Jun 3, 1879

Born in Arbroath, Scotland

Nov 11, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59378 (temporary number 144)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Agnes Gordon, wife, 26 Eaglesham St. Plantation, Glasgow, Scotland

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  Previous military experience given as 43^rd Regiment, Cameron Highlanders for 7 years

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “A” Company

Appointed to the provisional rank of Corporal

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

Jan 19, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days detention, fined $6.00 and reverted to the rank of Private for an unrecorded offence. 

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

Jul 20, 1915

Posted to the Headquarters Cook House with extra pay

Aug 1, 1915

Forfeited 1 day’s pay for being absent

Returned to duty with “A” Company and forfeited extra Cook’s pay

Aug 3, 1915

Treated at the St. Martin’s Plain Tent Hospital for symptoms of Gonorrhea

Sep 3, 1915

Admitted to the Barnwell Military Hospital (1^st Eastern General Hospital) in Cambridge with a diagnosis that reads Gonorrhea.  It should be noted that he was being treated as an out-patient prior to his admission

Sep 14, 1915

The 21^st Battalion embarked for France while Private Gordon remained behind in hospital

Sep 25, 1915

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital

Oct 1, 1915

Transferred to the St. Martin’s Plain Tent Hospital

Oct 26, 1915

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Oct 27, 1915

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France a part of a draft of 655 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Nov 3, 1915

After leaving the base depot, Private Gordon rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in La Clytte, Belgium

Nov 8, 1915

Admitted to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Herpes Zoster, more commonly known as Shingles.  He was placed in the Division Rest Station at Loker, Belgium

Nov 15, 1915

Transferred to the large rest station at Mont des Cats, France, near the Belgian border

Nov 22, 1915

Discharged to duty from the rest station and rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the front lines near Voormezeele, Belgium

Feb 14, 1916

Granted 9 days leave

Feb 22, 1916

Rejoined the battalion from leave

Apr 30, 1916

Admonished for being drunk

Jun 16, 1916

While in the front lines near Verbrande Molen Belgium, Private Gordon received a shrapnel wound to his right arm from the explosion of a nearby shell and was evacuated to the No. 1 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station for further treatment.  From here he was transported to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne, France

Jun 20, 1916

Transferred to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne to continue his recovery

Jul 8, 1916

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No. 1 for being drunk and overstaying a pass

Jul 22, 1916

Discharged from hospital care for light duties with the Base Details in Boulogne

Jul 24, 1916

Forfeited 2 days pay for being absent

Jul 26, 1916

Proceeded to the Canadian Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre and posted to “A” Company for those recovering from wounds and illness

Aug 8, 1916

After leaving the base depot he joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in the Halifax Camp near Brandhoek, Belgium

Aug 17, 1916

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No. 1 for being drunk

Sep 1, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal with pay and remained attached to the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion for duty

Sep 23, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal with pay

Nov 19, 1916

Reverted to the rank of Private

Mar 27, 1917

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 1 for being drunk

Apr 4, 1917

Left the entrenching battalion and joined the 21^st Battalion encamped near Camblain L’Abbe, France.  The battalion was making preparations for the attack on Vimy Ridge

May 1, 1917

Attached to the APM (Assistant Provost Marshall) for duty with the military police

Jun 2, 1917

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion from duty with the Assistant Provost Marshall

Jul 7, 1917

Admitted to the No. 58 Casualty Clearing Station with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), more commonly called Trench Fever

Jul 10, 1917

Transferred via the No. 14 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 22 General Hospital in Camiers

Jul 19, 1917

Discharged from hospital for duty with the Base Details

Jul 20, 1917

Transferred to the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France

Aug 2, 1917

Medical Board classified Private Gordon as “PB” (Permanent Base) meaning he was not fit for combat duty

Aug 11, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Oct 26, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Labour Pool

Nov 5, 1917

Transferred to the No. 5 District Canadian Forestry Corps

Nov 30, 1917

Sentenced to 10 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being drunk and using insubordinate language to an NCO

Jan 12, 1918

Transferred to the 70^th Company, Canadian Forestry Corps

Jan 21, 1918

Sentenced to 5 days Field Punishment No. 2 for refusing to obey and order given by a Military Policeman

Mar 22, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Mar 26, 1918

Reported to have rejoined his unit even though his leave did not expire until April 6, 1918

Jul 15, 1918

Sentenced to 3 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being absent from parade and forfeited 1 day’s pay

Aug 20, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Sep 7, 1918

Rejoined the forestry company from leave

Dec 23, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot and proceeded to Sunningdale, England

Jan 20, 1919

Declared to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Mar 29, 1919

Attached to the No. 2 CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in London for discharge

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to the War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 26 Eaglesham St. Plantation, Glasgow, Scotland

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 46 Craigiehall St., Glasgow, Scotland