|
Dec 28, 1889
|
Born in Salt Spring Island, British Columbia to
William and Caroline (nee Rosman) Cotsford
|
|
Nov 6, 1917
|
Medical exam for the MSA (Military Service Act)
of 1917 held at Victoria, British Columbia
|
|
Jan 31, 1918
|
Conscripted into No. 4 Company of the 2nd
Depot Battalion, BCR (British Columbia Regiment) under the MSA
Ø Number 2138804
Ø Next of kin given as William
Thomas Cotsford, father, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
Ø Previous occupation given as
Marine Engineer
Ø No previous military
experience given
Ø Religion given as Church of
England
Ø Posted to the 11th
Draft of the 1st Depot Battalion, British Columbia Regiment
The training was conducted at the Willows Camp in
Victoria, British Columbia
|
|
Feb 20, 1918
|
Admitted to the Willows Camp Hospital with a diagnosis
that reads Measles and placed in isolation
|
|
Mar 6, 1918
|
Discharged from hospital
|
|
Mar 9, 1918
|
Admitted to the Jubilee Hospital in Victoria with
complications of his Measles infection
|
|
Mar 18, 1918
|
Discharged to duty from hospital
|
|
May 15, 1918
|
The regiment’s 8th and 11th
Drafts embarked the SS Ajana in Halifax, Nova Scotia
|
|
May 27, 1918
|
Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded
to Seaford where the draft was placed in Segregation to ensure there were no
cases of Influenza in the group
Taken On Strength of the 1st Reserve
Battalion
|
|
Jun 11, 1918
|
After being released from the segregation camp,
Private Cotsford joined the 1st Reserve Battalion in Seaford
|
|
Sep 13, 1918
|
Transferred to the 29th Battalion
|
|
Sep 14, 1918
|
Arrived at the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base
Depot) in Etaples, France and Taken On Strength of the 29th
Battalion
|
|
Sep 16, 1918
|
After leaving the base depot, he joined the CCRC
(Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin St. Vaast, France
|
|
Sep 19, 1918
|
While at the reinforcement camp, and before he could join the 29th
Battalion, he was transferred to the 21st Battalion
|
|
Sep 20, 1918
|
After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private
Cotsford joined the 21st Battalion in the front line on the Arras
– Cambrai Road on the approach to the Canal du Nord and posted to “B” Company
|
|
Dec 10, 1918
|
Proceeded on a special course in “technical
subjects” in Wissant, France
|
|
Jan 27, 1919
|
Rejoined the 21st Battalion in billets
in Ham sur Sambre, Belgium from course
|
|
Apr 3, 1919
|
Embarked the Western Australia in Havre, France
On arrival in England, he was attached to “P”
Wing in Witley pending return to Canada
|
|
May 14, 1919
|
Embarked the SS Caronia in Liverpool
|
|
May 22, 1919
|
Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded
to Kingston, Ontario by train
|
|
May 24, 1919
|
Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø War Service Badge Class “A”
issued number 277371
Ø Proposed residence on
discharge Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
Following his discharge, the British War Medal
and Victory Medals were sent to him at RMD (Royal Mail Delivery) #1, Ganges,
British Columbia
|
|
Aug 29, 1926
|
Married to Margaret Aubrey in Duncan, British
Columbia
|
|
Aug 5, 1950
|
Edgar Thomas Cotsford died of cancer while a
patient of the St. Joseph’s Hospital, Victoria, British Columbia and was
buried in the Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia
|
|