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Dec 23, 1886
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Born in Newington, Ontario to James and Margaret
(nee McDermid) Helmer
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Nov 3, 1917
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Medical exam for the MSA (Military Service Act)
of 1917 held at Cornwall, Ontario
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Jan 9, 1918
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Married to Clara Catherine Myers in Cornwall,
Ontario
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Feb 27, 1918
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Conscripted into the 1st Depot
Battalion, EOR (Eastern Ontario Regiment) under the MSA in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 3056894
Ø Next of kin given as Clara
Helmer, wife, Newington, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as
Carpenter
Ø No previous military
experience given
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Ø Posted to the 3rd
Regimental Draft
o
He
was delayed and then posted to the 4th Regimental Draft
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Apr 17, 1918
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The depot’s 4th draft embarked the SS
Toloa in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Apr 28, 1918
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Disembarked in England and proceeded to Seaford
where the entire draft was absorbed into the 6th Reserve Battalion
to continue training
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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 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base
Depot) in Etaples, France and Taken On Strength of 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 12, 1918
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After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private Helmer joined the
21st Battalion north-east of Le Brullé, France as part of a draft of 24 reinforcements
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Oct 11, 1918
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During the capture of Iwuy, France, Private Helmer was hit in
his left leg by a machine gun bullet that fractured his femur and he was
evacuated to the No. 9 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before
being transported to the No. 33 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)
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Oct 13, 1918
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Transferred to the No. 26 General Hospital in
Etaples, France
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Oct 14, 1918
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Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship
Ville de Liege
On arrival in England, he was admitted to the
Special Military Surgical Hospital, Du Cane Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London
Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario
Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital
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Oct 20, 1918
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When Gangrene set in, his leg was amputated above
the knee
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Feb 18, 1919
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Transferred to the GCSA (Granville Canadian
Special Hospital) in Buxton
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Mar 5, 1919
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Received a peg leg
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Apr 23, 1919
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Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General
Hospital in Kirkdale, Liverpool
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May 21, 1919
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Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship
Araguaya
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May 31, 1919
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Disembarked in Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded
to Kingston, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength of Military District No.
3 Casualty Company and admitted to the Queen’s University Military Hospital
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Jun 2, 1919
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Granted 14 days leave
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Jul 4, 1919
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Transferred to the No. 2 District Depot in
Toronto, Ontario and admitted to the DOH (Dominion Orthopedic Hospital),
Christie Street, Toronto
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Oct 25, 1919
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Surgery performed to remove a shrapnel ball and
drain the wound
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Dec 27, 1919
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Granted leave from the hospital until January 10,
1920
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Apr 20, 1920
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Received an artificial leg. When attempting to stand, he fell and
opened the scar on the stump.
On proceeding days, he was wearing the artificial
leg a few hours at a time
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Jun 30, 1920
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Transferred to the No. 2 Detachment, No. 2
District Depot in Toronto for pay purposes while in hospital
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Jul 29, 1920
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Surgery performed to remove a bone spur, a
shrapnel ball and other pieces of shrapnel
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Sep 8, 1920
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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Sep 15, 1920
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Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø Entitled to War Service Badge
Class “A”
Ø Proposed residence on
discharge Newington, Ontario
Following his discharge, the British War Medal
and Victory Medals were sent to him at Main St., Newington, Ontario
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Dec 23, 1960
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George Arthur Helmer died at home in Newington,
Ontario and was buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Newington
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