Jun 15, 1897

Born at Port Hope Ontario to William James and Edith May (nee Huyck) Burt

Aug 31, 1915

Shown on the payroll of the 34^th Battery, 9^th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery

Sep 1, 1915

Transferred to and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 3^rd Division Cyclist Platoon

Oct 5, 1915

Attested into the 93^rd Battalion at Peterborough Ontario 

Ø      Number 195027

Ø      Next of kin given as Edith M Burt (mother) of Bramley St, Port Hope Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Book Keeper

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Church of England 

He lied about his age, stating that he was born June 15, 1896

Jan 1, 1916

Promoted to rank of Acting Corporal

Feb 1, 1916

Reverts to rank of Private at his own request

Jul 15, 1916

Embarked the Empress of Britain at Halifax Nova Scotia

Jul 25, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe Kent

Oct 6, 1916

The 93^rd Battalion was absorbed into the 39^th Reserve Battalion and Pte Burt was TOS their strength with the rest of the Battalion

Oct 27, 1916

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Nov 3, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at Havre France and TOS the 21^st Battalion

Nov 15, 1916

Will made out leaving his estate to his mother Edith May Burt at Port Hope Ontario

Nov 18, 1916

Left for the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion

Nov 21, 1916

Joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion at Hersin

Nov 26, 1916

Left the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion and joined the 21^st Battalion in the field 

The Battalion was in Brigade Support at Calonne.  While here, they supplied work parties for various units

Dec 17, 1916

Proceeded on the Bombing Course

Dec 25, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion from the Bombing Course

Apr 9, 1917

Received shrapnel wounds to his right arm during the attack at Vimy Ridge.  It is not recorded in his file, but he would have been treated first at the RAP (Regimental Aid Post) by the Battalion’s Medical Officer.  He would then have been transported to a Field Ambulance for emergency treatment and evaluation.  From there he would have been sent to a CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) prior to being sent to a hospital

Apr 11, 1917

Transferred to the 2^nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux

Apr 14, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital

Apr 15, 1917

Admitted to the No 3 Western General Hospital at Cardiff

Apr 21, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Wokingham

Jun 8, 1917

His wounds are noted as not healing well as well as recurrent drainage from his left ear

Jun 29, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Epsom

Aug 2, 1917

Transferred to the Ontario Military Hospital at Orpington

Oct 4, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley

Nov 2, 1917

Discharged from hospital and placed On Command to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) at Seaford

Jan 2, 1918

Medical Board at Seaford notes that since his being wounded at Vimy Ridge, his left hear has been draining almost constantly.  The ear drum had been ruptured and the diagnosis reads Otitis Media, an acute inner ear infection

Jan 10, 1918

Posted to the EORD Depot Company at Seaford

Jan 25, 1918

On Command to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) at Buxton pending return to Canada

Jan 31, 1918

Admitted to the Central Military Hospital at Lichfield diagnosis reads NYD (Not Yet Determined)

Feb 6, 1918

Discharged from hospital

Feb 23, 1918

Embarked the SS Grampian at Liverpool

Mar 17, 1918

Disembarked at St John New Brunswick and proceeded to Kingston Ontario.   

On arrival in Kingston he was posted to the Casualty Unit at Fort Henry.  This was a Convalescent unit for soldiers who could not perform regular duties.

Apr 5, 1918

Admitted to the Kingston General Hospital diagnosed with Tonsillitis.  He is also noted as having chronic ear trouble with occasional drainage from the left ear

Apr 18, 1918

Posted to the #3 District Depot Casualty Company Kingston

Apr 20, 1918

Discharged to unit from hospital

May 27, 1918

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Jun 4, 1918

Reported for duty and forfeited 9 days pay

Jun 14, 1918

Admitted to the Queen Street Military Hospital diagnosed with VDS (Venereal Disease Syphilis)

Jul 30, 1918

Transferred to the Queen’s Military Hospital at 3.00 am after having gone into seizures and becoming comatose.  The diagnosis is changed to read Anaemic Poisoning 

He died at 9.45 pm. 

A Board of Inquiry was assembled to investigate the circumstances of his death.  After making note of the details leading up to his death, the Pathologist expressed that in his opinion:  

“death was of uraemic origin, though cumulative effects of diarsenol on cerebral cortex cannot be excluded.” 

Diarsenol was the drug that was used in the treatment for the Syphilis symptoms.  This drug was later discovered to have extreme side effects that could cause death.

May 4, 1921

The following were sent to his father Wm J Burt, at The Pines, Bramley Street, Port Hope Ontario 

Ø      British War Medal

Ø      Victory Medal

Ø      Plaque (commonly called the Dead Man’s Penny)

Ø      Scroll

Jan 30, 1922

Memorial Cross sent to his mother Mrs Edith Burt at The Pines, Bramley Street, Port Hope Ontario