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Jul 20, 1896
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Born in Algonquin,
Ontario to John and Jane Arilla (nee Andress) Edwards
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May 2, 1915
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Attested into the
59th Battalion CEF in Prescott, Ontario
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Number 454878
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Next of kin given
as John Edwards, Prescott, Ontario
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Previous
occupation given as Bank Clerk
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No previous
military experience given
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Religion given as
Methodist
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Assigned to
“C” Company
o
He was later
assigned to the Machine Gun Section
The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area
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Oct 18, 1915
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His father John
passed away in Prescott, Ontario and his next of kin was changed to
read Mrs. Jane Edwards, mother, Box 388, Prescott, Ontario
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Apr 1, 1916
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Embarked the SS
Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Apr 11, 1916
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Disembarked in
Liverpool, England
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Jun 23, 1916
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Transferred to the
CMGD (Canadian Machine Gun Depot) at the Riseborough Barracks in
Shorncliffe
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Aug 24, 1916
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Transferred to the
21st Battalion
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Aug 25, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD
(Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a
draft of 107 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength)
the 21st Battalion
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Aug 28, 1916
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After leaving the
base depot, he joined the 21st Battalion in
billets in Zouafques, France and assigned as a Lewis Gunner in the
Machine Gun Section
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Sep 15, 1916
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The 21st
Battalion was given the objective of capturing the strongly defended
sugar refinery south of Courcelette.
During the attack, Private Edwards received a
wound to his right shoulder and hip from the explosion of a HE (high
explosive) artillery shell. In
a letter home he told his mother that it was his first day in the front
line trench and that he received a very slight wound from a bullet but
carried on. It was
later in the day when an artillery shell landed close to him and he was
buried alive by it.
His comrades dug him out and he was evacuated to a nearby field
ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing
station for further treatment.
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Sep 16, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 14 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne
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Sep 18, 1916
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Invalided to
England aboard the Hospital Ship St. David
On arrival in
England he was admitted to the Queen Mary’s Military Hospital
in Whalley Lancashire
Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes
while in hospital
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Nov 3, 1916
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Transferred to the
Monks Horton Military Hospital in Shorncliffe
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Nov 14, 1916
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Discharged from
hospital and reported to the CCAC in Shoreham
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Nov 15, 1916
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Medical Board
recommends 4 weeks of light duties and physical therapy
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Nov 18, 1916
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Graded for
Clerk’s pay
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Nov 24, 1916
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Attached to the
Shoreham Camp Commandant for duty
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Dec 31, 1916
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Attached to the 3rd
Reserve Brigade Headquarters in Seaford for duty
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Feb 8, 1917
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Appointed to the
rank of Acting Corporal
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Mar 10, 1917
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Medical Board in
Seaford notes that he is suffering from Scabies and is temporarily
placed on light duties
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Mar 11, 1917
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Transferred to the
EORD in Seaford
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Oct 26, 1917
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Admitted to the
Cherryhinton Military Hospital in Cambridge with a diagnosis that reads
VDS (Venereal Disease Syphilis)
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Jan 17, 1918
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Discharged to duty
from hospital
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Jan 22, 1918
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Medical Board at
Seaford makes note of a disability caused by Tachycardia
(Hyperthyroidism) and classified his medical condition as B3, meaning
that he was only capable of non-combat sedentary employment such as a
clerk. It was
recorded as not likely to be improved within 6 months
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Feb 13, 1918
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Appointed to the
rank of Acting Sergeant while employed at the 3rd
Reserve Brigade Headquarters in Seaford
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May 9, 1918
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Ceased to be
attached to EORD and transferred to the 3rd
Reserve Brigade Headquarters in Seaford
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Sep 9, 1918
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Reverted to the
rank of Private and transferred to the EORD in Seaford and attached to
the 1st CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton
pending return to Canada
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Sep 23, 1918
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Embarked the SS
Cardiganshire in London
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Oct 7, 1918
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Disembarked in
Montreal Quebec and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario
TOS MD #3 Casualty Company in Kingston
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Oct 10, 1918
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Granted leave with
subsistence until October 24, 1918
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Nov 11, 1918
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Discharged from
the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
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Rank on discharge
Private
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War Service Badge
Class “A” issued
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War Service Badge
Class “B” issued
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Proposed residence
on discharge RR No. 2, Brockville, Ontario
Following
the war the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him care
of The Royal Bank of Canada, Magnetawan, Ontario
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Mar 10, 1921
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Married to
Margaret Amy Johnson in Parry Sound, Ontario
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Jun 1, 1921
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The 1921 Census
shows him living in Sprucedale, Ontario and his occupation as Bank Clerk
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Nov 8, 1941
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Evan Edwards died
in Toronto, Ontario
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