|
Oct 7, 1897
|
Born in Neath, Wales
|
|
Jan 29, 1917
|
Attested into the 252nd Battalion CEF
in Fenelon Falls, Ontario
Ø Number 1087105
Ø Next of kin given as Rev. D.W.
Hopkins, father, 16 Gnoll Ave., Neath, Wales
Ø Previous occupation given as
Bank Clerk with the Bank of Montreal
Ø No previous military
experience given
Ø Religion given as Baptist
The battalion trained in the Lindsay, Ontario
area
|
|
Mar 24, 1917
|
Appointed to the provisional rank of Corporal
|
|
May 29, 1917
|
Embarked the SS Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia
|
|
Jun 9, 1917
|
Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the
battalion proceeded to Seaford where it was absorbed into the 6th
Reserve Battalion to continue training
Reverted to the rank of Private
|
|
Sep 14, 1917
|
Sentenced to 10 days Field Punishment No. 2 for
overstaying a pass from September 10 until September 14 and forfeited a total
of 14 days pay
|
|
Oct 26, 1917
|
Transferred to the 21st Battalion
|
|
Oct 27, 1917
|
Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in
Etaples, France and Taken On Strength of the 21st Battalion
|
|
Oct 30, 1917
|
After leaving the base depot, he joined the CC
Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Calonne Ricouart, France
|
|
Nov 20, 1917
|
After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private
Hopkins joined the 21st Battalion in Camblain L’Abbe, France
|
|
Nov 29, 1917
|
Attached to the 4th Field Company,
Canadian Engineers for duty
|
|
Dec 11, 1917
|
Rejoined the 21st Battalion in the
Cellars Camp at Neuville St. Vaast, France
|
|
Jan 19, 1918
|
Attached to the 1st Canadian
Tunnelling Company for duty
|
|
Jan 31, 1918
|
Rejoined the 21st Battalion in billets
in Camblain L’Abbe, France from the tunnelling company
|
|
Mar 3, 1918
|
Attached to the 1st Canadian
Tunnelling Company for duty
|
|
Mar 10, 1918
|
Rejoined the 21st Battalion in Gouy
Servins, France from the tunnelling company
|
|
Apr 13, 1918
|
Attached to the 2nd Canadian Machine
Gun Battalion for duty
|
|
May 15, 1918
|
Rejoined the 21st Battalion in the
front line at Mercatel, France from the machine gun battalion
|
|
Sep 4, 1918
|
Admitted to the No. 8 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Impetigo and was
|
|
Sep 5, 1918
|
Transferred to the No. 13 Canadian Field
Ambulance before being transported to the No. 7 CCS (Casualty Clearing
Station)
|
|
Sep 8, 1918
|
Transferred to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance
|
|
Sep 16, 1918
|
Discharged from the field ambulance and rejoined
the 21st Battalion in the support line near Buissy, France
|
|
Oct 10, 1918
|
During the advance on the Erclin River west of
Iwuy, France, Private Hopkins was wounded when shrapnel pierced his helmet
and entered his forehead as well as wounds to his hands. He was evacuated to the No. 9 Canadian
Ambulance for first aid
|
|
Oct 11, 1918
|
Transferred to the No. 33 CCS (Casualty Clearing
Station). Surgery was performed here
to remove a 2 inch square piece of the skull from his forehead to remove bone
fragments that had entered his brain and repair damage to his hands. This left a pulsating depression in his
forehead and he was then placed on the dangerously ill list as he remained unconscious
for 6 days
|
|
Nov 3, 1918
|
Transferred to the No. 3 Canadian General
Hospital in Boulogne, France
|
|
Nov 9, 1918
|
Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship
Pieter de Coninck
On arrival in England, he was admitted to the 1st
London General Hospital in Camberwell
Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario
Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital
|
|
Dec 6, 1918
|
Transferred to the No. 16 General Hospital in
Orpington
|
|
Dec 29, 1918
|
Forfeited 2 day’s pay for being absent from the
hospital for 2 days
|
|
Jan 14, 1919
|
Granted 10 days sick leave
|
|
Feb 5, 1919
|
Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General
Hospital in Kirkdale, Liverpool
|
|
Mar 11, 1919
|
Embarked the Hospital Ship Araguaya in Liverpool
|
|
Mar 22, 1919
|
Disembarked in Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded
to Burlington, Ontario where he was admitted to the Brant Military Hospital
|
|
Mar 24, 1919
|
Granted leave until April 7, 1919
|
|
Apr 28, 1919
|
Discharged from hospital and Taken On Strength of
Military District No. 2 Casualty Company in Toronto, Ontario
On being discharged, he complained that he was
still getting headaches and dizzy spells that would last all day and make it
impossible to sleep.
|
|
May 3, 1919
|
Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø War Service Badge Class “A”
issued number 140320
Ø Proposed residence on
discharge Fenelon Falls, Ontario
He was discharged to continue taking out-patient
treatment under the care of the SCR (Soldier Civil Re-habilitation) Dept. and
for possible surgery in 3 months.
Following his discharge, the British War Medal
and Victory Medals were sent to him at Fenelon Falls, Ontario. However, the medals were returned and there
is no indication they were ever resent
|
|
Jul 12, 1946
|
William Richard Hopkins died in West Glamorgan,
Wales of a fractured skull caused by an accidental fall. His death was ruled to be a result of his
front line service in the 21st Battalion. There is no record of a Memorial Cross or
Plaque being sent to his family
|
|