Jul 13, 1886

Born in Brighton, England to Edward John and Mary Ann (nee Croft) Ford

Nov 11, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59333 (temporary number 67)

Ø  Next of kin given as Elizabeth Ford, wife, Gananoque, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Shovel Maker

Ø  Previous military experience given as 3 years with the 20^th Hussars in England

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “A” Company

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

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 2, 1915

Forfeited 3 day’s pay for being absent for 3 days

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Feb 25, 1916

Admitted to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for an eye test

Feb 26, 1916

Discharged to duty from the field ambulance

Feb 28, 1916

Admitted to the Division Rest Station at the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance in Hazebrouck, France with a diagnosis that reads error of refraction

Mar 3, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre and his medical classification was changed to TB (Temporary Base) meaning he was not fit for combat duty

May 8, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in the “B” Camp near La Clytte, Belgium

May 18, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Defective Vision

May 20, 1916

Discharged to duty from the field ambulance

Oct 16, 1916

Attached to the 255^th Tunnelling Company for duty

Jan 16, 1917

Rejoined the battalion from the tunnelling company

Jan 19, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Mar 22, 1917

Attached to the 4^th Canadian Machine Gun Company for duty

Apr 9, 1917

During the attack on Vimy Ridge, France Private Ford received a shrapnel wound to his left hand and was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station for treatment

Apr 10, 1917

Transferred to the No. 8 Stationary Hospital in Wimereux

Apr 13, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St Denis

On arrival in England he was admitted to the 3^rd Northern General Hospital in Sheffield

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

Apr 16, 1917

X-Ray shows 1.5 mm piece of shrapnel remains in his hand

Apr 19, 1917

Transferred to Ashgate House Convalescent Home, Chesterfield

Jun 18, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bearwood Park, Wokingham

Jun 22, 1917

Attached to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for rehabilitation

Oct 10, 1918

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Dec 3, 1918

Attached to Kinmel Park pending return to Canada

Dec 12, 1918

Embarked the SS Regina in Liverpool

Dec 20, 1918

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

Dec 23, 1918

Taken On Strength the Casualty Company, Military District No. 3 in Kingston, Ontario

Dec 24, 1918

Granted leave until January 6, 1919

Feb 12, 1919

Transferred to the No. 3 Detachment of the CMPC (Canadian Military Police Corps) in Kingston

Jul 26, 1919

Medical Board in Kingston notes

Ø  Patient suffers from defective vision

Ø  Man claims the condition was the result of an explosion in a dugout in France

Ø  Board recommends discharge as Medically Unfit for general service with disability due to service

Aug 1, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Lance Corporal

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Gananoque, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Tanner St., Gananoque, Ontario

Mar 9, 1924

William Henry Joseph Ford died of Paralysis of the Insane while a patient of the Rockwood Hospital, Kingston and was buried in the Gananoque Cemetery