Nov 21, 1880

Born in Stafford, England to Michael and Margaret (nee Duffy) Coleman

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59185 (temporary number 289)

Ø  Next of kin given as Margaret Coleman, mother, Colborne, Ontario

o   Later changed to read General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Telegraphist

o   Later noted as Assembler

Ø  Previous military experience given as 12 years in the 2^nd North Staffordshire Regiment in England

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to “C” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

Jan 21, 1915

Fined for being Drunk

Apr 23, 1915

Fined $6.00 and sentenced to 5 days Detention for an unspecified offence

May 4, 1915

Married to widow Hannah Switzer (nee Cornwall) in Kingston, Ontario

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Jul 6, 1915

Forfeited 2 day’s pay for being absent

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Jan 4, 1916

During the evening of January 3-4, the battalion came under an artillery barrage while in the font line N & O trenches near Voormezeele, Belgium and Private Coleman received shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and buttocks.  He was evacuated to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transferred to the Division Rest Station at Godewaersvelde, France

Jan 14, 1916

Transferred to the North Midland Division Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred to the division rest station at Mont des Cats

Jan 18, 1916

Transferred to the No. 4 Stationary Hospital in St. Omer, France for dental work

Jan 27, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 8, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), a fever without a known cause

Sep 12, 1916

Transferred to the No. 44 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Sep 14, 1916

Transferred via the No. 18 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Abbeville, France

Sep 26, 1916

Admitted to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne

Sep 29, 1916

Discharged from the convalescent depot and taken on strength the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre and posted to “A” Company for those recovering from wounds and illness

Oct 3, 1916

Admitted to the No. 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Havre, France with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined).  This was later changed to read Debility Myalgia

Oct 14, 1916

Transferred to the No. 4 Convalescent Depot in Havre

Oct 27, 1916

Discharged to the base depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre

Nov 5, 1916

After leaving the base depot Private Coleman rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the front lines west of Lens, France

Dec 15, 1916

Granted 10 days leave

Jan 17, 1917

During a large raid on the German lines at Calonne, France, Private Coleman received slight shrapnel wounds to his face and left leg and his left knee was struck by the fuse cap from a shell.  He was evacuated to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid

Jan 18, 1917

Transferred to the No. 22 Casualty Clearing Station where surgery was performed to remove shrapnel

Jan 21, 1917

Transferred via the No. 12 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 4 General Hospital in Camiers

Feb 6, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Wharncliffe War Hospital in Sheffield.  X-rays show numerous pieces of shrapnel remain in his leg and surgery was performed to remove some of them.

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Mar 29, 1917

Transferred to the King’s Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Bushy Park.  On arrival it is noted that there is only a slight movement in the left knee joint and rather painful

Apr 8, 1917

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Ramsgate

Jun 27, 1917

Now able to flex his left knee 90 degrees

Jul 14, 1917

Discharged from hospital and granted 10 days sick leave

Nov 8, 1917

Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Nov 17, 1917

Embarked the SS Saxonia in Liverpool

Nov 30, 1917

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Quebec City, Quebec

Dec 13, 1917

Medical Board at Quebec City notes

Ø  Suffered from shrapnel wounds to his left leg and knee

Ø  X-ray shows shell fragments remain in leg

Ø  Left knee is painful and has limited movement

Ø  Incapacity is rated as 20% and deemed permanent

Dec 19, 1917

Taken On Strength No. 3 Special Service Company in Kingston, Ontario

Feb 28, 1918

Transferred to the Military District No. 3 Military Police Detachment in Kingston

May 18, 1918

Transferred to the CMPC (Canadian Military Police Corps) in Kingston

Nov 15, 1918

Admitted to the Queen’s University Hospital in Kingston with a diagnosis that reads Neuralgia.  While here he had a tooth extracted

Nov 16, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital

Aug 2, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Sergeant

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 26859

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 351 Johnston St., Kingston, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 351 Johnston St., Kingston

Dec 10, 1926

His wife Hannah Coleman died while a patient in St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto of Carcinoma of the Uterus and was buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Toronto

Sep 12, 1945

Michael Coleman died while a patient in the Toronto General Hospital of a combination of Broncho Pneumonia and Heart Disease.  He was buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Toronto.  His occupation at the time of his death was given as a Steward on a boat