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May 16, 1892
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Born in Glasgow,
Scotland to Robert Stevenson and Helen (nee Moncur) Charles
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May 17, 1913
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Embarked the SS
Athenia in Glasgow
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May 26, 1913
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Disembarked in
Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario
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Nov 9, 1914
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Attested into the
21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario
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Number 59153
(temporary number 46)
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Next of kin given
as Robert S. Charles, father, 171 Pollokshaws Rd., Glasgow, Scotland
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Previous
occupation given as Railway Freight Clerk for the Grand Trunk Railway
in Kingston
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No previous
military experience given
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Religion given as
Presbyterian
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Posted to
“A” Company
o
Later posted to
the Machine Gun Section
William’s
brother Robert
joined
the battalion 19 days later
The
battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with
headquarters in the Kingston Armouries
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS
Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling
Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St.
Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Dec 29, 1915
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While occupying
the N & O trenches on the Ypres Salient near Voormezeele,
Belgium, Private Charles received a shrapnel wound to his pelvis that
entered through his lower back and exited through his front groin area. He was evacuated to a
field ambulance for first aid at La Clytte before being sent to the
casualty clearing station in Bailleul, France where surgery was
performed to remove shrapnel fragments and bone chips.
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Dec 31, 1915
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Transferred via
the No. 17 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 22 General
Hospital in Etaples, France
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Jan 7, 1916
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Invalided to
England
On
arrival in England he was admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital in
Shorncliffe
Transferred
to the 39th Reserve Battalion for pay purposes
while in hospital
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Jan 12, 1916
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Transferred to the
VAD (Volunteer Aid Detachment) Hospital in Ashford
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Feb 1, 1916
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Transferred to the
Monks Horton Canadian Convalescent Hospital
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Feb 2, 1916
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Discharged to the
39th Reserve Battalion from hospital
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Feb 4, 1916
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Granted sick leave
until March 6
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Apr 20, 1916
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Transferred to the
COC (Canadian Ordnance Corps) in Ashford
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Apr 22, 1916
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William’s
brother Robert was
killed in action on the Ypres Salient near the town of Voormezeele,
Belgium.
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Apr 27, 1916
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Attached to the
Canadian Ordnance Corps sub detachment in Devonport
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Jul 1, 1916
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Appointed to the
rank of Corporal while employed as a Clerk
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Nov 25, 1916
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Appointed to
Acting Sergeant while employed at Devonport
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Feb 27, 1917
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To draw working
pay as a Clerk
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Mar 19, 1917
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Admitted to the
Military Hospital in Devonport with a fractured Metatarsal Bone in his
foot
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Apr 3, 1917
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Discharged from
hospital
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Oct 11, 1917
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Ceased to be
attached to Devonport and ceased to draw pay as a Clerk
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May 9, 1918
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William Charles
applied for, and was approved for flight training with the Royal Air
Force
Transferred
to the General Depot and attached to the RAF (Royal Air Force) for duty
in Uxbridge
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May 10, 1918
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Medical exam
declares him fit to be a pilot
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May 14, 1918
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Transferred to No.
10 Cadet Wing, RAF
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Aug 31, 1918
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Attended the
School of Armament in Uxbridge
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Sep 27, 1918
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Ceased to be
attached to the RAF and discharged from the CEF at #2 Canadian
Discharge Depot in London, England
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Rank on discharge
Acting Sergeant
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War Service Badge
Class “A” issued number 278795
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Proposed residence
on discharge 171 Pollokshaws Rd., Glasgow, Scotland
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Discharged by
reason of being appointed to rank of Flight Cadet in the RAF, number
316001
Following
the end of the war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory
Medals were sent to him at 171 Pollokshaws Rd., Glasgow, Scotland
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Oct 5, 1918
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Transferred to the
No. 40 Training Depot Station in Harlaxton
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Jan 16, 1919
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Transferred to No.
2 Cadet Wing, RAF
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Feb 15, 1919
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Promoted to rank
of 2nd Lieutenant
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Mar 27, 1919
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Discharged from
the RAF at Shorncliffe
Following
his discharge, he returned to Kingston, Ontario and resumed his
employment with the Grand Trunk Railway as a Freight Clerk
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Nov 8, 1924
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Proceeded to
Scotland to visit family
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Dec 18, 1924
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Embarked the SS
Zeeland in Glasgow
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Dec 24, 1924
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Disembarked in
Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario
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Aug 22, 1930
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Embarked the SS
Letitia in Glasgow, Scotland
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Aug 30, 1930
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Disembarked in
Quebec City, Quebec and proceeded by train to Trenton, Ontario
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Mar 15, 1933
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Married to
Isabella Winning in Trenton, Ontario
William
Charles died in 1969 and was buried in the Hagersville, Ontario Union
Cemetery
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