Feb 10, 1886

Born in Manchester, England

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59501 (temporary number 716)

Ø  Next of kin given as T James, Bowmanville, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Machinist

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion not given

o   Later given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “G” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “D” Company

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

Feb 23, 1915

Appointed to the provisional rank of Corporal to be made effective November 3, 1914

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 1, 1915

Confirmed in the rank of Corporal

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Jan 7, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Myalgia.  He was placed in the Division Rest Station at Godewaersvelde, France with pain in his back and both legs

Jan 12, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Lance Sergeant

Jan 20, 1916

Discharged to duty from the rest station

Jan 30, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Lumbago and was again placed in the Division Rest Station at Godewaersvelde, France

Feb 8, 1916

Discharged to duty from the rest station

Apr 23, 1916

Admitted to the No. 6 Canadian Field ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Lumbago after the parapet was blown in and some sand bags fell on him.  He was again transferred to the Division Rest Station at Godewaersvelde, France

Apr 25, 1916

Transferred to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance

Apr 26, 1916

Transferred to the Mont des Cats Rest Station

May 6, 1916

Transferred to the No. 20 General Hospital in Camiers

May 15, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen

On arrival in England he was admitted to the St. Luke’s War Hospital in Halifax

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

Jun 1, 1916

Transferred to the King’s Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Bushy Park, Hampton Hill

Jun 7, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Buxton and the diagnosis was changed to read Myalgia

Jul 18, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre

Jul 30, 1916

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

Aug 26, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Oct 27, 1916

Granted leave until December 8, 1916

Embarked the SS Scandinavian in Liverpool as an escort for wounded troops returning to Canada

Nov 6, 1916

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec

Dec 13, 1916

Rejoined the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling.  The battalion was later moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Mar 29, 1917

Admitted to the Ravenscroft Military Hospital in Seaford with a diagnosis that reads Myalgia

Mar 30, 1917

Transferred to the Military Hospital in Eastbourne and the diagnosis was changed to read Gastric Ulcer

May 1, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jun 5, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) in Seaford with the view of receiving a commission

Jun 18, 1917

Attached to the RFC (Royal Flying Corps) and proceeded to the Denham airfield

While on a training flight, the aircraft stalled on landing and he was thrown from the plane and struck his head causing a concussion.  He was treated by the base Medical Officer for headaches

Aug 10, 1917

Transferred to the School of Military Aeronautics in Reading, England after he was considered unable to fly.

Feb 23, 1918

His concussion symptoms persisted and the Royal Flying Corps concluded he was not fit to fly again

Transferred to the General Depot in Shoreham

Mar 12, 1918

Attached to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford for light duties

May 10, 1918

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

This order was cancelled and Thomas James was attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Jun 24, 1918

Embarked the Empress of Britain in Liverpool

Jul 3, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario where he was posted to the Casualty Company

Sep 23, 1918

Transferred to the 1^st Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment in Kingston

Sep 28, 1918

Transferred to the 259^th Battalion Siberian Expeditionary Force in Victoria, British Columbia

Dec 19, 1918

Just 2 days before the battalion was to depart from Victoria for Russia, Thomas James was transferred back to the 1^st Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment in Kingston, Ontario and posted to the Casualty Company

Jan 22, 1919

Transferred to the Quebec Clearing Service Command in Quebec City, Quebec where he was employed on Escort Duty bringing troops home from England

Jul 3, 1919

Transferred to Military District No. 3 in Kingston, Ontario and posted to the Casualty Company

Aug 1, 1919

Forfeited 20 days pay and given a severe reprimand for being absent for 2 ½ hours

Aug 25, 1919

Tried by District Court Martial in Kingston on the charge of being improperly dressed and making a false statement.  He was sentenced to be reduced to rank of Private and 60 days detention.  On review the sentence was reduced to 14 days detention and retention of rank of Sergeant

Sep 8, 1919

Medical Board in Kingston notes

Ø  Man suffers from Neurasthenia as a result of an aeroplane crash in England

Ø  Has slight tremors

Ø  Has 24 hour headaches

Ø  Sleeps poorly and memory is not good

Ø  Suffers from attacks of nervousness

Ø  Board recommends 10 days bed rest, then 6 months of medical care

Ø  Board recommends he be discharged from military service due to being medically unfit

Sep 10, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Sergeant

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Bowmanville, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Bowmanville, Ontario (British War Medal and Victory Medal shown)

Apr 9, 1955

Thomas James died while a patient of the Deer Lodge Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery there.