May 24, 1896

Born in Highpoint, North Carolina, USA

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59288 (temporary number 422)

Ø  Next of kin given as Robert Eaton, Thomasville, North Carolina, USA

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

o   Later noted as Electrician

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Baptist

Ø  Posted to “D” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

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

Feb 21, 1915

Admitted to the Kingston Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Influenza

Mar 1, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

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

Aug 1, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Pleurisy

Aug 16, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 9, 1915

Posted to the Depot Company

Sep 14, 1915

The battalion departed for France and Private Eaton was to be admitted to hospital

Sep 15, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Bronchitis.  Claims to have been short of breath and had chest pains for the past 2 months

Sep 23, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 25, 1915

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Oct 25, 1915

Admitted to the St. Martins Plain Tent Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Gonorrhea

Oct 27, 1915

Transferred to the Military Hospital in Bulford

Nov 22, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Dec 13, 1915

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Dec 14, 1915

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 306 reinforcements from England and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Dec 25, 1915

After leaving the base depot, Private Eaton rejoined the 21^st Battalion celebrating Christmas Day resting in Ridgewood, Belgium

Jan 7, 1916

Attached to the 250^th Tunnelling Company for duty.  On arrival he was admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Blistered Left Heel.  He was transferred the same day to the Division Rest Station at Godewaersvelde, France

Jan 16, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital care

Mar 11, 1916

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment #1 for being drunk on Fatigue Duty

Apr 3, 1916

Sentenced to 21 days Field Punishment #1 for being absent from Fatigue Duty

Apr 5, 1916

Admitted to the No. 8 Casualty Clearing Station with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Apr 6, 1916

Transferred via the No. 23 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne sick

Apr 7, 1916

Transferred to the No. 9 Stationary Hospital in Havre with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined).  This was later changed to read Venereal Disease Gonorrhea

Apr 16, 1916

Discharged from hospital for duty with the No. 12 Camp Details in Harfleur, France

He was temporarily attached to the 2^nd Canadian Tunnelling Company

Apr 17, 1916

Attached to the No. 3 General Base Depot

Apr 20, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Eaton rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the front line near Voormezeele, Belgium

May 1, 1916

Attached to the 2^nd Canadian Tunnelling Company

May 10, 1916

Sentenced to 7 days Field Punishment #1 for Gambling and Conduct to the Prejudice of Discipline and Good Order

May 28, 1916

Reattached to the 1^st Tunnelling Company from the 2^nd Tunnelling Company for duty

Jun 12, 1916

During an enemy artillery barrage, Private Eaton received shrapnel wounds to his right leg and was evacuated to the nearby field ambulance for first aid before being transported to the 17^th CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) in Poperinge, Belgium for treatment

Jun 15, 1916

Transferred to the Anlgo American Hospital in Wimereux, Boulogne, France where surgery was performed to remove pieces of shrapnel.  X-Rays show 1 piece of shrapnel remains lodged in the bone and could not be removed

Jun 17, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Patrick

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Taplow with a shrapnel wound to his leg

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Aug 5, 1916

Transferred to the Hillingdon House Convalescent Hospital in Uxbridge

Aug 25, 1916

Discharged from the convalescent hospital

Sep 7, 1916

Reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre in Folkestone

Sep 8, 1916

Attached to the Hillingdon House Convalescent Hospital in Uxbridge for duty

Sep 29, 1916

Ceased to be attached to Hillingdon House Convalescent Hospital in Uxbridge

Oct 1, 1916

Attached to the 39^th Reserve Battalion

Oct 3, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre Administrative Staff of the Dispatch Office, St. Martins Plain Hospital for duty

Dec 4, 1916

Attached to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre Postal Department

Mar 17, 1917

Transferred to the 1^st CORD (Central Ontario Regimental Depot) at West Sandling

Mar 18, 1917

Graded for pay as Clerk

Jul 5, 1917

Ceased to draw pay as Clerk

Jul 10, 1917

Attached to the 1^st CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Aug 14, 1917

Embarked the SS Megantic in Liverpool

Aug 27, 1917

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario and Taken On Strength the MD #3 Casualty Company

Aug 28, 1917

Declared fit for duty on arrival in Kingston

Sep 1, 1917

Taken On Strength the No. 3 Special Service Company in Kingston

Sep 10, 1917

Promoted to the rank of Sergeant

Mar 1, 1918

Promoted to the rank of Company Sergeant Major

Jun 19, 1918

Reverted to the rank of Private at his own Request and attached to the No. 3 Detachment of the CMP (Canadian Military Police) in Kingston

Jul 22, 1918

Admitted to the Ongwanada Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Ingrown Toenail.  The portion of the affected nail was removed

Jul 24, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 6, 1918

Transferred to the CMPC (Canadian Military Police) in Kingston

Nov 18, 1918

Medical Board in Kingston notes

Ø  Patient complains of weakness in right leg from shrapnel wound

Ø  Scars indicate 1 through and through wound, one surgery wound, and another entrance wound below the knee

Ø  Last X-Ray shows presence of a piece of shrapnel in the tibia

Ø  Small scar on right forearm with no disability

Ø  Thyroid slightly enlarged

Ø  Board recommends man be discharged from military service as Medically Unfit

Nov 19, 1918

Discharged from the Canadian Military Police Corps in Kingston

Ø  Rank on discharge Lance Corporal

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued

Ø  War Service Badge Class “B” issued

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge High Point, North Carolina, USA

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 20 Worcester Place, Buffalo, New York, USA

Apr 1, 1921

1921 Census shows him living at 76 Henry St., St. Catharines, Ontario and his occupation is shown as Auto Mechanic

Aug 10, 1943

Rufus Oscar Eaton died in Ransomville, New York, USA and was buried in the Niagara Falls Memorial Park, Lewiston, New York