Dec 14, 1883
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Born in Sheffield,
England to Joseph Henry and Rebecca (nee France) Wrathman
In
1903 John Wrathman joined the Royal Garrison Artillery but was
Dishonorably Discharged after committing a felony.
In
July of 1908 he married Edith Emma Hornsby in Doncaster, Yorkshire and
had 2 children. At
some point after the birth of his second child in 1911 he came to
Canada under an assumed name.
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Nov 5, 1914
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Attested into the
21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario
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Number 59379
(temporary number 968)
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Next of kin given
as Joseph Gordon, father, 28 Britannia Rd., Dornall, Sheffield, England
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Previous
occupation given as Motorman
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Previous military
experience given as 5 years in the 17th Lancers
Regiment
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Religion given as
Presbyterian
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Assigned to
“B” Company
o
This was later
reorganized into “A” Company
o
Prior to embarking
for England, he was posted to the Machine Gun Section
John
Wrathman attested under the assumed name of John Gordon and claimed to
be single.
The
battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with
headquarters in the Kingston Armouries
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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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Aug 19, 1915
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Posted to
“A” Company from the Machine Gun Section
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St.
Seiriol in Folkestone
![](http://21stbattalion.ca/ships/St_Seiriol.jpg)
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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 5, 1915
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While in
Divisional Reserve in the village of La Clytte, Belgium, he received an
accidental burn to his left foot and ankle and was admitted to the
field ambulance near Locre for first aid
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Nov 6, 1915
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Transferred to the
No. 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) at Mont des Cats, France for
further treatment
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Nov 8, 1915
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Transferred via
No. 21 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 1 Canadian General
Hospital in Etaples, France
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Dec 12, 1915
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Discharged to Base
Details in Etaples
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Dec 15, 1915
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Transferred to No.
3 General Base Depot in Havre
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Dec 22, 1915
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Sentenced to 14
days CB (Confined to Barracks) for being in town without a pass and for
being improperly dressed
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Dec 27, 1915
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Rejoined the
battalion in Brigade Reserve in Ridgewood, Belgium
It
would appear that the punishment received was remitted in return for
him joining his battalion at the front
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Apr 9, 1916
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Appointed to the
rank of Lance Corporal with pay to replace 59401
L/Cpl SC Guild
who had died of wounds
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Jul 3, 1916
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Promoted to the
rank of Corporal to replace 59868 Cpl T Scott
who had
been promoted
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Sep 15, 1916
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During the 21st
Battalion’s attack on the sugar factory south of Courcelette,
France, Corporal Gordon received a bullet wound to his right foot. He was evacuated to a
nearby field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a
casualty clearing station for further treatment
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Sep 19, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital in Amiens and placed on the
dangerously ill list most likely from gangrene
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Sep 20, 1916
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Corporal Gordon
died of his wounds in hospital and was buried in the St. Pierre
Cemetery, Amiens, France
![](http://21stbattalion.ca/gravesdg/grave_gordon_j-59379.jpg)
Following
the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were
sent to his father, Mr. Joseph H. Wrathman, 28 Britannia Rd., Dornall,
Sheffield, England
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