|
Jun 3, 1896
|
Born in Stockton on Tees,
England
|
|
Nov 9, 1914
|
Volunteered for overseas
service with the 49th Regiment, Hastings Rifles in Stirling,
Ontario
|
|
Nov 10, 1914
|
Attested into the 21st
Battalion in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59464 (temporary number 149)
Ø No next of kin was provided
o Later noted as Mrs. A. Williams, mother, 66
Goulburn St., Ottawa, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Labourer
o Later noted as Electrician
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Roman Catholic
Ø Posted to “B” Company
o This was later reorganized into “A” Company
o Employed as a Bugler in the Bugle Band
The 21st Battalion trained
in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.
|
|
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
|
|
May 29, 1915
|
Sentenced to 14 days Detention
for insubordination
|
|
Sep 14, 1915
|
Embarked the St. Seiriol in
Folkestone
|
|
Sep 15, 1915
|
Disembarked in Boulogne,
France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
|
|
Dec 17, 1915
|
Admitted to the No. 5 CFA
(Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Influenza. He was transferred the same day to the
Division Rest Station at the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance at Loker, Belgium
|
|
Dec 21, 1915
|
Discharged to duty and
rejoined the 21st Battalion in the front line trench near
Voormezeele, Belgium
|
|
Jul 20, 1916
|
While in the front line at the
St. Eloi Craters in Belgium, Private Higgins received a through and through
bullet wound to his left thigh and after being treated by the battalion’s
Medical Officer, was evacuated to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance near
Loker, Belgium
|
|
From
the medical file showing the path of the bullet
|
|
Jul 22, 1916
|
Transferred to the No. 3 CCS
(Casualty Clearing Station) for treatment
|
|
Jul 23, 1916
|
Transferred to the No. 2
Canadian Stationary Hospital at Abbeville, France
|
|
Jul 24, 1916
|
Invalided to England aboard
the Hospital Ship St David
On arrival in England he was admitted
to the No. 1 Eastern General Hospital in Cambridge
Transferred to the CCAC
(Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital
|
|
Sep 13, 1916
|
Transferred to the Woodcote
Park Convalescent Hospital in Epsom
|
|
Jan 12, 1917
|
Discharged to duty from
hospital and classified PB, meaning he was only fit for non-combat base duty
|
|
Jan 13, 1917
|
Medical Board in Hastings
notes
Ø His through and
through bullet wound has healed with no disability
Ø Patient suffers
from flat feet and complains of pain, more severe in left foot
Ø Board recommends
category C3, meaning he is only fit for non-combat sedentary work such as
Clerk etc.
|
|
Jan 14, 1917
|
Attached to the CGDD (Canadian
Garrison Duty Depot) in Hastings for duty
|
|
Jan 30, 1917
|
Attached to the Canadian
Convalescent Hospital in Epsom for duty
|
|
Mar 10, 1917
|
Transferred to the EORD
(Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) and remained attached to the Garrison Duty
Depot
|
|
Mar 28, 1917
|
Attached to the Canadian
Convalescent Hospital in Epsom for light duties
|
|
May 10, 1917
|
Transferred to the CAMC
(Canadian Army Medical Corps) and posted to the Canadian Convalescent
Hospital in Epsom
|
|
Dec 15, 1917
|
Admitted to the Canadian
Convalescent Hospital in Epsom as a patient with a diagnosis that reads VDS
(Venereal Disease Syphilis). It is
noted that he was being treated for Impetigo while employed at the hospital
|
|
Dec 18, 1917
|
Transferred to the Military
Hospital in Etchinghill, Lyminge
|
|
Jan 10, 1918
|
Transferred to the CAMC
(Canadian Army Medical Corps) Depot for pay purposes while in hospital
|
|
Jan 24, 1918
|
Discharged to duty from
hospital
|
|
Feb 18, 1918
|
Transferred to the Canadian
Convalescent Hospital in Etchinghill for duty
|
|
Jul 19, 1918
|
Transferred to the CAMC
(Canadian Army Medical Corps) Reserve Depot in Shorncliffe
|
|
Aug 8, 1918
|
Admitted to the No. 11
Canadian General Hospital, Moore Barracks with a diagnosis that reads ICT
(Inter Connective Tissue) Infection in his Left Foot
|
|
Aug 28, 1918
|
Transferred to the Canadian
Army Medical Corps Casualty Company while a hospital patient
|
|
Sep 10, 1918
|
Transferred to the Military
Convalescent Hospital in Epsom
|
|
Sep 11, 1918
|
Transferred to the Manor
County of London War Hospital in Epsom and the diagnosis was changed to read
Abscess Left Ankle
|
|
Sep 26, 1918
|
Transferred to the Military
Convalescent Hospital in Epsom
|
|
Oct 9, 1918
|
Discharged from hospital and attached
to the 1st CCD (Canadian Command Depot)
|
|
Jan 31, 1919
|
Discharged to the Canadian
Army Medical Corps Reserve Depot in Shorncliffe
|
|
Feb 11, 1919
|
Attached to Military District
#3 in Rhyl pending return to Canada
|
|
Feb 22, 1919
|
Embarked the SS Belgic in
Liverpool
|
|
Mar 2, 1919
|
Disembarked in Halifax, Nova
Scotia and proceeded to Ottawa, Ontario
|
|
Mar 6, 1919
|
Granted leave with subsistence
until March 19, 1919
|
|
Mar 21, 1919
|
Discharged from the CEF in
Ottawa, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge
Private
Ø War Service Badge
Class “A” issued number 102683
Ø Proposed residence
on discharge 8 Douglas Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland
Following his discharge, the
1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 8
Douglas Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland
|