Robert Taylor Burnett


Oct 11, 1891

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland

 

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59117 (temporary number 277)

Ø  Next of kin given as Frances Burnett, brother, 218 Addington Ave., Montreal, Quebec

Ø  Previous occupation given as Student

Ø  Previous military experience given as Officer Cadet Corps, London, England

Ø  Religion given as Baptist

Ø  Posted to “C” 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

 

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 27, 1915

Admitted to the St. Martins Plain Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Gonorrhea

 

Sep 2, 1915

Posted to the Depot Company while in hospital

 

Sep 25, 1915

Taken On Strength the 39th Reserve Battalion while in hospital

 

Oct 25, 1915

Transferred to the St. Martins Plain Tent Hospital

 

Dec 7, 1915

Transferred to the Barnwell Military Hospital in Cambridge and the diagnosis was changed to read VDS (Venereal Disease Syphilis)

 

Jan 24, 1916

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

 

Mar 16, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital and reported to the 39th Battalion at West Sandling

 

Mar 21, 1916

Transferred to the 36th Battalion at West Sandling

 

Apr 4, 1916

Proceeded to the Machine Gun School on course

 

Apr 20, 1916

Rejoined the 36th Battalion from course

 

Jun 23, 1916

Transferred to the 86th Battalion in Shorncliffe then transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot in Crowborough

 

Aug 22, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal

 

Oct 3, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant with pay

 

Jan 4, 1917

Promoted to rank of Sergeant

 

Mar 21, 1917

Reverted to the rank of Lance Sergeant and transferred to the 18th Machine Gun Company in Croborough

 

Sep 1, 1917

Ceases to draw Clerk’s pay and appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant with pay

 

Sep 7, 1917

Attached to the RFC (Royal Flying Corps) Cadet School in Hastings

 

Sep 17, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps Depot and remained attached to the RFC

 

Oct 26, 1917

Ceased to be attached to the RFC and attached to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot in Seaford

 

Feb 14, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot in Seaford

 

Aug 18, 1918

Reverted to the rank of Private and transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Regimental Pool in France

 

Oct 10, 1918

Joined the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade at the front near Buissy, France

 

Mar 7, 1919

Proceeded to England

 

Mar 23, 1919

Transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot and attached to the 2nd Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade in Seaford

 

Apr 12, 1919

Ceased to be attached and rejoined the depot

 

May 19, 1919

Transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps Depot in Seaford

 

May 20, 1919

Admitted to the Canadian Special Hospital in Etchinghill, Lyminge with a diagnosis that reads Syphilis

 

Jun 1, 1919

Transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps Depot in Seaford while in hospital

 

Jun 4, 1919

Discharged from hospital to be treated as an outpatient

 

Jul 3, 1919

Transferred to “R” Wing in Witley pending discharge

 

Jul 17, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in London, England

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Badge Class “A” issued number 225500

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 45 Cockerton Rd., London, England

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Murmura Ruatiti, New Zealand

 



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