|
Dec 15, 1897
|
Born in Sarawak
Township, Ontario to William Charles Ross and Mary Glen (nee McInnis)
Catto
|
|
Apr 13, 1916
|
William’s
brother Harold,
attested into the 195th Battalion in Regina,
Saskatchewan
|
|
Dec 6, 1916
|
Attested into the
248th Battalion CEF in Owen Sound, Ontario
Ø
Number 1066002
Ø
Next of kin given
as Mary McInnis Catto, mother, RR #7 Owen Sound, Ontario
Ø
Previous
occupation given as Sailor
Ø
No previous
military experience given
Ø
Religion given as
Presbyterian
|
|
Feb 10, 1917
|
Appointed to the
provisional rank of Corporal
|
|
Feb 12, 1917
|
Attended the
Bombing School
|
|
Feb 24, 1917
|
Rejoined the
battalion from bombing school
|
|
May 25, 1917
|
Appointed to the
provisional rank of Sergeant
|
|
May 28, 1917
|
Embarked the SS
Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia
|
|
Jun 9, 1917
|
Disembarked in
Liverpool, England and proceeded to Shorncliffe where he was absorbed
into the 8th Reserve Battalion to continue
training
|
|
Jul 18, 1917
|
Admitted to the
Moore Barracks Hospital and placed in isolation with a diagnosis that
reads Mumps
|
|
Aug 7, 1917
|
Discharged to duty
from hospital
|
|
Nov 24, 1917
|
Transferred to the
58th Battalion
Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in Etaples as part of a draft
of 100 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 58th
Battalion and reverted to the rank of Private
|
|
Nov 29, 1917
|
After leaving the
base depot he joined the 58th Battalion in
billets in Auchy-au-Bois as part of a draft of 20 reinforcements from
the base depot
|
|
Jan 13, 1918
|
During the night
of January 13/14, the battalion carried out a trench raid on the German
held Commotion Trench. During
severe fighting, Private Catto earned a Military Medal for his action
described below
|
|
Aug 8, 1918
|
While the
battalion was advancing on the town of Demuin, south of Marcelcave,
William Catto received a shrapnel wound to his left knee as well as a
fractured femur and was evacuated to the No. 1 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) for first aid before being transferred to the No. 9 CFA.
He was later transferred to the No. 6 Canadian General Hospital
|
|
Aug 15, 1918
|
Transferred to the
No. 8 Canadian General Hospital in Rouen
|
|
Aug 23, 1918
|
The hospital
mistakenly reported that William Catto had died of his wounds and a
telegram was sent to the family. The
mistake was noticed right away and a second telegram was sent to the
family advising that he was still alive and in hospital
|
|
Aug 27, 1918
|
Invalided to
England aboard the Hospital Ship St David
On arrival in
England he was admitted to the No. 4 Canadian General Hospital in
Basingstoke
Posted to the CORD (Central Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes
while in hospital
|
|
Feb 6, 1919
|
Transferred to the
No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Kirkdale
|
|
Mar 11, 1919
|
Invalided to
Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Araguaya, having embarked in Liverpool
|
|
Mar 22, 1919
|
Disembarked in
Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded to Burlington, Ontario
|
|
Mar 23, 1919
|
Admitted to the
Brant Military Hospital in Burlington, Ontario
|
|
Mar 24, 1919
|
Granted leave with
subsistence until April 7, 1919 when he was re-admitted to hospital
Medical Board notes that there is partial loss of movement in his left
leg and that he be discharged as medically unfit for further service
|
|
Apr 22, 1919
|
Discharged from
hospital and posted to the Casualty Company in Hamilton
|
|
Apr 30, 1919
|
Discharged from
the CEF in Hamilton, Ontario
Ø
Rank on discharge
Private
Ø
War Service Badge
Class “A” issued number 154005
o
It is noted that a
Class “B” War Service Badge was also applied for
Ø
Proposed residence
on discharge RR #7 Owen Sound, Ontario
Following his discharge the British War Medal and Victory Medals were
sent to him at the above address
|
|
Jun 15, 1925
|
Married to Jessie
Leotta McCallum in Sarawak Township, Ontario
Occupation given on marriage permit Garage
|
|
May 30, 1977
|
Died in Owen
Sound, Ontario and buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Sarawak
Reserve, Grey County, Ontario
|
|
