Joseph Henry Crossey, MM

 

 

Jun 22, 1895

Born in County Antrim, Ireland

 

Mar 8, 1913

Embarked the SS Canada at Liverpool England

  

 

Mar 16, 1913

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia and declared his destination as being Winona Ontario.  He declared his occupation as being a Farm Labourer

 

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59218 (temporary number 415)

Ø      Next of kin given as Mr. TW McGarry (relationship not given, but Thomas William McGarry was the Member of the Provincial Parliament for Renfrew at this time)

Ø      Previous occupation given as Laborer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø      Assigned to “D” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “B” Company 

His medical notes his eye colour as being Blue, while on discharge in 1919, his eye colour is noted as being Black

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec

  

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone

  

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer

 

Oct 15, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days FP (Field Punishment) #2 for being absent from the 1.45 pm parade at La Clytte 

It is of interest to note that the Battalion was forming up in order to proceed into the front line trench, and that he was only 1 of 37 men punished for being absent from that parade

 

Apr 6, 1916

Admitted to the CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with a bullet wound to left foot, which entered from above, during the fighting at the St Eloi Craters

 

Apr 8, 1916

Transferred to No 3 Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne

 

Apr 14, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Cambria

  

Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital 

The Part II Orders entry for this shows his rank as Pte

 

Apr 15, 1916

Transferred to the Bagthorpe Military Hospital at Nottingham 

On admission to hospital, his rank is shown as L/Cpl, but I could find no entry in the Part II Orders or in his Casualty Forms for this appointment.  From this date, until July 19, 1917, his rank is shown as L/Cpl

 

Jun 4, 1916

Transferred to the Ontario Military Hospital at Orpington

 

Jun 15, 1916

Surgery performed to remove bone and bullet fragments from his foot

 

Jul 15, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley Kent

 

Jul 18, 1916

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital at Epsom

 

Jul 31, 1916

Medical Board at Shorncliffe determines that he will be fit for duty after 6 weeks of Physical Training

 

Aug 2, 1916

On Command to the 1st CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) at Monks Horton for Physical Training

 

Sep 2, 1916

Granted 10 days leave

 

Sep 14, 1916

At duty from leave

 

Sep 15, 1916

Transferred to the 9th Reserve Battalion at Shorncliffe

 

Sep 27, 1916

Posted to the 21st Battalion

 

Sep 28, 1916

Arrived at CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at Havre France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion

 

Oct 14, 1916

Rejoined the 21st Battalion in the field 

The Battalion had just moved into billets in the town of Divion in the Hallicourt-Bruay-Divion Billeting area

 

Feb 13, 1917

Attached to 4th Brigade HQ as Bomber Sgt

 

May 19, 1917

The Battalion’s War Diary announced his being awarded the Military Medal for his actions during the fighting for Vimy Ridge.  He was presented with his medal on this date by Lieut Gen Sir J Byng KCB, KCMG, MYO

 

Jul 9, 1917

Awarded the Military Medal per the London Gazette #30172

  

The Citation reads

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  This NCO was in charge of a party bringing up ammunition and bombs to the forward area in daylight.  When the party was subjected to heavy shrapnel and HE shell fire, with great coolness and skill he rallied the party, and led tem through without a casualty, and succeeded in establishing a very important forward dump.

AFW 3121  17-4-17

 

Jul 19, 1917

Promoted to rank of Sgt to replace Sgt Cage 404512, who was Killed in Action on this date. 

His previous rank is shown as Pte

 

Sep 19, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

 

Oct 7, 1918

Rejoined Battalion from leave

 

Jan 31, 1919

The Battalion’s War Diary notes that Sgt Crossey is entitled to wear the ribbon for the 1914-15 Star

 

Apr 3, 1919

Embarked the SS Western Australia at Havre

  

Disembarked in England and proceeded to the Witley Camp

 

Apr 4, 1919

TOS “P” Wing at CCC (Canadian Concentration Camp) at Witley pending return to Canada 

 

Apr 30, 1919

The Battalion’s War Diary notes that he was presented with his Military Medal by Brig-Gen R Rennie CB, CMG, MVO, DSO on parade at the Witley Camp. 

For some reason this is the second presentation of this medal to Sgt Crossey.  See the entry above for May 19, 1917.

 

May 14, 1919

Embarked the RMS Caronia at Liverpool

  

 

May 22, 1919

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia and proceeded by train to Kingston Ontario

 

May 24, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued, number 277404

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge – Renfrew Ontario

 

Jun 20, 1919          From the Renfrew Newspaper

  

 

Jan 24, 1921

Entered the United States at Detroit Michigan with the stated purpose of visiting his cousin, A Cybalsky at 184 Fort St. E, Detroit.  He estimated that he would remain in the USA for a period of 2 weeks.  He gave the name of A Ritza of Renfrew Ontario as a contact person in Canada

 

Aug 5, 1921

British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him c/o the Post Office at Renfrew Ontario

 

May 7, 1923

Married to Anastatia Ritza at Renfrew Ontario 

On the marriage registration form he lists his occupation as Automobile Mechanic


Above is from Kingston's Daily British Whig newspaper November 10, 1914
Pte Crossey is barely visible, seated in the front row, extreme left

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