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Oct 11, 1896
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His Birth
Registration records his birth date as October 11, 1896 and born in
Pittsburgh Township (now part of Kingston, Ontario).
His parents are shown as John and Ellen (nee
Duffy) Esford
On
attesting into the 21st Battalion he stated he
was born in Buffalo, New York, USA October 10, 1894
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May 13, 1912
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Enlisted in the 14th
Regiment, Princess of Wales’ Own Rifles
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Number 1548
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Posted to
“G” Company
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Nov 11, 1914
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Attested into the
21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario
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Number 59303
(temporary number 63)
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Next of kin given
as John Wesley Esford, father, Barriefield, Ontario
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Previous
occupation given as Plumber
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Previous military
experience given as 3 years in the 14th
Regiment, Princess of Wales’ Own Rifles
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Religion given as
Church of England
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Posted to
“A” Company
The
21st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario
area through the winter of 1914-15.
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Jan 12, 1915
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Married to Ethel
Maud Petitt in Kingston, Ontario
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS
Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling
Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training
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Jun 2, 1915
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Reported to be
absent
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Jun 4, 1915
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Reported for duty
from being Absent Without Leave
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Jun 6, 1915
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Sentenced to 5
days Detention and forfeiture of 2 day’s pay for his absence
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Sep 9, 1915
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Forfeited 1
day’s pay for being absent
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St.
Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Sep 25, 1915
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Admitted to the
field hospital in Dranouter, Belgium with sore eyes
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Sep 28, 1915
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Discharged to duty
from hospital
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Mar 17, 1916
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Sentenced to 7
days Field Punishment No. 1 for being absent from Fatigue Party and for
being in a state of Intoxication
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Aug 9, 1916
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While in the front
line trench near Voormezeele, Belgium, Private Esford sprained his
right ankle and was evacuated to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance)
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Aug 11, 1916
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Transferred to the
2nd Division Rest Station
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Aug 21, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 12 Canadian Field Ambulance then to the No. 10 Casualty Clearing
Station
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Aug 30, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia
of Unknown Origin), a fever with no known cause
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Aug 31, 1916
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Discharged to duty
and rejoined the 21st Battalion resting in
Zouafques, France
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Oct 22, 1916
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Proceeded to Le
Touquet, France to attend the Lewis Gun Course
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Nov 1, 1916
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Rejoined the
battalion from the machine gun course and posted to the Machine Gun
Section
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Dec 3, 1916
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Granted 10 days
leave
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Dec 13, 1916
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Admitted to the
No. 2 Eastern General Hospital in Brighton while on leave. He was complaining of pain
in his right foot from his previously sprained ankle as well as having
frequent earaches. His
left ear was discharging fluid.
Transferred
to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while
in hospital
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Jan 10, 1917
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Discharged to duty
from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre in
Hastings
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Jan 15, 1917
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Attached to the
Canadian Command Depot in Hastings
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Mar 10, 1917
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Transferred to the
EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) and remained attached to the 3rd
CCD (Canadian Command Depot)
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Apr 19, 1917
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Sentenced to 7
days Field Punishment No. 2 for being absent
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May 17, 1917
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While a patient at
the St. Leonard’s Hospital, Private Esford was discovered to
be AWL (Absent Without Leave)
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May 18, 1917
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He was arrested by
the CMP (Canadian Military Police) and placed in custody to await trial. On being taken into
custody, he attempted to escape by running away.
When recaptured, he gave a false name and unit
number. His true
identity was not revealed until he was in police cells.
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Jun 12, 1917
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Tried by DCM
(District Court Martial) and sentenced to 3 months detention and total
forfeiture of 118 day’s pay.
He was sent to the Wandsworth Prison to serve
his sentence.
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Wandsworth Prison, London
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Aug 29, 1917
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15 days of his
sentence was remitted and he returned to St Leonard’s
Hospital from prison
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Sep 13, 1917
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Transferred to the
6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford
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Dec 1, 1917
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Admitted to the
Connaught Hospital in Aldershot with a diagnosis that reads VDG
(Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)
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Dec 14, 1917
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Discharged to duty
from hospital
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Dec 24, 1917
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Sentenced to 14
days Field Punishment No. 2 for being drunk
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Feb 20, 1918
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Admitted to the
No. 14 Canadian General Hospital in Eastbourne with a diagnosis that
reads ICT (Interconnective Tissue) infection in his left leg that
resulted from an old shrapnel wound.
