Dec 30, 1894

Born in Belper, Derbyshire, England to John William and Sarah (nee Lamb) Hircock

Nov 5, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59469 (temporary number 306)

Ø  Next of kin given as Sarah Hircock, Cobourg, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Brickmaker

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Salvation Army

Ø  Posted to “C” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

On attesting he stated that he had been born in Cobourg, Ontario, not his actual birth country of England.  The 1911 and 1921 Canadian Census both indicate that he came to Canada with his parents and siblings in 1906.

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

Dec 18, 1914

Admitted to the Kingston General Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Influenza

Dec 22, 1914

Discharged to duty from hospital

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

Jul 15, 1915

Forfeited 3 days pay and restricted to ¼ pay for being AWL (Absent Without Leave) for 3 days

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Oct 14, 1915

Admitted to the field ambulance in La Clytte, Belgium with a diagnosis that reads Enteritis

Oct 15, 1915

Discharged to duty

Jan 3, 1916

While in the N & O trenches near Voormezeele, Belgium on the Ypres Salient, Private Hircock was partially buried by the explosion of an artillery shell.

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Shell Shock and was placed in the Division Rest Station there

Jan 10, 1916

Transferred to the No. 2 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Jan 11, 1916

Transferred via the No. 21 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 18 General Hospital in Camiers, France

Jan 26, 1916

Transferred to the No. 24 General Hospital in Etaples

Jan 28, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Cambria

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Manor House Hospital in Folkestone and the diagnosis was changed to read Neurasthenia

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

Jan 29, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Feb 15, 1916

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre)

Feb 18, 1916

Admitted to the Monks Horton Canadian Convalescent Hospital to continue treatment for his Shell Shock

May 5, 1916

Medical Board at Monks Horton Hospital recommend 4 weeks of Physical Training

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre

May 12, 1916

Attached to the 1^st CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for 4 weeks of Physical Training at the Monks Horton Hospital

Aug 19, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling.  Shortly after the formation of the battalion it was moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Feb 14, 1917

Granted permission to marry and subsequently married Eva Iverson in Elham, Kent, England

Jun 11, 1917

Sentenced to 28 days detention and forfeited 28 days pay for being absent

Jul 20, 1917

Attached to the Officer’s Training Battalion in Seaford for duty as a Cook

Sep 17, 1917

Attached to the CTS (Canadian Training School) in Bexhill for duty

Jan 14, 1918

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) and remained attached to the school in Bexhill

Medical exam at the brigade hospital in Bexhill notes that he suffers from flat feet and has pain when marching

Jul 16, 1918

Attached to the Park Prewett Asylum, Basingstoke for duty

Nov 27, 1918

Ceased to be attached and posted to the Depot Company of the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Witley

Dec 10, 1918

Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Dec 28, 1918

Attached to Military District Wing #3 at Kinmel Park, Rhyl, pending return to Canada

Jan 12, 1919

Embarked the Empress of Britain in Liverpool

Jan 22, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

Feb 11, 1919

Medical Board in Kingston notes

Ø  Man suffers from flat feet and nervous irritability

Ø  His feet and calves become very painful when marching

Ø  Has tremors in his fingers and tongue

Ø  His 15% disability is due to his service

Feb 15, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 90052

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Box 479 Cobourg, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at RR #3, Bowmanville, Ontario

Nathan Henry Hircock is reported to have died in Hamilton, Ontario in 1970

Nathan had 3 brothers who also served in the 21^st Battalion