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Nov 27, 1893
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Born in Owen
Sound, Ontario to William Charles Ross and Mary Glen (nee McInnis) Catto
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Apr 13, 1916
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Attested into the
195th Battalion CEF in Regina, Saskatchewan
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Number 907796
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Next of kin given
as W.R. Catto, father, RR #7, Owen Sound, Ontario
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Previous
occupation given as Farmer
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No previous
military experience given
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Religion given as
Presbyterian
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May 30, 1916
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Awarded 2 days CB
(Confined to Barracks) and forfeited 2 days pay for being absent
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Nov 1, 1916
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Embarked the SS
Empress of Britain in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Nov 11, 1916
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Disembarked in
Liverpool, England and proceeded to East Sandling where he was absorbed
into the 32nd Reserve Battalion to continue
training
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Nov 27, 1916
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Transferred to the
5th Battalion
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Nov 28, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD
(Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS
(Taken On Strength) the 5th Battalion
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Dec 2, 1916
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After leaving the
base depot Harold Catto joined the 5th Battalion
in the Berthonval Wood Camp, west of Vimy Ridge as part of a draft of
408 reinforcements from the base depot
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Dec 6, 1916
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Harold’s
brother, William, attested into the 248th
Battalion in Owen Sound, Ontario
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Feb 5, 1917
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Proceeded on
course at DWL (?) School
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Feb 11, 1917
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Rejoined battalion
from course
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Feb 21, 1917
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While in the front
line trenches near Angres, France, Harold Catto received a slight
shrapnel wound to his nose and was evacuated to the No. 3 CFA
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Feb 24, 1917
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Returned to duty
from the field ambulance
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Apr 9, 1917
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Promoted to the
rank of Corporal
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Jun 24, 1917
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Proceeded on
course to the 1st Army School of Musketry
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Jul 7, 1917
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Rejoined the
battalion from course
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Aug 18, 1917
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Promoted to the
rank of Sergeant
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Aug 19, 1917
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Proceeded to the 1st
Army Threshing Camp
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Aug 31, 1917
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Rejoined the
battalion from the threshing camp
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Sep 19, 1917
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Granted 10 days
leave to Paris
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Sep 30, 1917
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Rejoined the
battalion from leave
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Nov 11, 1917
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While in the front
lines near Meetcheele, France, Sgt Catto suffered a concussion and
effects from the explosion of a gas shell.
He was evacuated to the No. 6 CFA for first
aid then transferred to the 3rd Australian
Casualty Clearing Station for further treatment.
The battalion’s war diary notes the casualties from November
9 to November 11 as 320 all ranks.
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Nov 15, 1917
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Transferred via
the No. 16 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 26 Canadian
General Hospital
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Nov 20, 1917
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Transferred to the
No. 6 Canadian Convalescent Depot in Etaples to continue his recovery
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Nov 26, 1917
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Transferred to the
No. 14 Convalescent Depot in Trouville
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Jan 19, 1918
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After being
discharged from the convalescent hospital he arrived at the CIBD
(Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France
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Jan 20, 1918
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After leaving the
base depot he joined the CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in
Calonne Ricouart
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Jan 26, 1918
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Harold Catto
rejoined the 5th Battalion in the front line at
Hill 70
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May 14, 1918
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Proceeded to Hythe
in England to attend the Musketry Course
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Jun 25, 1918
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Rejoined the
battalion from the musketry course
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Jul 14, 1918
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Proceeded to the 1st
Army Musketry School
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Aug 10, 1918
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Rejoined the
battalion from musketry school
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Aug 31, 1918
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While in the
support trenches near Vis-en-Artois Private Catto suffered the effects
of gas exposure and was admitted to the No. 12 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) for first aid. He
was then transferred the same day to the No. 42 CCS (Casualty Clearing
Station) for additional treatment
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Sep 2, 1918
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Transferred to the
No. 33 CCS before being placed aboard the No. 26 AT (Ambulance Train)
Admitted to the No. 55 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne for
treatment
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Sep 7, 1918
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Transferred to the
No. 6 Convalescent Depot
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Sep 9, 1918
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Transferred to the
No. 10 Convalescent Depot in Ecault to continue his recovery at the St
Martin’s Red Cross Hospital
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Sep 15, 1918
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Discharged from
the convalescent depot and reported to the CIBD Etaples
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Sep 18, 1918
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After leaving the
base depot he joined the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in Aubin St.
Vaast
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Sep 19, 1918
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After leaving the
reinforcement camp he rejoined the 5th Battalion
in billets in the village of Wanquetin
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Sep 29, 1918
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While in the
Haynecourt area, north-west of Cambrai, Harold Catto received a
shrapnel wound to his right knee as well as a fractured tibia. He was first evacuated to
the nearby field ambulance before being transferred to the No. 33
Casualty Clearing Station
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Sep 30, 1918
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Transferred via
the No. 11 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 2 Canadian General
Hospital in Le Treport
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Oct 4, 1918
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Right leg
amputated at the lower 1/3rd of his thigh due to
infection
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Oct 21, 1918
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Invalided to
England aboard the Hospital Ship Formosa
On arrival in England he was admitted to the 1st
Southern General Hospital, Stirchley Section, Birmingham
Posted to the SRD (Saskatchewan Regimental Depot) for pay purposes
while in hospital
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Feb 5, 1919
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Transferred to the
No. 11 Canadian General Hospital in Shorncliffe
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Feb 21, 1919
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Transferred to the
Granville Special Hospital in Buxton
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Mar 12, 1919
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A re-amputation
had to be performed leaving him with an 8 inch stump as an infection
had set in.
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Apr 24, 1919
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A temporary peg
was supplied for mobility
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May 15, 1919
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Reprimanded and
forfeits 2 days pay for being absent
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May 27, 1919
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Transferred to the
No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Liverpool
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Jun 10, 1919
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Discharged from
hospital and embarked the Hospital Ship Essequibo in Liverpool
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Jun 21, 1919
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Disembarked in
Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario where he was TOS
No. 2 District Depot
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Jun 22, 1919
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Admitted to the
Christie Street Orthopedic Hospital in Toronto
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Jun 30, 1919
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Leave with
subsistence granted until July 7, 1919
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Jul 30, 1919
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Fitted with a new
peg
During his time in hospital he attended classes to teach him how to
first walk with crutches, then with the peg leg.
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Jan 5, 1920
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Received a new
artificial leg as the previous one became unsatisfactory
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Jan 19, 1920
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Discharged
hospital care and from the CEF in Toronto
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Rank on discharge
Sergeant
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War service badge
Class “A” issued number 283259
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Proposed residence
on discharge RR #7, Owen Sound, Ontario
Following his discharge the British War Medal and Victory Medals were
sent to him at RR # 7 Owen Sound
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Oct 21, 1921
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Received a new
artificial leg and began therapy classes to learn how to walk with the
new artificial limb
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Jun 20, 1928
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Married to Gertie
Rose Hogg in Kemble, Ontario
Occupation given on marriage registration, Motor Mechanic
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Jan 1, 1968
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Harold John Catto
died and was buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Sarawak Reserve,
Grey County, Ontario
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