Sep 18, 1891

Born in Norwich, England

Apr 16, 1914

Charles, wife Florence, and son Frederick embarked the SS Ruthenia (formerly SS Lake Champlain) in Liverpool

Apr 29, 1914

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Colborne, Ontario to seek employment as a Gardiner

Oct 21, 1914

Volunteered for active service with the 3^rd Division Cyclist Platoon in Trenton, Ontario

Nov 16, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59298 (temporary number 1127)

Ø  Next of kin given as Hester Elwin, mother, 8 Bell’s Yard, Wellington Lane, St. Giles, Norwich, England

o   With a note to also notify Mrs. Charles Elwin, wife, General Post Office, Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to the Depot Company

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

Jan 15, 1915

To receive extra pay as a Cook

Feb 3, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days detention 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

Jun 15, 1915

Ceased to draw pay as a Cook

Sep 2, 1915

Posted to “C” Company

Sep 14, 1915

The 21^st Battalion departed for France, however Private Elwin remained behind and was posted to the Base Details at West Sandling.  There is no reason recorded in his file for him remaining behind.

Sep 25, 1915

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Nov 2, 1915

Admitted to the St. Martin’s Plain Tent Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Syphilis

Nov 18, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Dec 7, 1915

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

Dec 20, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Feb 19, 1916

Admitted to the Cherryhinton Military Hospital, Cambridge with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea).  This was recorded as a relapse

Apr 1, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Apr 23, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 24, 1916

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

May 15, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Elwin rejoined the 21^st Battalion at the front in the St. Eloi Craters in Belgium

Dec 1, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Mar 12, 1917

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Persistent Vomiting. 

Mar 13, 1917

He was transferred to the No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance and the diagnosis was changed to read Gastritis

Mar 14, 1917

Transferred to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance and the diagnosis was changed to read Gastro Enteritis and Influenza

Mar 15, 1917

Transferred to the No. 18 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Mar 17, 1917

Transferred via the No. 18 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 7 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples, France and the diagnosis was changed to read Mitral Regurgitation (a leaking valve in the heart)

Mar 26, 1917

Transferred to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot in Etaples

Apr 6, 1917

Transferred to the No. 5 Convalescent Depot in Cayeux

Jun 29, 1917

Discharged from hospital care and reported to the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples as part of a group of 13 arrivals

Jul 9, 1917

Private Elwin’s medical category was changed to PB (Permanent Base) meaning that he was not fit for combat duty at the front

Jul 19, 1917

Transferred to the 3^rd Canadian Labour Battalion

Aug 29, 1917

Transferred to the CGBD (Canadian General Base Depot) in Etaples

Sep 12, 1917

Transferred to the 3^rd Canadian Division Employment Company

Sep 26, 1917

Attached to the 3^rd CDHQ (Canadian Division Headquarters) to be employed as an Orderly

Oct 12, 1917

Granted leave

Nov 1, 1917

Arrested and taken into custody as an absentee and taken to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford as a prisoner

Nov 14, 1917

Taken to the Canadian General Base Depot in Etaples as a prisoner

Nov 20, 1917

Left the Canadian General Base Depot to rejoin the Canadian Division Headquarters under escort

Nov 25, 1917

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeiture of 11 day’s pay for overstaying his leave from October 22, 1917 until his arrest at 11:15 pm November 1, 1917, total 10 days Absent Without Leave.

Dec 27, 1917

Attached to the 8^th Canadian Infantry Brigade for duty

Jan 17, 1918

Ceased to be attached to the 8^th Canadian Infantry Brigade

May 7, 1918

Sentenced to 3 days Field Punishment No. 1 for being absent from 9:30 pm until 11:50 pm May 6, 1918

May 28, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Jun 14, 1918

Granted an extension to his leave

Jun 21, 1918

Returned from leave

Feb 17, 1919

Transferred to England and posted to the General Depot in Witley

May 2, 1919

Transferred to the Military District No. 3 Depot in Kinmel Park pending return to Canada

May 5, 1919

Medical Board at Seaford notes

Ø  Suffers from Myopia, near sighted, caused by his service

Ø  Suffers from VDH (Valvular Disease of the Heart)

Ø  Has a systolic murmur in his heart

Ø  Patient claims to be short of breath and on occasion feels giddy and at times has palpitations of the heart

Ø  Board recommends symptoms will clear in 3 months

May 21, 1919

Transferred to the Military District No. 3 Depot in Rhyl

Jun 2, 1919

Embarked the SS Lapland in Liverpool

Jun 9, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

Jun 11, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 278887

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Kingston, Ontario

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 3 Millers Lane, Kingston

Jul 14, 1967

Charles William Elwin died in England