Nov 18, 1892

Born in Toronto, Ontario as shown on attestation papers signed in WW1

On entering the USA in 1920 he stated he had been born in Londonderry, Ireland

Jun 5, 1912

Married to Amelia Fletcher in Toronto, Ontario

Nov 16, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59392 (temporary number 1006)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. R. Grier, wife, 115 Curzon St., Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Varnisher

o   Later noted as Paint Mixer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to the Depot Company

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

Feb 16, 1915

Appointed to the provisional rank of Lance Corporal

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

Jun 7, 1915

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal to replace L/Cpl Patten, 59777, who had been promoted

Jun 17, 1915

Posted to “B” Company

Jul 20, 1915

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal

Jul 29, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Varicocele.  He had been struck in the scrotum with a baseball and is suffering continuous pain

Aug 7, 1915

Discharged from hospital to duty after being provided with a Suspensory device

Aug 17, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Varicocele

Aug 28, 1915

He refused surgery and was discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Nov 25, 1915

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Varicocele.  He was transferred the same day to the No. 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) in Bailleul, France

Nov 27, 1915

Transferred via the No. 16 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 20 General Hospital in Etaples

Dec 1, 1915

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. George

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Taplow

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

Dec 10, 1915

Surgery performed to remove the swollen portion of the vein in the scrotum

Feb 12, 1916

Transferred to the Hillingdon House Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Uxbridge

Feb 15, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre on being discharged from hospital

Feb 21, 1916

Attached to the CMS (Canadian Military School) in Crowborough for light duties

Jul 11, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Jul 18, 1916

Attached to the Canadian Military School in Crowborough for light duties

Sep 6, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant without pay while employed at the military school

Feb 2, 1917

Declared to be fit for general service and ceased to be attached to the school and rejoined the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford and reverted to the rank of Acting Corporal

Mar 22, 1917

Admitted to the Eastbourne Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Appendicitis and Congested Kidney.  Claims his pain began 2 weeks earlier when instructing Bayonet Fighting and he received a blow to his abdomen

Apr 7, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

May 3, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

May 4, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 344 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

May 31, 1917

After leaving the base depot, Private Grier rejoined the 21^st Battalion at the front east of Vimy Ridge

Aug 15, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal with pay to replace Cpl Marshall, 124037, who had been wounded

Nov 19, 1917

Reverted to the rank of Lance Corporal when Cpl Marshall rejoined the battalion

Nov 22, 1917

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea) relapse from a previous infection.  He was transferred the same day to the No. 42 CCS (Casualty Clearing Centre)

Dec 31, 1917

Discharged to duty from the casualty clearing station

Jan 5, 1918

Promoted to the rank of Corporal to replace Cpl Balch, 59033, who had reverted to the rank of Private at his own request

Jan 23, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Feb 8, 1918

Rejoined the battalion from leave

Apr 2, 1918

While in the front line trench northwest of Neuville Vitasse, France, the battalion came under an artillery barrage and Reginald Grier received shrapnel wounds to his head and was evacuated to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the casualty clearing station for treatment.  He was immediately transferred to the No. 26 General Hospital in Etaples

On admission, a penetrating shrapnel wound was noted to the right occipital region of his head.  Brain matter was discharging and his vision was affected.  Surgery was performed to enlarge the skull opening to remove shrapnel fragments.

Following surgery vision in his right eye was impaired, however his vision was reported as improving on May 2^nd.

May 3, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Ville de Liege

On arrival in England he was admitted to the No. 4 London General Hospital, Denmark Hill, London

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

May 15, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bromley, Kent

May 28, 1918

Head X-ray shows multiple small metal fragments remain embedded in his brain.

Jul 2, 1918

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Kirkdale, Liverpool

Sep 23, 1918

Invalided to Canada aboard the SS Tunisian embarking in London

Oct 7, 1918

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario and Taken On Strength No. 2 District Depot and posted to the hospital section when admitted to the College Hospital

Oct 8, 1918

Granted leave until October 22, 1918

Oct 22, 1918

Admitted to Toronto Military Hospital with a relapse of his previous Gonorrhea infection.  Also complains of poor sleep, nightmares and headaches.

Jan 25, 1919

Medical Board held at Toronto Military Hospital

Ø  Patient suffered penetrating shrapnel wounds to his head

Ø  Suffers from Astigmatism

Ø  Field of vision is contracted

Ø  Has partial loss of function of nervous system

Ø  Partial loss of vision

Ø  Several small pieces of shrapnel remain in head

Ø  Has daily headaches

Ø  Sleeps poorly

Ø  Feels weak after stooping and on moderate exertion

Ø  Condition is considered permanent and Board recommends discharge from service as Medically Unfit

Jan 29, 1919

Discharged from hospital and posted to the Casualty Company at the Park School

Feb 4, 1919

Reginald Grier was showing symptoms of depression and interviews were conducted to assess his state of mind

Ø  He was adopted at 2 years of age and has no knowledge of his birth parents

Ø  Prior to enlisting was very active and ambitious

Ø  During his time overseas in the army his wife was unfaithful and had a child.  They no longer live together and she has turned the children against him

Ø  He is now very melancholy and sits for hours without speaking

Ø  Unexpected noises scare him and he is very nervous

Ø  Does not eat or sleep well

Feb 5, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Corporal

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Entitled to wear 1 Gold Wound Stripe

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 147 Hastings Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Montrose, Michigan, USA

Apr 26, 1930

USA Census shows him living in Montrose Village, Michigan with his wife Amelia and 4 daughters.  His occupation is shown as Painter in Automobile Factory

Feb 18, 1932

Wife Amelia died in Toronto, Ontario

Following Amelia’s death, Reginald was remarried to Mary Winifred “Winnie” Redmond

Jun 14, 1976

Reginald Grier died while a patient in Ottawa hospital and was buried in Our Lady of the Visitation Roman Catholic Cemetery, Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario