Jan 25, 1893

Born at Guelph Ontario

Jun 17, 1915

Attested into the 59^th Battalion at Smith’s Falls Ontario 

Ø     Number 454457

Ø     Next of kin given as John Higgins (father) of 20 Pearl St, Guelph Ontario

Ø     Previous occupation given as Piano Tuner

Ø     No previous military experience given

Ø     Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø     Assigned to Machine Gun Section

Apr 5, 1916

Embarked the Troopship Olympic at Halifax Nova Scotia

Apr 11, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England

Appointed to provisional rank of Lance Corporal

Jun 21, 1916

Transferred to the Machine Gun Depot at Risboro Barracks, Shorncliffe

Aug 24, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Aug 25, 1916

Arrived at CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in France and reverted to rank of Pte 

TOS (Taken On Strength) 21^st Battalion

Aug 26, 1916

Left CBD to join unit

Aug 28, 1916

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field 

The battalion was in the rest billets at Zouafques France

Sep 15, 1916

Received bullet wound to left arm and shrapnel wounds to left buttock

Sep 16, 1916

Admitted to No 27 General Hospital at Etaples

Sep 19, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Dieppe

TOS CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Center)

Sep 20, 1916

Admitted to University College Hospital, London

Oct 15, 1916

Wounds became infected

Jan 1, 1917

Transferred to King’s Red Cross Hospital at Bushey Park

Jan 12, 1917

Discharged from hospital to CCAC for Physical Training

Feb 13, 1917

On Command to CCAC at Hastings

Mar 11, 1917

TOS EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) and attached to 3^rd CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) at Seaford

Mar 22, 1917

Discharged from 3^rd CCD St Leonard’s Hospital

Mar 23, 1917

TOS 6^th Reserve Battalion at Seaford

Apr 17, 1917

Transferred to 21^st Battalion

Apr 18, 1917

Arrived at CBD in France and TOS 21^st Battalion

May 21, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field

Jun 17, 1917

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge which is an inverted chevron worn on lower portion of tunic sleeve.  This is awarded for 2 years of good service

Jul 25, 1917

Appointed Acting Lance Cpl (without pay)

Sep 6, 1917

Appointed to rank of L/Cpl (with pay) to replace L/Cpl Collupy who was promoted

Dec 1, 1917

Attached to the 182^nd Company, Canadian Engineers for duty

Dec 21, 1917

Rejoined battalion from 182^nd Coy CE

Jan 18, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Feb 2, 1918

Rejoined from leave

May 18, 1918

Promoted to rank of Cpl

Aug 27, 1918

Admitted to No 8 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) then transferred to No 42 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) – wounded by machine gun bullet wounds to head and arms 

The wound to the forehead the more serious, suffering a depressed fracture of the skull with some loss of bone above right eye

Aug 28, 1918

Transferred via No 5 AT (Ambulance Transport) and admitted to No 14 General Hospital

Sep 19, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Peiter de Coninck

Admitted to King George Hospital in London

Oct 4, 1918

Transferred to No 16 Canadian General Hospital at Orpington

Nov 8, 1918

Transferred to No 5 Canadian General Hospital at Liverpool

Dec 10, 1918

Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Essequibo, embarking at Liverpool (actual sailing date Dec 13)

Dec 20, 1918

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia and transported to Toronto Ontario

Dec 21, 1918

Admitted to St Andrew’s Hospital, Toronto 

Wound to head described as: 

“large oval depression right parietal bone 2” long, 1 ½” wide and 3/8” deep” 

Granted leave with subsistence until January 6, 1919

Jan 6, 1919

Re-admitted to St Andrew’s Hospital

Jan 13, 1919

Transferred to St Andrew’s Military Ward

Jan 18, 1919

Transferred to the Military Ward at the Toronto General Hospital 

Surgeries performed to thigh and scalp wounds to repair bone damage

Jan 21, 1919

Awarded the Military Medal as per the London Gazette #31142

Mar 3, 1919

Transferred to the Dominion Orthopedic Hospital at Toronto

Mar 26, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at Toronto Ontario 

Ø     Discharged as Medically Unfit

Ø     War Service Badge Class “A” issued, number 85978

Ø     Proposed residence on discharge – 61 Northcote Ave, Toronto Ontario

Ø     Entitled to 3 blue chevrons

Ø     Entitled to 2 gold stripes

Mar 29, 1919

Awarded a Bar to Military Medal as per the London Gazette #31257

May 31, 1934

British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to 61 Northcote Ave, Toronto Ontario