Nov 3, 1894

Born in Oshawa, Ontario to Albert William and Mary Elizabeth (nee Annand) Ford

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston Ontario

Ø  Number 59332 (temporary number 426)

Ø  Next of kin given as AW Ford (father), Smiths Falls Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Watchmaker

o   Later noted as Watchmaker and Jeweler

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø  Posted to “D” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

o   He was later posted to the Scout Section

On attesting he gave his birth year as 1895, not the actual year of 1894

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

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Apr 21, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Contusion of Right Thigh from a shell explosion

Apr 22, 1916

Transferred to the Division Rest Station at the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance

Apr 25, 1916

Discharged to duty from the rest station

Apr 28, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Suspected Meningitis and was immediately transferred to the No. 17 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

May 2, 1916

Transferred to the No. 7 General Hospital in St. Omer, France

May 24, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne

Jun 6, 1916

Transferred to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne, France

Jun 19, 1916

Discharged from the convalescent depot and posted to the base details in Boulogne

Jun 23, 1916

Transferred to the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre

Jun 30, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Reuben Ford rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in the Micmac Camp near Dikkebus, Belgium

Jul 17, 1916

Promoted to the rank of Corporal to replace Cpl HT Muspratt who had been promoted

Sep 25, 1916

He was buried by the explosion of a nearby shell and was unconscious when dug out and evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station.  From there he was immediately transported to the No. 11 Stationary Hospital in Rouen, France.  During all of this time he remained unconscious, not coming around for 5 days

Oct 8, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Carisbrooke Castle

On arrival in England he was admitted to the No. 4 London General Hospital, Denmark Hill, London

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

Oct 24, 1916

Surgery performed to remove his Appendix

Jan 13, 1917

Transferred to the Ontario Military Hospital in Orpington, Kent

Feb 23, 1917

Medical Board at Orpington notes

Ø  Suffers from shell shock

Ø  Suffers from headaches and pain in legs

Ø  Claims he was unconscious for 5 days after the shell explosion

Ø  Says he was deaf and dumb for a time

Ø  Sleeps poorly and has bad dreams

Ø  Slight tremors, but they become more exaggerated when excited

Ø  Board recommends he be invalided to Canada for treatment and discharge

Mar 10, 1917

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

Mar 22, 1917

Embarked the Hospital Ship Essequibo in Liverpool

Mar 31, 1917

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Quebec City, Quebec

Apr 5, 1917

Medical Board in Quebec City notes

Ø  Patient suffers from shell shock

Ø  States he was deaf and dumb for a time after the explosion

Ø  Is very nervous

Ø  Marked tremors

Ø  Complains of pain around his heart and cannot sleep properly

Ø  Has pains in his legs

Ø  Board recommends treatment in a convalescent home

Apr 8, 1917

After leaving Quebec City, Reuben Ford was admitted to the Elmhurst Convalescent Home in Kingston, Ontario and treated as an Out-Patient

 It is interesting to note that on the date this was printed, the Canadian Corps, including the 21^st Battalion made the attack at Vimy Ridge

May 21, 1917

Admitted to the Elmhurst Convalescent Home

Aug 1, 1917

Transferred to the Fettercairn Convalescent Home near Chaffey’s Locks, north of Kingston

Oct 24, 1917

Transferred from the Fettercairn Home to the Elmhurst Home in Kingston

Oct 25, 1917

Transferred to the Queen’s University Hospital

Nov 2, 1917

To be treated as an Out-Patient of the Queen’s University Hospital in Kingston

Nov 30, 1917

Transferred to the Ontario Military Hospital in Cobourg, Ontario

Mar 13, 1918

Medical Board in Cobourg notes

Ø  Suffers from Shell Shock

Ø  Has tremors in hands and legs when extended.  The tremors become more exaggerated when excited

Ø  Walks with 2 canes but has good control of himself

Ø  Has been skating at the rink

Ø  Board recommends that he would recover faster if he was not hospitalized

Mar 20, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Corporal

Ø  Entitled to Class “A” and “B” War Service Badges

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 450 Simcoe St. South, Oshawa, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 167 Hillingdon St., Toronto, Ontario

Jul 28, 1919

Married to Mary Ellen Griffiths in Toronto, Ontario

While living in Toronto, Reuben Ford was employed by the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires.  He retired in 1964 and moved to Lindsay, Ontario.  In the middle of this, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and served overseas with the rank of Warrant Officer 1^st Class in World War II.

Feb 16, 1923

Reuben’s wife Mary, died at home, 167 Hillingdon Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Jun 29, 1927

Married to Vivian Grace Yearsley in Toronto, Ontario

From an undated letter sent out during WWll to the 21^st Battalion Association

Sep 27, 1965

The 1965 Voter list shows him living at 130 Elgin St., Lindsay, Ontario

While living in Lindsay, Reuben Ford served as a President of the 21^st Battalion Association

Apr 1, 1970

Reuben Ford died in Lindsay Ontario and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery there.