|
Jan 15, 1869
|
Born in Todmorden, Lancashire England to John
and Rebecca (nee Preston) Crossley
|
|
Jan 29, 1890
|
Married to Minnie Wearne in Todmorden,
Lancashire, England
|
|
Dec 13, 1894
|
His wife, Minnie, died in Todmorden. Two years later, he married Rebecca Hickman in
England
|
|
May 15, 1906
|
Embarked the SS Lake Erie in Liverpool with his
wife, Rebecca and 3 children, sons John and Henry and daughter Edith
|
|
May 25, 1906
|
Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to
Cornwall, Ontario
|
|
Feb 5, 1916
|
Shown on the payroll of the 59th
Stormont and Glengarry Regiment in Cornwall
|
|
Mar 2, 1916
|
Attested into the 154th Battalion in
Cornwall, Ontario
Ø Number 633602
Ø Next of kin given as Rebecca Crossley, wife, Cornwall, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Labourer
Ø Previous military service given as 4 years in the Lancashire Fusiliers
and 1 month in the 59th Regiment, Canadian Militia
Ø Religion given as Methodist
On attesting, he gave his birth date as January
15, 1872, making him appear to be 3 years younger than his actual age.
The battalion trained in the Barriefield Camp,
Kingston, Ontario
His son, John, (son of current wife Rebecca) attested into the
battalion the day prior, while his other son Henry, (born to his first wife, Minnie) had
attested into the 74th Battalion August 5, 1915.
|
|
Sep 15, 1916
|
Charles’ son Henry, was killed in action while
serving with the 5th CMR (Canadian Mounted Rifles) on the Somme. He does not have a known grave and is honoured on
the Canadian National Vimy Ridge Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France
|
|
Oct 25, 1916
|
Embarked the SS Mauretania in Halifax, Nova Scotia
along with his son John
|
|
Oct 31, 1916
|
Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the
battalion proceeded to Bramshott to continue training
|
|
Jan 31, 1917
|
Transferred to the newly formed 6th
Reserve Battalion in East Sandling
|
|
Apr 21, 1917
|
Both Charles and his son John were posted to the
21st Battalion
|
|
Apr 22, 1917
|
Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 3,000 reinforcements from England and
TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
|
|
Apr 24, 1917
|
Left the CBD to join the battalion with his son
|
|
May 21, 1917
|
Joined the 21st
Battalion in the Support Trenches near Vimy Ridge, as part of a draft of 149
reinforcements
There is no
explanation as to why it took almost a full month to reach the battalion, however the CBD
War Diary makes note of over 2,000 men leaving the camp to join various battalions. It is possible that it took some time to reach
each battalion spread across the front to deliver the men.
|
|
Oct 14, 1917
|
Left the 21st Battalion on proceeding
to the base depot after he complained of pain in his back and legs and his true age was
discovered.
|
|
Oct 16, 1917
|
Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry
Base Depot) in Etaples
|
|
Oct 26, 1917
|
Posted to the Canadian Labour Pool
|
|
Nov 1, 1917
|
Medical Board classified him B3, meaning that he
is fit for sedentary work only as a clerk in non-combat units because of bouts Myalgia and
being over-age.
|
|
Nov 3, 1917
|
The 21st Battalion moved into the
front lines at Passchendaele and his son, John, was seriously wounded, and died the following day
|
|
Nov 9, 1917
|
Proceeded to England and posted to the EORD
(Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) in Seaford
|
|
Dec 16, 1917
|
Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot)
in Buxton pending return to Canada
|
|
Dec 23, 1917
|
Embarked the SS Metagama in Liverpool
|
|
Jan 5, 1918
|
Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and
proceeded to Kingston, Ontario
|
|
Jan 10, 1918
|
TOS the No. 3 Special Service Company in Fort
Henry, Kingston
|
|
Feb 15, 1918
|
Discharged from the CEF at Fort Henry,
Kingston
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø War Service Badges Class “A” and Class “B” issued
Ø Proposed residence on discharge Box 1024, Cornwall, Ontario
Following the war the British War Medal and Victory
Medals were sent to him at Box 1024 Cornwall, Ontario
|
|
|
|
|
The 1935 census shows him living at 16 Seymour Ave.,
Cornwall, Ontario and lists his occupation as Lockman.
The 1940 census lists him at the same address, but as being retired.
The January 1935 issue of the Communiqué had
the following
|
|
Jan 2, 1945
|
Charles Crossley died in Cornwall, Ontario and
his widow, Rebecca, is shown as living at 16 Seymour Ave., Cornwall
|
|
