Dec 15, 1885

Born in London, England

Nov 10, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59290 (temporary number 630)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. E. Edwards, mother, 31 Bassett St., Kentish Town, London, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “E” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “C” Company

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

Mar 6, 1915

Forfeited 1 day’s pay for an unrecorded offence

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

Jul 17, 1915

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

Aug 31, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 2, 1915

Posted to the Depot Company from “C” Company

Sep 14, 1915

The 21^st Battalion embarked for France but Private Edwards remained behind receiving treatment as an out patient

Sep 25, 1915

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Feb 3, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Feb 5, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Feb 17, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Edwards joined the 21^st Battalion in the N & O front line trenches on the Ypres Salient in Belgium

May 23, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads infected glands.  He was transferred the same day to the No. 3 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

May 27, 1916

Transferred to the No. 23 General Hospital in Etaples, France where surgery was performed to correct the issue with his Sub Maxillary Gland infection

Jun 6, 1916

Transferred to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot to continue his recovery

Jun 13, 1916

Discharged from hospital care and joined the Canadian Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre

Jun 19, 1916

After leaving the base depot he rejoined the 21^st Battalion

Aug 13, 1916

Transferred to the No. 13 General Hospital in Boulogne, France with a bullet wound to his knee

Aug 15, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Suffolk Hospital, Ampton, Bury St Edmund’s

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

Aug 29, 1916

Transferred to the Newmarket Hospital

Sep 28, 1916

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Oct 20, 1916

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

Oct 23, 1916

Attached to the CRD (Canadian Reinforcement Depot)

Nov 10, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Nov 24, 1916

Attached to the 1^st CCTB (Canadian Corps Training Battalion) in Hastings

Dec 4, 1916

Transferred to the permanent roll of the 1^st Canadian Corps Training Battalion in Hastings

Jan 24, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in East Sandling.  Shortly after the formation of the battalion, it was moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Apr 17, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 18, 1917

Arrived at the Canadian Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

May 5, 1917

After leaving the base depot, Private Edwards rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in the “B” Camp near La Clytte, Belgium

Jun 1, 1917

Attached to the Canadian Corps Agricultural Supervisor for duty

Oct 28, 1917

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Caestre, Belgium preparing for the attack on Passchendaele

Nov 8, 1917

During the heavy fighting in the mud of Passchendaele, Belgium, Private Edwards received a shrapnel wound to his left knee and was evacuated to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid.

Nov 9, 1917

Transferred to the No. 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station with a shrapnel wound to his left knee

Nov 11, 1917

Transferred via the No. 27 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 22 General Hospital in Dannes Camiers, France

Nov 13, 1917

Transferred to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot in Etaples

Nov 16, 1917

Transferred to the No. 14 Convalescent Depot in Trouville

Dec 23, 1917

Joined the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France

Dec 29, 1917

After leaving the base depot, he joined the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in Calonne Ricouart, France

Mar 10, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Mar 30, 1918

Rejoined the reinforcement camp from leave

Apr 4, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private Edwards rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the Telegraph Hill Switch Front Line south of Arras, France

Aug 8, 1918

The beginning of the Battle of Amiens found the 21^st Battalion attacking the town of Marcelcave, France.  Losses were heavy, including the Commanding Officer who was killed by a machine gun bullet to his chest.  Private Edwards received a shrapnel wound to his right arm and neck and was evacuated to the No. 1 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 47 Casualty Clearing Station for treatment

Aug 9, 1918

Transferred via an ambulance train and admitted to the 2^nd Canadian General Hospital in Etaples

Aug 12, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Marguerite

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Edmonton General Military Hospital, London

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot for pay purposes while in hospital

Aug 27, 1918

Attached to the No. 3 Canadian Command Depot and transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Park, Epsom

Sep 25, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital

Oct 5, 1918

Reported to be Absent Without Leave

Oct 11, 1918

Reported for duty and placed under arrest

Oct 14, 1918

Awarded 10 days Field Punishment #2 and forfeited 19 day’s pay for his absence

Nov 24, 1918

Attached to the No. 3 Convalescent Depot

Nov 27, 1918

Attached to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot and posted to the Depot Company in Seaford

Jan 25, 1919

Transferred to the 1^st CORD (Central Ontario Regimental Depot) and posted to the Depot Company in Ripon

May 27, 1919

Attached to “H” Wing, Canadian Concentration Camp Witley pending return to Canada

Jun 23, 1919

Embarked the SS Belgic in Liverpool

Jul 1, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Jul 3, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 213086

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge General Post Office, Kingston, Ontario

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at the General Post Office, Kingston, Ontario