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Jul 12, 1898
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Born in Tunbridge Wells,
England to George and Eliza (nee Fisher) Gainsford
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Oct 30, 1912
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Embarked the SS Royal George
in Avonmouth
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Nov 7, 1912
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Disembarked in Montreal,
Quebec
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Nov 6, 1914
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Attested into the 21st
Battalion in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59347 (temporary number 757)
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs. Gainsford, 9 Dorking
Road, Tunbridge Wells, England
Ø Previous occupation given as Labourer
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Church of England
Ø Posted to “G” Company
o This was later reorganized into “D” Company
He lied about his age, stating that
he was born July 12, 1896, not his actual birth year of 1898
The 21st Battalion trained
in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.
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Dec 7, 1914
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Admitted to the Kingston Hospital with
a diagnosis that reads Scabies
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Dec 16, 1914
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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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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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 30, 1915
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Sentenced to 14 days Field
Punishment No. 2 plus 15 hours of extra fatigue duty and forfeited 1 day’s
pay for being absent from camp in Ridgewood and being arrested in Dikkebus,
Belgium, drunk.
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May 6, 1916
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Admitted to the No. 5 CFA
(Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Inflamed Intestines
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May 8, 1916
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Discharged from the field
ambulance and rejoined the battalion
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Jun 10, 1916
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Sentenced to 21 days Field
Punishment No. 1 and forfeited 2 days pay for being absent from 7 pm June 5 til
3.30 pm June 7
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Jul 4, 1916
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His true age was discovered
and he was sent back to the Canadian Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre,
France
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Jul 7, 1916
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Evacuated to England and
transferred to the 39th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling
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Aug 11, 1916
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Transferred to the CCAC
(Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) as under age, but remained attached to
the 39th Reserve Battalion for Permanent Base Duty
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Jan 4, 1917
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Attached to the newly formed 6th
Reserve Battalion in East Sandling.
Shortly after the formation of the battalion, it was moved to Seaford to
train soldiers for the front
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Mar 10, 1917
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Transferred to the EORD
(Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes and remained attached to
the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford
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May 22, 1918
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Ceased to be attached to the 6th
Reserve Battalion
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May 23, 1918
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Attached to the 3rd
CCD (Canadian Command Depot)
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Jun 27, 1918
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Transferred to the 6th
Reserve Battalion in Seaford
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Jul 8, 1918
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Sentenced to 21 days detention
for being absent from training parade. Sentence to be served in the Wandsworth
Prison. Forfeited 21 days pay while in
prison
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Jul 27, 1918
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Rejoined the 6th
Reserve Battalion from prison
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Aug 23, 1918
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Attached to the 3rd
Canadian Command Depot
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Sep 4, 1918
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Transferred to the 21st
Battalion
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Sep 5, 1918
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian
Base Depot) in Etaples, France as part of a draft of 134 reinforcements from
England and Taken On Strength the 21st Battalion
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Sep 9, 1918
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After leaving the base depot,
he joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin St.
Vaast, France
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Sep 11, 1918
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After leaving the
reinforcement camp, Private Gainsford rejoined the 21st Battalion
near Villers-les-Cagnicourt, France as part of a draft of 50 reinforcements
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Nov 28, 1918
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Admitted to the No. 6 Canadian
Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads ICT (Inter Connective Tissue)
infection in his left knee. He was
transferred the same day to the No. 44 Casualty Clearing Station
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Dec 4, 1918
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Transferred to the No. 42
Casualty Clearing Station
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Dec 7, 1918
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Transferred via the No. 28 AT
(Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 4 General Hospital in Camiers
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Dec 15, 1918
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Transferred to the No. 6
Convalescent Depot
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Dec 19, 1918
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Transferred to the No. 5
Convalescent Depot
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Jan 21, 1919
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Discharged from the
convalescent depot and joined the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in
Etaples
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Jan 27, 1919
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Proceeded to England and
transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot and attached to the 6th
Reserve Battalion in Seaford
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Feb 3, 1919
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Transferred to the 6th
Reserve Battalion in Seaford
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Apr 27, 1919
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Transferred to the 21st
Battalion and attached to “P” Wing in Witley pending return to Canada
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May 14, 1919
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Embarked the SS Minnekahda in
Liverpool
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May 23, 1919
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova
Scotia and proceeded to Montreal, Quebec
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Jun 25, 1919
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Discharged from the CEF in
Montreal, Quebec
Ø Rank on discharge
Private
Ø War Service Badge
Class “A” issued number 299626
Ø Proposed residence
on discharge General Post Office, Kingston, Ontario
Following his discharge, the
1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 259
Prior St., Vancouver, British Columbia
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Dec 7, 1951
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Norman Garnet Gainsford died
in Vancouver, British Columbia and was buried in the Mountain View Cemetery
there
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