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Jan 25, 1893
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Born in London, England
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Sep 27, 1900
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Embarked the SS Tunisian in
Liverpool under the care of the Dr. Barnardo Boys Homes
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Oct 6, 1900
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Disembarked in Quebec City,
Quebec and proceeded to the Barnardo’s Boys Home in Toronto, Ontario. He was eventually placed with a family in
Foxton, Ontario. It should be noted
that he traveled under the name of Furvey and his birth year was given as
1890
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Nov 6, 1914
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Attested into the 21st
Battalion in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59346 (temporary number 952)
Ø Next of kin given as Philip Henry Furney, 43 Swan
St., London, England
Ø Previous occupation given as Labourer
Ø Previous military experience given as Royal
Canadian Artillery in Quebec
Ø Religion given as Roman Catholic
Ø Posted to the Headquarters Company
The 21st Battalion trained
in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.
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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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May 24, 1915
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Sentenced to 2 days detention
and 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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Nov 9, 1915
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Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian
Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Bronchitis
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Nov 13, 1915
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Discharged to duty from the
field ambulance
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Dec 2, 1915
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Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian
Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads infected forearm
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Dec 6, 1915
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Discharged to duty from the
field ambulance
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Dec 11, 1915
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Sentenced to 14 days Field
Punishment No. 1 for being drunk
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Jan 16, 1916
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While the battalion was near
the front at Ridgewood, Belgium, Private Furney became ill and was admitted
to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Influenza
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Jan 20, 1916
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Transferred to the No. 2 CCS
(Casualty Clearing Station) and the diagnosis was changed to Mitral
Regurgitation, (blood seeping backwards in the heart)
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Jan 22, 1916
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Transferred via the No. 24 AT
(Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital in
Boulogne, France
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Jan 31, 1916
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Invalided to England aboard
the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel
On arrival in England he was
admitted to the Wanstead Red Cross Hospital in Margate where the diagnosis
was changed to read VDH (Valvular Disease of the Heart)
Transferred to the 39th
Reserve Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital
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Feb 15, 1916
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Transferred to the CCAC
(Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital
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Mar 6, 1916
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Transferred to the Shorncliffe
Military Hospital
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Mar 24, 1916
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Attached to the CCD (Canadian
Command Depot) in Bath pending return to Canada
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Apr 4, 1916
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Embarked the SS Scandinavian
in Liverpool
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Apr 14, 1916
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Disembarked in Saint John, New
Brunswick and proceeded to Quebec City, Quebec
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Apr 15, 1916
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Medical Board at Quebec City
notes
Ø Patient suffers
from pain in left side of his chest
Ø Heart is greatly
enlarged
Ø There is a double
murmur present
Ø Suffers from poor
memory
Ø Disability is
permanent
Ø Board recommends 3
months in convalescent home then discharge as medically unfit
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Apr 18, 1916
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Admitted to the Elmhurst
Convalescent Home in Kingston, Ontario
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Oct 4, 1916
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Medical Board in Kingston
notes
Ø Patient suffers
from Endocarditis
Ø Complains of
shortness of breath
Ø He is mentally dull
and volition slow
Ø Heart shows mitral
regurgitant and murmurs
Ø Only slight
improvement since admission to convalescent home
Ø Board recommends he
be discharged from service at once
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Nov 3, 1916
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Discharged from the CEF in
Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge
Private
Ø Entitled to War
Service Badge Class “A”
Ø Proposed residence
on discharge Point Alexander, Ontario
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Feb 5, 1917
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Attested into the Recruiting
Depot in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 1099337
Ø Next of kin given
as Philip Henry Furney, father, address unknown
Ø Current address
given as Mowat Memorial Hospital, Kingston, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation
given as Railroad Worker
Ø Previous military
service given as 21st Battalion CEF
Ø Religion given as
Church of England
Ø Posted to the 256th
Railway Construction Battalion in Toronto
On enlisting he gave his birth
date as 1892
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Feb 22, 1917
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Although there are no actual
documents to show this, there are statements in the medical documents to show
that he joined the Royal Flying Corps in Toronto, Ontario on this date with
the service number 70556
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Mar 16, 1917
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Medical Board at the Toronto
Mobilization Centre notes
Ø Patient suffers
from Valvular Heart Disease and probably Rheumatism
Ø Has a systolic and
diastolic heart murmur
Ø Condition is
considered permanent
Ø Board recommend immediate
discharge
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Mar 19, 1917
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Discharged from the 256th
Railway Construction Battalion in Toronto, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge
Private
Ø Intended residence
on discharge Royal Flying Corps, Long Branch, Ontario
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Dec 12, 1917
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Medical Board held at the Recruiting
Depot in Toronto, Ontario notes
Ø Unit is noted as
Royal Flying Corps, number 70556, rank 3/AM (Air Mechanic 3rd
Class
Ø Next of kin is
noted as Harry C. Furney, brother, Alexander Hotel, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ø Patient suffers
from shortness of breath, Bronchitis, inflammatory rheumatism and heart
murmurs
Ø His incapacity is
due to weakness of the heart muscle and partial loss of function of the
Bronchi
Ø His condition is
considered permanent
Ø Is capable of light
indoor work only
Ø Board recommends
discharge from military service
There is no indication in his
file as to when he was discharged from the Royal Flying Corps
Following the end of the war,
the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at
the Westminster Hospital, London, Ontario
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Jul 17, 1918
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Admitted to the St. Luke’s
Base Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario complaining of shortness of breath
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Aug 2, 1918
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Medical Board in Ottawa notes
Ø Patient is pale and
suffering from Chronic Bronchitis, most likely a result of being gassed in
France
Ø He should be able
to leave hospital in a few days
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Aug 23, 1918
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Transferred to the Cobourg
Military Hospital in Cobourg, Ontario
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Aug 30, 1918
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Medical Board at the Cobourg
Military Hospital notes:
“Mental age is between 10 and
11, general reaction is somewhat silly and trifling, slouching
attitude-stupid expression. No
ambition, says he was born in England and came to Canada about 1900. Says his father struck him overt the head
with a stick when he was small child.
Says when father came home all the children would hide from him – from
fear. Says he could not learn in
school. Was put in Barnardo Orphans
Home at age of seven and was soon afterwards sent to Canada. Has wandered about doing odd jobs. Has “tramped it” and “double headed it” on
freight trains. At times alcoholic and
several times locked up on minor charges.
Says he was gassed in France and didn’t know anything for 9
months. Says he couldn’t speak and
memory gone. At present shows only his
constitutional defective condition.
Man claims his mind is better now than ever before and has ho trouble
with memory. In the ward he recognizes
everyone and claims to have seen them in France. Is always going to kill someone and talks
and curses incessantly. Very
Troublesome and resistive. Patient
states that father was a drunkard and was in jail may times and did not
provide for family“
The board recommends custodial
care with light occupation under supervision with no indication of length of
custody required
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Dec 23, 1923
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Philip Henry Furney was taking
a bath at home, 254 King St., London, Ontario and suffered a Cardiac Arrest
while the hot water was running in the tub.
The water continued to run causing severe scalding to his body. His death was attributed to his active
service with the 21st Battalion.
He was buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in London
There was no Plaque (Dead
Man’s Penny) or Memorial Cross issued as no family members could be located
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