Thomas Henry Hames, MM

 

 

 Jun 13, 1898

Born at Weybridge England 

This is the date supplied on his Attestation Papers on enlistment.  It is later noted in his file that he was held back at West Sandling Camp because he was under age.  Although the corrected birth date isn’t given, it is stated that he would turn 18 in January of 1917, making his birth year 1899.

 

Nov 29, 1915

Attested into the 136th Battalion at Bowmanville Ontario 

Ø      Number 805079

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs Alice Hames (grandmother) of 11 Acton Road, Addlestone, Surrey, England

Ø      Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Methodist

 

Jul 6, 1916

Admitted to the camp hospital at Valcartier Quebec with Otitis Media (an infection of the middle ear)

 

Jul 12, 1916

Discharged from hospital

 

Jul 14, 1916

Admitted to the camp hospital at Valcartier Quebec suffering from influenza

 

Jul 19, 1916

Discharged from hospital

 

Sep 25, 1916

Embarked the SS Corsican at Halifax Nova Scotia

  

 

Oct 6, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp near Hythe, Kent 

TOS (Taken On Strength) 39th Battalion

 

Oct 14, 1916

Medical Board at West Sandling Camp determines he suffers from Convergent Strabismus (cross eyed) 

Also noted as being under age 

SOS (Struck Off Strength) 39th Battalion on transfer to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Center) and then attached to the 39th Battalion for pay and rations

 

Dec 7, 1916

Ceases to be attached to 39th Battalion and is transferred to the 64th Battalion at Shoreham

 

Feb 20, 1917

Awarded 10 days Field Punishment #2 – offence not recorded

 

Feb 28, 1917

SOS the 64th Battalion on transfer to the 6th Reserve Battalion

 

Apr 21, 1917

Transferred to the 21st Battalion

 

Apr 22, 1917

Arrived at CBD (Canadian Base Depot) Havre France and TOS the 21st Battalion

 

May 21, 1917

Joined the 21st Battalion in the field as part of a draft of 149 replacements 

The Battalion was in the support trenches in the Cramer Haus area.

 

Jul 22, 1917

Attached to the 4th CMG Coy (Canadian Machine Gun Company)

 

Aug 29, 1917

Rejoined Battalion from 4th CMG Coy

 

Jan 12, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

 

Jan 30, 1918

Rejoined Battalion from leave

 

Apr 2, 1918

Admitted to No 2 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a shrapnel wound to right hand and transferred the same day to No 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) 

Same day was transferred via No 10 Ambulance Transport to No 20 General Hospital at Camiers

 

Apr 4, 1918

Transferred to No 6 Convalescent Depot

 

Apr 5, 1918

Transferred to No 12 Convalescent Depot at Aubengue

 

Apr 11, 1918

Discharged to No 5 Canadian Rest camp

 

Apr 14, 1918

TOS CIBD “A” (Canadian Infantry Base Depot A Company) 

A Company was for soldiers on light duties recovering from wounds

 

Apr 25, 1918

Awarded the Military Medal as per London Gazette #30652

  

According to the Battalion’s War Diary, this award was for action during the raids on March 4th and 6th.

Citation reads

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to do duty.  In conjunction with a hostile raid on a large scale when the enemy succeeded in entering our trenches under cover of an intense artillery barrage and the use of liquid fire, this man displayed great courage and disregard for personal safety.  Seeing a man who had been seriously wounded lying in a portion of the line exposed to heavy machine gun fire, he crawled out and carried this comrade to shelter.  The early dressing of the wounds resulted in the saving of his life.

AFW 3121    7-3-18.

 

Apr 28, 1918

Arrived at CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp)

 

May 14, 1918

Rejoined the 21st Battalion in the field

 

Oct 10, 1918

Received a machine gun bullet wound to face and admitted to No 22 CCS 

Bullet entered below right ear and exited through left cheek causing considerable bone damage

 

Oct 12, 1918

Transferred to No 7 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples

 

Oct 18, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth

  

Posted to EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital 

Admitted to the 5th Northern General Hospital at Leicester

 

Nov 5, 1918

Transferred to No 16 Canadian General Hospital at Orpington Kent

 

Nov 17, 1918

Medical Board at Orpington recommends extended medical leave

 

Nov 19, 1918

Proceeded on extended medical furlough

 

Dec 17, 1918

Returned to hospital from medical leave

 

Dec 20, 1918

Medical Board at Orpington recommends that he is fit for duty

 

Jan 7, 1919

Discharged from hospital 

Posted to 6th Reserve Battalion

 

Jan 24, 1919

SOS to MD#3 (Military District) Wing at Rhyl, pending return to Canada

 

Feb 20, 1919

Embarked the SS Lapland at Liverpool

  

 

Mar 1, 1919

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia and proceeded by train to Kingston Ontario

 

Mar 4, 1919

TOS the Casualty Company at MD#3, Kingston Ontario

 

Mar 5, 1919

Granted leave with subsistence until March 18, 1919 – address on leave to be Bowmanville Ontario

 

Mar 19, 1919

Medical Board at Barriefield Camp, Kingston finds: 

Ø      Received bullet wound entering near left ear and exiting through left cheek

Ø      Complains of soreness in left side of face and jaw

Ø      Can only chew food in right side of mouth

Ø      No further treatment is recommended

Ø      Declared fit for general service

Ø      Rank shown as Cpl

 

Mar 22, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued Number 90969

Ø      War Service Badge Class “B” issued Number 55308

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge – Enniskillen Ontario

Ø      Rank on discharge shown as Cpl, but there is no record of that promotion in the file.

 

May 20, 1922

British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to Bowmanville Ontario 

Medals Card shows rank as Pte

 

Below is from the Aug 1960 edition of the Communiqué, the battalion's post war newsletter


 

Dec 12, 1960

Deceased at London Ontario

  

Woodland Cemetery

London Ontario

 



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