Jan 1, 1895

Born in Toronto, Ontario James Thomas and Sarah (nee O’Sullivan) Coughlin

Mar 20, 1915

Shown on the payroll of the 45^th Victoria Regiment, Canadian Militia

Mar 22, 1915

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Lindsay, Ontario

Ø  Number 59205 (temporary number 1310)

Ø  Next of kin given as Sarah Coughlin, mother, 8 Beatrice St., Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Brakeman

o   Later noted as Railroad Man

Ø  Previous military experience given as 48^th Highlanders for 2 years

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to the Depot Company

o   He was later posted to No. 7 Platoon, “B” Company

Leo’s brother Joseph, attested into the 21^st Battalion the following month

The 21^st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

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

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Oct 17, 1915

While occupying the N & O trenches near Voormezeele, Belgium, the battalion came under a Rifle Grenade attack and Private Coughlin received a slight wound to his head.  He was evacuated to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for treatment

Oct 23, 1915

Discharged to duty from the field ambulance

Dec 13, 1915

Sentenced to 7 days Field Punishment #1 for Malingering and leaving his platoon while proceeding to the front line trenches

Jan 1, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with an attack of Appendicitis

Jan 4, 1916

Discharged to duty from the field ambulance

Mar 1, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Influenza and transferred to the Division Rest Station at the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance

Mar 7, 1916

Transferred to the North Midland Casualty Clearing Station

Mar 14, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital care and rejoined the battalion resting in La Clytte, Belgium

Aug 25, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal to replace L/Cpl Lanning who had been promoted

Sep 15, 1916

During the 21^st Battalion’s capture of the Sugar Factory south of Courcelette, France, Leo Coughlin was reported missing in action.

Sep 16, 1916

He was found wounded on the battlefield and evacuated to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a contusion on his chest.  He was transferred the same day to the Division Rest Station

Sep 19, 1916

Transferred to the No. 8 Canadian Field Ambulance

Sep 25, 1916

Promoted to the rank of Corporal to replace Cpl Thompson who had been wounded and invalided to England

Sep 29, 1916

Discharged from hospital care and rejoined the 21^st Battalion fighting at Regina Trench, north of Courcelette, France

Oct 1, 1916

While entering a deep dugout, Corporal Coughlin fell on the steps and injured his left wrist.  It seems he carried on without seeking hospital care

Nov 21, 1916

Granted 10 days leave

Dec 1, 1916

Admitted to the King George Hospital, Stamford St., London, England while on leave with a swollen wrist from a previous accidental injury.  X-Ray on admission shows fracture of the Left Scaphoid in his wrist

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes on being admitted to Hospital

Dec 12, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bromley

Dec 19, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre in Hastings

Dec 20, 1916

Attached to the Canadian Convalescent Depot and admitted to the St. Leonard’s Hospital for physical training

While here he came across his brother Joseph who was recovering from his shoulder injury

Feb 2, 1917

Discharged from hospital and transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops Depot in Purfleet

Feb 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 5^th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops in Purfleet

Feb 24, 1917

The 5^th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops landed in France

Jun 2, 1917

Reverted to the rank of Private at his own request

Nov 28, 1917

Admitted to the No. 45 Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Left Inguinal Hernia

Nov 30, 1917

Transferred to the No. 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Dec 7, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth

On arrival in England he was admitted to the 2/1^st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham

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

Dec 19, 1917

Surgery performed to repair his Hernia

Feb 11, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Parke, Epsom

Mar 12, 1918

Employed in the convalescent hospital’s post office on light duties

Mar 22, 1918

Attached to the 3^rd Canadian Convalescent Depot

May 29, 1918

Admitted to the Barnwell Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Gonorrhea

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

Jul 2, 1918

Re-attached to the 3^rd Canadian Convalescent Depot in Seaford for Physical Training

Jul 13, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops Depot and admitted to the No. 14 Canadian General Hospital in Eastbourne, Sussex with a Right Inguinal Hernia

Jul 29, 1918

Transferred to the Ontario Hospital (No. 16 Canadian General) in Orpington

Aug 8, 1918

Surgery performed to repair his Right Inguinal Hernia

Sep 9, 1918

Transferred to the Princess Patricia Canadian Red Cross Hospital in the Cooden Camp, Bexhill

Nov 4, 1918

Discharged to the 3^rd Canadian Convalescent Depot in Seaford for light duties

Nov 27, 1918

Discharged from hospital care and joined the Canadian Railway Troops Depot in Purfleet

Dec 12, 1918

Embarked the SS Corsican in London

Dec 25, 1918

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario.  On arrival in Toronto, he was Taken On Strength the No. 2 District Depot in the Exhibition Camp

Dec 27, 1918

Granted leave until January 10, 1919

Jan 17, 1919

Medical Board at the Exhibition Camp in Toronto notes

Ø  Fracture of left Carpal Bone in left wrist from an accident in France causing disability

Ø  The injury resulted in loss of function of wrist and hand

Ø  Wrist is painful

Ø  Strength of left hand limited to about 20%

Ø  Board rules he cannot resume his previous occupation

Jan 27, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 8 Beatrice St., Toronto, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 22 Springmount Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Sep 22, 1919

Married to Ada Winifred Whitmore in Toronto, Ontario and eventually found employment as a Real Estate Broker in Toronto. 

He became an amateur inventor and patented several inventions including the pull-tab top for the glass milk bottles in use for many years.  He also patented a self-drying spark plug which he sold to General Motors for use in their cars.

Another hobby was the making of miniature scenes from wood.  Most notable was a miniature home complete with furniture and lighting.