Dec 24, 1915

Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with an injured left hand.  This was an old injury that he suffered prior to enlistment that limited the use of his left hand

Dec 26, 1915

Transferred to the Division Rest Station in Godewaersvelde, south of Ypres

Jan 1, 1916

Transferred to the No. 26, General Hospital in Etaples

Jan 8, 1916

Discharged to the base depot

Jan 16, 1916

Classified Permanent Base and invalided to England

 
Transferred to the Base Training Division in Shorncliffe

Jan 18, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling

Feb 25, 1916

Sentenced to 17 days detention for being AWL (Absent Without Leave) for 17 days and forfeited 17 days’ pay

Feb 26, 1916

Admitted to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Feb 28, 1916

Transferred to the Barnwell Military Hospital in Cambridge

Mar 16, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

May 25, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

May 26, 1916

Arrived at the Canadian Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Jun 1, 1916

After leaving the base depot Private Burnett rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the “A” Camp near Dikkiebus, Belgium

Jul 3, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Cicatricial Contraction of the left hand.  This was caused by an injury suffered in 1911, prior to enlistment.  He was transferred to the No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station.  Later that day he was transferred to the No. 25 General Hospital in Hardelot

Jul 5, 1916

Transferred to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne

Jul 6, 1916

Discharged from the convalescent depot and reported to the No. 3 Base Depot in Boulogne

Jul 13, 1916

Medical Board notes that there is very limited use of his left hand form his previous injury that severed the flexor and extensor tendons to his ring and middle fingers.  The board considers the problem to be permanent and his medical classification is listed as Permanent Base.

Jul 16, 1916

Invalided to England

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Shorncliffe

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

While in hospital, a Medical Board recommended that he be returned to Canada for discharge by reason of being unfit for service due to lack of use of his left hand.  The board also recommended that he not be granted a pension

Aug 23, 1916

Embarked the SS Scandinavian in Liverpool

Aug 31, 1916

Disembarked in Quebec City, Quebec

Sep 18, 1916

Discharged from the CEF at the Quebec City, Quebec Discharge Depot

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

 
He was discharged as medically unfit for service due to lack of use of his left hand

Feb 1, 1917

Attested into the 257^th Battalion CEF in Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Number 1102340

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Edward Burnett, mother, Arnprior, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

o   Later noted as Lumberman

Ø  Previous military experience given as 2 ½ years in the 21^st Battalion CEF as a Private

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Feb 17, 1917

Embarked the SS Missanabie in St. John, New Brunswick

While onboard ship he was appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal with effect from February 1, 1917

Feb 27, 1917

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Purfleet

Mar 8, 1917

The 257^th Battalion was reorganized and renamed the 7^th Canadian Railway Troops

Mar 27, 1917

Admitted to the Military Hospital in Purfleet with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Posted to the CRT (Canadian Railway Troops) Depot for pay purposes while in hospital

The battalion entrained to proceed to Southampton to embark for France while Robert Burnett remained in hospital

Mar 30, 1917

Transferred to the Warley Military Hospital

Apr 4, 1917

Transferred to the Barnwell Military Hospital in Cambridge

May 10, 1917

Discharged to duty with the CRT Depot from hospital

May 25, 1917

Granted permission to marry and next of kin changed to read Mrs. Dorothy Ivy Burnett, wife, 8 Pultney St., Bath, Somerset, England

Jun 29, 1917

Attached to the Canadian Discharge Depot in Buxton pending return to Canada as a result of his inability to have full use of his right hand

Jul 10, 1917

Embarked the SS Olympic in Liverpool

Jul 21, 1917

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

Aug 15, 1917

Discharged from the CEF at the Quebec City, Quebec Discharge Depot

Ø  Rank on discharge Corporal

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Arnprior, Ontario

 
Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 124 Nicholas St., Ottawa, Ontario

Nov 3, 1919

His wife Dorothy embarked the SS Minnedosa in Liverpool

Nov 10, 1919

Dorothy Burnett disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Arnprior, Ontario to join her husband, Robert