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Mar 28, 1876
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Born at Carlisle England
The Attestation Papers show his birth
year as 1871, but that is in error.
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Nov 6, 1914
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Attested into the 21st
Battalion at Kingston Ontario
Ø
Number
60108 (temporary number 713)
o
Promoted
to rank of Sgt on enlistment
Ø
Next
of kin given as Mrs Wm (Francis) Carruthers (wife) of Hunt St
Bowmanville Ontario
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Previous
occupation given as Laborer
o
Later
noted as being employed by the Goodyear Tire Company, Bowmanville
Ontario
Ø
Previous
military experience given as 12 years with the RGA (Royal Garrison
Artillery)
Ø
Religion
given as Church of England
Ø
Assigned
to “G” Company
o
This
was later re-organized into “D” Company
William's brother Thomas
Carruthers attested into the battalion the same day
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Jan 14, 1915
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Reported to be AWL (Absent Without
Leave)
Reduced in rank to Pte
His AWL status was later changed to
read “Deserter”
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Feb 15, 1915
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Discharged as a Deserter
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Feb 27, 1915
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Mar 2, 1915
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May 6, 1915
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The 21st
Battalion sailed for England without Pte Carruthers
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Jun 5, 1915
The
Assistant Provost Marshal’s War Diary at Folkestone
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Jun 14, 1915
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Arrested and placed in confinement
pending DCM (District Court Martial)
TOS (Taken On Strength) 21st
Battalion
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Jun 30, 1915
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Found guilty of Desertion by DCM and
sentenced to 156 days detention and ordered to pay £6-5-8 ($20.45) for kit deficiency in
that he is missing his Great Coat and uniform
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Aug 28, 1915
From the 21st Battalion
Part II Orders
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Sep 3, 1915
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Released from detention and joined the
Battalion.
Assigned to No 13 Platoon,
“D” 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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Oct 11, 1915
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Involved in a motor car accident and
received slight injuries to head and hand.
Admitted to Divisional Rest Station at Locre
Belgium (current name Loker)
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Oct 12, 1915
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Discharged to duty
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Nov 30, 1915
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Sentenced to 14 days FP #2 (Field
Punishment No 2) plus 15 hours extra fatigues for leaving ranks without
permission on November 26 while marching to trenches and remaining
absent until apprehended drunk at Dickebush (proper name Dikkebus
Belgium)
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May 15, 1916
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Granted 10 days leave
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Jun 3, 1916
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Admitted to No 2 Canadian Stationary
Hospital with a gunshot wound to right chest.
Surgery performed to remove bullet
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Jun 5, 1916
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Invalided to England aboard the
Hospital Ship Jan Breydel
Posted to CCAC (Canadian Casualty
Assembly Centre) while in hospital
Admitted to the Graylingwell War
Hospital at Chichester
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Jun 22, 1916
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Transferred to Canadian Convalescent
Hospital at Epsom
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Jul 17, 1916
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Discharged from hospital and reported
to CCAC
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Jul 18, 1916
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Posted to 39th
Reserve Battalion at West Sandling Camp
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Sep 26, 1916
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Promoted to rank of Cpl
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Oct 4, 1916
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Posted to 21st
Battalion
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Oct 5, 1916
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Arrived at CBD (Canadian Base Depot)
at Havre France and TOS 21st Battalion and
reverts to rank of Pte on arrival
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Oct 14, 1916
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Left CBD to join unit
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Oct 16, 1916
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Joined the 21st
Battalion in the field
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Nov 3, 1916
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Appointed to rank of Acting Lance Sgt
with pay
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Apr 9, 1917
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Admitted to CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) with severe machine gun bullet wound to left knee
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Apr 10, 1917
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Transferred to CCS (Casualty Clearing
Station) where left leg was amputated at the upper third of the thigh
due to gas gangrene
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Apr 14, 1917
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Admitted to No 13, General Hospital at
Boulogne
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Apr 18, 1917
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Invalided to England aboard the
Hospital Ship St Patrick
Posted to EORD (Eastern Ontario
Regimental Depot) while in hospital
Admitted to City of London Military
Hospital at Lower Clapton
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Jun 7, 1917
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Additional surgery performed to remove
several more inches of the thigh, leaving a stump of only 5 inches
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Jul 9, 1917
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Awarded the Military Medal per London
Gazette #30172
This was awarded for his actions
during the attack at Vimy Ridge, April 9, 1917
The Citation reads
East of Neuville-St-Vaast.
April 9, 1917. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty
in action. After his Company had been partially disorganized
he personally collected remnants of them and placed them at the
disposal of the nearest Officer. Later while out on patrol,
he was wounded but refused to go back until he had completed his
reconnaissance.
AFW 3121 15-4-17
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Sep 13, 1917
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Transferred to No 4 Canadian Military
Hospital at Basingstoke
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Oct 22, 1917
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Transferred to No 5 Canadian General
Hospital at Kirkdale
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Dec 16, 1917
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Invalided to Canada aboard the
Hospital Ship Braemar Castle, embarking at Liverpool
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Dec 28, 1917
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Disembarked at Saint John New
Brunswick and proceeded to Toronto Ontario where he was admitted to the
Military Orthopedic Hospital
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Jan 2, 1918
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TOS No District Depot Toronto Ontario
and posted to “D” Unit
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Jan 17, 1918
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Measured for artificial leg
Medical leave granted until January
29, 1918
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Jan 29, 1918
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Granted additional leave until
February 9, 1918
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Feb 9, 1918
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Granted additional leave until
February 21, 1918
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Feb 26, 1918
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Fitted with an artificial leg
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Mar 13, 1918
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Artificial leg is not satisfactory and
returned for adjustments.
Granted leave until April 18
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Apr 18, 1918
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Artificial leg refitted, but still
needs further adjustment
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Jul 17, 1918
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Reports great difficulty in walking
Over the next several months there
were many visits to hospital clinic to have artificial limb adjusted.
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Sep 18, 1918
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Measured to have a new artificial limb
made
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Sep 25, 1918
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New limb fitted, but still not
satisfactory and returned
Several visits to clinic are recorded
to make adjustments to new leg. It
had to be returned to factory for repairs and adjustments several times
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Dec 4, 1918
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Attending walking exercise program on
a daily routine. Reported
to be “doing fairly well”
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Jan 21, 1919
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Discharged from the CEF at Toronto
Ontario
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Proposed
residence on discharge – Mimico Ontario
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Rank
shown on discharge – Sgt
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Authorized
to wear 2 Gold Stripes
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Sep 6, 1922
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British War Medal and Victory Medal
sent to Drummond Ave (GPO) Mimico Ontario
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Oct 28, 1935
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Deceased at the Christie Street
Military Orthopedic Hospital, Toronto Ontario
Prospect Cemetery
Toronto ON
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