He
claimed that in August of 1916 he received a slight shrapnel wound to
his left leg and pulled the shrapnel out himself and did not receive
medical treatment at the time. Since
that time, the sore has become infected and now drains pus openly.
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Mar 12, 1918
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Transferred to the
Military Convalescent Hospital in Epsom to continue his recovery
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Apr 26, 1918
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Discharged from
hospital with light duties
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May 9, 1918
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Sentenced to 21
days Field Punishment No. 2 for being absent for 2 days. Forfeited a total of 23
day’s pay
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May 29, 1918
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Transferred to the
21st Battalion
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May 30, 1918
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Arrived at the
CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France and Taken On
Strength the 21st Battalion
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Jun 6, 1918
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After leaving the
base depot, he joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp)
in Aubin St. Vaast
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Jun 16, 1918
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After leaving the
reinforcement camp, Private Esford rejoined the 21st
Battalion at the front near Mercatel, France
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Aug 27, 1918
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During heavy
fighting south-east of Vis-en-Artois, France, Private Esford received
shrapnel wounds to his chest and was evacuated to the No. 8 CFA
(Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to
the No. 42 Casualty Clearing Station.
From here he was transferred to the No. 12
Stationary Hospital at St. Pol, France
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Aug 28, 1918
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Transferred via
the No. 29 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 22 General
Hospital in Camiers, France
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Sep 2, 1918
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Transferred to the
No. 6 Convalescent Depot
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Sep 7, 1918
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He developed
Influenza and was transferred back to the No. 22 General Hospital
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Sep 14, 1918
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Transferred back
to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot
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Sep 19, 1918
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Transferred to the
No. 10 Convalescent Depot
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Sep 27, 1918
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Transferred to the
No. 5 Rest Camp at Ecault, France
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Sep 28, 1918
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Appointed to the
rank of Lance Corporal to replace L/Cpl Haughton
who had been promoted.
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Sep 30, 1918
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Discharged from
hospital care and joined the Canadian Infantry Base Depot in Etaples
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Oct 10, 1918
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After leaving the
base depot, he joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp)
in Aubin St. Vaast
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Oct 16, 1918
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After leaving the
reinforcement camp, Lance Corporal Esford rejoined the 21st
Battalion at the front north-east of Iwuy, France
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Nov 3, 1918
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Promoted to the
rank of Corporal to replace Cpl Petrie who had been promoted
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Dec 9, 1918
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Admitted to the
No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Diarrhea. He was transferred the
same day to the No. 64 Casualty Clearing Station
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Dec 13, 1918
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Transferred via
the No. 35 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 2 Australian General
Hospital
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Dec 18, 1918
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Transferred to the
No. 1 Convalescent Depot
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Dec 25, 1918
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Discharged from
hospital care and joined the Canadian Infantry Base Depot in Etaples
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Dec 31, 1918
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Transferred to the
Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot and proceeded to Witley, England
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Jan 8, 1919
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Posted to the
Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot, Depot Company in Witley
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Jan 10, 1919
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Transferred to the
6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford
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Feb 10, 1919
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Forfeited 6
day’s pay for being absent
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May 4, 1919
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Reported to be
Absent Without Leave
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May 12, 1919
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Reported for duty
and placed in confinement
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May 20, 1919
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Sentenced to be
reduced to the rank of Private effective May 4, 1919, plus forfeiture
of pay for his absentee time
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Jun 18, 1919
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Reported to be
absent
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Jun 23, 1919
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Transferred to the
6th Reserve Battalion and shown as being absent
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Jul 31, 1919
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Ceased to be shown
as Absentee and posted to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot Casualty
Company
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Aug 2, 1919
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Transferred to
“M” Wing in Witley pending return to Canada
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Aug 16, 1919
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Embarked the SS
Belgic in Liverpool
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Aug 23, 1919
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Disembarked in
Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario
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Aug 26, 1919
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Discharged from
the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
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Rank on discharge
Corporal
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War Service Badge
Class “A” issued number 214182
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Proposed residence
on discharge 521 Princess St., Kingston, Ontario
Following his
discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were
sent to him at General Delivery, Kingston, Ontario
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Oct 13, 1964
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John Esford died
while a patient in the Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital in Toronto, Ontario
and was buried in the York Cemetery, Toronto
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