Charles William Danford
 

Dec 25, 1883

Born in Stirling, Ontario to Alfred Thomas and Mary Eliza (nee Morrison) Danford

 

Jul 31, 1906

Married to Beatrice Gilroy in Chandas, Peterborough County, Ontario.

 

Feb 1, 1916

Attested into the 155th Battalion in Coe Hill, Ontario 

Ø      Number 636534

Ø      Next of kin given as Beatrice Danford, wife, Coe Hill, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø      Previous military experience given as 2 weeks at a training camp in Barriefield

Ø      Religion given as Methodist 

For some reason he gave his birth year on attesting as 1885 

His brother, Arthur Danford, attested into the same battalion 2 weeks earlier 

The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area

 

Oct 17, 1916

Embarked the SS Northland in Halifax, Nova Scotia

 

Oct 28, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Bramshott

 

Dec 5, 1916

Posted to the 21st Battalion along with his brother Arthur Danford

 

Dec 6, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 147 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion

 

Dec 8, 1916

Left the CBD and joined the 21st Battalion in billets in Bully Grenay

 

Aug 15, 1917

After surviving the attack on Vimy Ridge, Private Charles Danford was killed during the attack on Hill 70, near Lens.  His body was never recovered from the battlefield and is subsequently honoured on the panels of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his widow, Mrs. Beatrice Danford, Coe Hill, Ontario 

A second Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. A. Danford, at the same address. 

His brother, Arthur Danford, survived the war and returned to Coe Hill

 




Charles Danford is honoured on the Bancroft War Memorial (above) and the Coe Hill War Memorial (below)


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