Jun 28, 1879

Born in Birmingham, England

Mar 23, 1915

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

Ø  Number 59120 (temporary number 1341)

Ø  Next of kin given as James Burns, brother, 42^nd Grenadier Guards

o   Note to also notify Miss Beaty Burns, sister, 10 McDonald Ave., Birmingham, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  Previous military experience given as Course of Instruction in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “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

Jul 14, 1915

Fined $2.00 for Drunkenness

Sep 6, 1915

Forfeited 2 days pay for being absent and restricted to ½ pay for 2 months as punishment

Now noted as a member of “C” Company

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Oct 26, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being absent from Commanding Officer’s Parade

Dec 10, 1915

While the battalion was being relieved from the front line near Voormezeele, Belgium on the Ypres Salient, Private Burns sprained an ankle and was admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transferred to the Division’s Rest Station at Loker, Belgium for treatment

Dec 13, 1915

Discharged to duty from the rest station and rejoined the battalion

Feb 1, 1916

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment #1 for being absent from 2 pm parade and returning at 3:15 pm drunk

Apr 15, 1916

Arrested by Military Police for being drunk and placed in custody to await Court Martial.  The 2^nd Division Provost Martial recorded in their war diary that several men from the 21^st Battalion had entered the town of Reningelst, Belgium and caused a disturbance after getting drunk.  It was recorded that one soldier (not named) had created a further disturbance when being arrested and had to be handcuffed.  The 21^st Battalion was resting in the B Camp, a little over 2km away.

May 1, 1916

Field General Court Martial held and Private Burns was tried for

Ø  Absent from Camp

Ø  Drunkenness

He was found guilty on both charges and sentenced to 2 months Field Punishment #1

Sep 15, 1916

During the 21^st Battalion’s attack on the strongly defended German Headquarters in the sugar factory south of Courcelette, France, Private Burns was buried by the explosion of an artillery shell.  He was dug out by his comrades and evacuated to the No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 29 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for treatment of a bruised back

Sep 16, 1916

Transferred via the No. 4 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Outreau, France

Sep 24, 1916

Transferred to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot to continue his recovery at the No. 2 Large Rest Camp

Sep 28, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 Large Rest Camp in Boulogne

Sep 30, 1916

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment #1 for being AWL (Absent Without Leave) and Drunkenness

Oct 2, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre as a prisoner to serve his punishment

Oct 16, 1916

After leaving the base depot Private Burns was escorted to the 21^st Battalion in billets in Divion as a prisoner

Oct 19, 1916

Attached to the 4^th Field Company, Canadian Engineers for duty

Nov 12, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion from the 4^th Field Company

Dec 7, 1916

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment #1 for

Ø  Being absent from roll call

Ø  Leaving billets without permission

Ø  Being drunk

He also forfeited 1 day’s pay for his absence

Dec 12, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Bronchitis and Laryngitis.  He was transferred the same day to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance

Jan 1, 1917

Discharged to duty from the field ambulance

Jan 4, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Jan 15, 1917

Rejoined the battalion from leave

Mar 9, 1917

Admitted to the No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance with a Carbuncle on his neck

Mar 13, 1917

Discharged to the Canadian Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre after being medically classified for base duty only

Apr 6, 1917

Forfeited all pay for 14 days for being drunk

Apr 26, 1917

Classified for Permanent Base duty only and attached to the Commandant in Etaples for duty

Apr 29, 1917

Attached to the CASC (Canadian Army Service Corps) No. 10 Supply Depot in Etaples for duty

Jun 21, 1917

Admitted to the No. 7 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), a fever without a known cause

Jun 29, 1917

Discharged to duty and transferred to the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples

Jul 19, 1917

Transferred to the 3^rd Canadian Labour Battalion

Sep 17, 1917

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment #1 for

Ø  Absent from work party on September 15

Ø  Absent from work party on September 16

Ø  Absent from roll call until 9:45 pm September 16

Nov 10, 1917

Sentenced to a pay reduction of 10 Francs per month for leaving camp without permission on November 6, 1917

Nov 19, 1917

Forfeited 2 days pay for being absent from 9.00 am November 17 to 7:00 am November 18, 1917

Nov 25, 1917

The 3^rd Canadian Labour Battalion was renamed the 11^th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops

Dec 1, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Garrison Base Depot

Dec 3, 1917

Medical classification changed to B2 meaning he was fit for non-combat outdoor duty

Dec 17, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Labour Pool

Jan 9, 1918

Joined the CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Calonne Ricouart, France

Jan 12, 1918

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment #1 for Drunkenness

Feb 11, 1918

Attached to the 1^st Army “C” Dump for duty

Feb 22, 1918

Sentenced to 7 days Confined to Camp for negligently firing his rifle

Mar 16, 1918

Granted 14 days leave to England

Apr 10, 1918

Rejoined unit from leave

May 6, 1918

Transferred to the 2^nd Canadian Infantry Works Battalion

Jun 4, 1918

Admitted to the No. 75 Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Myalgia.  He was transferred the same day to the casualty clearing station

Jun 6, 1918

Transferred via the No. 24 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 32 Stationary Hospital in Wimereux, France

Jun 13, 1918

Transferred to the CGBD (Canadian Garrison Base Depot) and attached to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot and admitted to the No. 5 Rest Camp

Jun 17, 1918

Medical category maintained by Medical Board as B2

Jul 3, 1918

Transferred to the CPB (Canadian Pontoon Bridge) Engineers

Jul 5, 1918

Private Burns joined the Pontoon Bridge Engineers in Burbure, France

Sep 11, 1918

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment #1 for being absent from 1 pm September 9, to 10:05 pm September 10, while serving a punishment of being confined to barracks.  He also forfeited 2 days’ pay

Sep 24, 1918

Admitted to the British Red Cross Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Neurasthenia

Oct 27, 1918

Transferred via the 2/1 London Field Ambulance and admitted to the No. 12 Stationary Hospital

On admission he was nervous at the sound of shells exploding, sleeps poorly, and has tremors

Oct 30, 1918

Transferred via the No. 7 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 22 General Hospital in Camiers, France

Nov 3, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen

On arrival in England he was admitted to the 3^rd Western General Hospital

Transferred to the CERD (Canadian Engineers Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Nov 13, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Red Cross Special Hospital in Buxton

On admission he was noted as being poorly nourished and 25 lbs under weight, his muscles were soft and flabby, his reflexes were highly exaggerated and he complained of pains all over his body.  Noted as “a typical war neurosis” with the usual symptoms

Jan 3, 1919

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Liverpool with a recommendation that he be invalided to Canada

Jan 13, 1919

Embarked the SS Essequibo in Liverpool

Jan 25, 1919

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

On arrival in Montreal, Private Burns was granted leave until February 12, 1919.  On completion of leave he was admitted to the Ste. Anne’s Military Hospital in Ste. Anne de Bellevue

Mar 6, 1919

Transferred to the Casualty Company

Mar 10, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Montreal, Quebec

Ø  Rank on discharge Sapper

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 248099

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge General Post Office, Montreal, Quebec

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 369 King St. W., Toronto, Ontario

May 28, 1965

John Burns died in the Sunnybrook Veteran’s Hospital Toronto, Ontario and was buried in the York Cemetery, Toronto