Jan 23, 1896

Born in London, England to Albert Edward and Sarah Ann Rebekah (nee Atwell) Hopkins

Jun 7, 1906

Embarked the SS Canada in Liverpool with his parents

Jun 15, 1906

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Port Hope, Ontario

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59478 (temporary number 979)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. O.A. Hopkins, Box 329 Port Hope, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

o   Later noted as File Cutter

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Baptist

Ø  Posted to the Machine Gun Section and employed as Batman to Machine Gun Officer

The 21^st 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

Jun 7, 1915

Admitted to the St. Martin’s Plain Tent Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Gonorrhea

Jun 25, 1915

Discharged from hospital

Jun 26, 1915

Posted to “D” Company from the Machine Gun Section

Aug 31, 1915

Forfeited 2 day’s pay for being absent

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Dec 7, 1915

Private Hopkin’s father urged him to transfer to the Artillery to be with his friends from Port Hope.  Albert Hopkins made that request and was transferred to the 4^th Battery, 1^st Brigade, CFA (Canadian Field Artillery) with the rank of Gunner

Nov 1, 1916

While in positions near Pozieres, France, the artillery was firing on the area of Regina Trench when Gunner Hopkins received shrapnel wounds to his legs and was evacuated from the position for treatment

Nov 4, 1916

Transferred to the No. 5 General Hospital in Rouen, France with shrapnel wounds to his legs

Nov 6, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Panama

On arrival in England he was admitted to the 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Jan 1, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Epsom

Jan 18, 1917

Discharged from hospital and attached to the CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for Physical Training

Feb 4, 1917

Admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital in Hastings with an infected right heel

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Artillery Reserve Depot and attached to the 3^rd Canadian Command Depot for Physical Training

Apr 26, 1917

Attached to the 1^st Canadian Command Depot and admitted to the St. Leonard’s Hospital for Physical Training

May 8, 1917

Discharged from St. Leonard’s Hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre

Jul 10, 1917

Transferred to the 1^st Brigade, Artillery Depot in Shorncliffe

Jul 14, 1917

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads suspected VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea).  Later noted as Non-Venereal

Jul 17, 1917

Discharged from hospital

Aug 20, 1917

Transferred to the 1^st DAC (Division Ammunition Column) and proceeded to France

Aug 21, 1917

Arrived at the Canadian General Base Depot in Etaples, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 1^st Division Ammunition Column

Aug 22, 1917

Gunner Hopkins was admitted to the No. 7 General Hospital in Etaples with a diagnosis that reads Ingrown Toenail prior to joining his unit

Sep 4, 1917

Discharged from hospital to the Base Details in Etaples

Sep 12, 1917

Transferred to the 1^st Artillery Brigade

After leaving the base depot, Gunner Hopkins joined the 1^st Brigade, 4^th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery

Nov 5, 1917

While the 4^th Battery was firing on the Passchendaele front from a position near Gravenstafel, Belgium, Gunner Hopkins received shrapnel wounds to his chest and left ankle.  He was evacuated to the 2/1^st Home Counties Field Ambulance for first aid before being transferred to the No. 61 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Nov 6, 1917

Transferred via the No. 17 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 3 Australian General Hospital in Abbeville, France

Nov 10, 1917

Due to the severity of the wound, the left leg was amputated 8½ inches below the knee

Nov 18, 1917

Invalided to England and admitted to the 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester

Transferred to the CARD (Canadian Artillery Reserve Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Dec 9, 1917

Transferred to the Jericho Military Hospital, Bury, Manchester

Feb 26, 1918

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park

Mar 19, 1918

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Buxton

Mar 21, 1918

Granted permission to marry

Apr 12, 1918

Granted leave until April 21

Apr 14, 1918

Albert Hopkins was married to Florence Ruby Herrmann in West Ham, London

Apr 21, 1918

He did not return from leave and was declared to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

May 3, 1918

Returned to the hospital from being absent and forfeited a total of 36 day’s pay for his absence

May 27, 1918

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Liverpool

Jun 6, 1918

Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Llandovery Castle, embarking in Liverpool

Jun 17, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario where he was admitted to the Davisville Military Hospital

Note that the Llandovery Castle was sunk by a German torpedo 10 days later on the return voyage to England

Jun 20, 1918

Granted leave until July 4 and given instructions to report to the Whitby, Ontario Military Hospital on completion of his leave

Jul 4, 1918

Admitted to the Whitby Military Hospital and noted as using a peg on his amputated leg

Jul 22, 1918

Transferred to the Military Orthopedic Hospital in Toronto and measured for an artificial leg

Aug 16, 1918

Received his artificial leg and it is noted as being satisfactory

Aug 17, 1918

Posted to the Casualty Company in Toronto

Aug 30, 1918

Albert Robert Edward Hopkins was discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Gunner

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Entitled to 2 Gold Wound Stripes

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 41 Amelia St., Toronto, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 41 Amelia St., Toronto, Ontario

Jun 11, 1928

Albert Robert Edward Hopkins died of heart failure while a patient of the Christie St. Hospital in Toronto and was buried in the Prospect Cemetery there. 

His death was due to his military service and the Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his widow, Mrs. Florence Hopkins, 27 Lutterell Ave., Toronto, Ontario

A second Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. A.E. Hopkins, Box 329 Port Hope, Ontario