Aug 8, 1892

Born in Maxville, Ontario to Duncan and Mary (nee Cameron) Coleman

Nov 13, 1914

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

Ø  Number 59186 (temporary number 507)

Ø  Next of kin given as Duncan Coleman, father, Maxville, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Clerk

o   Later noted as Railroad Fireman

Ø  Previous military experience given as 59^th Regiment, Canadian Militia

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to “E” Company as a Pioneer

o   This was later reorganized into “C” Company

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

Mar 22, 1915

Forfeited 1 day’s pay for an unspecified offence

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

May 30, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Appendicitis

Jun 5, 1915

Transferred to the Military Hospital in Bevan

Jul 30, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 2, 1915

Transferred to the Depot Company

Sep 11, 1915

Transferred to the Headquarters Company and appointed as Batman to Captain Sparkes in the Transport Section

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Nov 18, 1915

Private Coleman had surgery performed on his left leg about 8 months prior to enlisting.  His leg became infected while resting in Ridgewood, Belgium and he reported to the battalion’s Medical Officer.  He was sent to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance where an incision was made to drain the infection before sending him to the No. 13 Casualty Clearing Station for treatment

Nov 24, 1915

Transferred to the No. 13 Stationary Hospital in Boulogne with a diagnosis that reads Osteomyelitis, a bone infection

Nov 25, 1915

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Duchess of Connaught Hospital in Taplow.

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital

Dec 13, 1915

Surgery performed to remove some infected bone and drain pus

Jan 9, 1916

Transferred to the Hillingdon House Convalescent Hospital in Uxbridge

Feb 16, 1916

TOS the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) Discharge Depot in Bath

Feb 28, 1916

Discharged from hospital care and proceeded to Folkestone

Mar 3, 1916

Attached to the CCAC for discharge

Mar 25, 1916

Embarked the SS Missanabie in Liverpool

Apr 2, 1916

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Quebec City, Quebec

Apr 4, 1916

Medical Board at Quebec City notes

Ø  Soldier suffers from Chronic Osteomyelitis of left Tibia that is not due to his service, but aggravated by service

Ø  Right leg is weak and is slightly lame

Ø  There is a 25% incapacity, 50% of that is due to aggravation of service

Ø  Suffers from Toe Drop

Ø  When standing, his heel is about 1 ½ inches from the floor and wears a boot with a 2 inch lift in the heel

Ø  Board recommends a Convalescent Home for 3 months

Apr 9, 1916

Admitted to the Elmhurst Convalescent Home in Kingston, Ontario

May 1, 1916

Taken On Strength the Casualty Company, Military District No. 3 in Kingston

Sep 5, 1916

Discharged from the CEF in Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Maxville, Ontario

Oct 4, 1916

Attested into the 154^th Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 634186

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Duncan Coleman, mother, Maxville, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Clerk

Ø  Previous military experience given as 18 months in the 21^st Battalion CEF

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

The battalion trained in the Barriefield Camp, Kingston, Ontario

Oct 25, 1916

Embarked the SS Mauretania in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Oct 31, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Bramshott to continue training

Nov 13, 1916

Admitted to the Military Hospital in Bramshott with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea) later changed to read VDS (Venereal Disease Syphilis)

Dec 13, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jan 31, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in East Sandling.  Shortly after the formation of the battalion it moved to Seaford to continue training reinforcements for the front

Feb 16, 1917

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) but remained attached to the 6^th Reserve Battalion

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) but remained attached to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Mar 28, 1917

Granted permission to marry

Jun 9, 1917

Attached to the CASC (Canadian Army Service Corps) in Seaford

Jun 28, 1917

Ceased to be attached to the CASC and rejoined the EORD in Seaford

Jul 31, 1917

Transferred to the 3^rd Canadian Labour Battalion

Aug 3, 1917

Arrived at the CGBD (Canadian General Base Depot) in Etaples, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 3^rd Canadian Labour Battalion

Aug 13, 1917

Admitted to the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), a fever without a known cause

Aug 18, 1917

Discharged from hospital and rejoined the base depot

Aug 19, 1917

Admitted to the No. 7 General Hospital with a diagnosis that reads PUO

Aug 24, 1917

Discharged to the base details at the base depot in Etaples

Aug 31, 1917

Admitted to the No. 51 General Hospital in Etaples with a diagnosis that reads VDS (Venereal Disease Syphilis) also noted as VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Sep 11, 1917

Discharged to the base details

Sep 17, 1917

Classified PB (Permanent Base) meaning that he was unfit for combat duty because of his deformed leg

Sep 26, 1917

After leaving the base depot, Private Coleman joined the 3^rd Canadian Labour Battalion as part of a draft of 27 reinforcements

Oct 26, 1917

The 3^rd Canadian Labour Battalion was re-designated and became the 11^th Battalion CRT (Canadian Railway Troops)

Nov 29, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Labour Pool

Dec 12, 1917

Transferred to the 41^st Company Canadian Forestry Corps in Bordeaux, France

Dec 17, 1917

Classified for discharge due to complications from his previous shrapnel wounds

Jan 2, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Ville de Liege

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Fort Pitt Military Hospital in Chatham and the diagnosis was changed to read Myalgia

Transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops Depot for pay purposes while in hospital

Jan 10, 1918

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Buxton

Apr 22, 1918

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Liverpool

May 25, 1918

Embarked the Hospital Ship Araguaya in Avonmouth

Jun 4, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Jun 7, 1918

Admitted to the Base Hospital in Toronto, Ontario

Jun 12, 1918

Granted leave until June 21, 1918

Jun 21, 1918

Failed to return from leave and declared to be Absent Without Leave

Jun 28, 1918

Returned from leave and forfeited 8 day’s pay and admonished for his absence

Aug 17, 1918

Transferred to the Davisville Military Orthopedic Hospital in Toronto, Ontario

Nov 7, 1918

Granted leave until November 21, 1918

Nov 20, 1918

Sam’s wife Constance, embarked the SS Metagama in Liverpool, England

Nov 27, 1918

Declared to be absent from the hospital

Nov 30, 1918

Reported to the hospital from being absent and forfeited 4 day’s pay and admonished for his absence

Constance disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Maxville, Ontario

Dec 28, 1918

Married to Constance Mary Munro in Greenfield, Ontario.  This ceremony was performed to satisfy the requirements of the Catholic Church.  Constance was Baptized into the Roman Catholic Church prior to the ceremony.

There is no record in the file of Private Coleman being granted leave to attend, nor is he recorded as being AWL on this date.  It is possible that the ceremony was conducted by proxy and he was not actually in attendance

Jan 17, 1919

Transferred to Military District No. 3 in Kingston and admitted to the Queen’s University Hospital.  On admission it is noted that he suffers from Foot Drop

Apr 8, 1919

Doctor’s report at Queen’s University Hospital in Kingston

Ø  10 inch scar on left leg from previous surgery

Ø  Movement of left ankle limited

Ø  X-ray shows old fracture of lower third of tibia

Apr 11, 1919

Discharged to duty from hospital

Apr 16, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 246214

Ø  War Service Badge Class “B” issued number C55580

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Maxville, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Maxville, Ontario

Jul 25, 1939

Samuel Coleman died while a patient in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Quebec of a Gastric Ulcer.  His death was attributed to his wartime service.  He was buried in the Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario

Following his death, a Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. D. Coleman, Box 281 Maxville, Ontario

A second Memorial Cross was sent to his widow, Constance Coleman, 192 Waverley St., Ottawa, Ontario