Jan 6, 1893

Born at London England

Nov 5, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59529 (temporary number was 646)

Ø      Next of Kin given as John Alton (Guardian) of Kirkfield Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as farmer

Ø      Stated to be single

o       Note that the Attestation Papers posted online show that he was declared to be married.  That was an error in the copying process.  The original form in the file shows that he was single.

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø      The only identifying marks listed are 2 moles on the center of his back.

May 1, 1915

Was recorded on this date to be in “F” Company 

Ø      Note this is not the date assigned to the Company, but is the earliest date that it is recorded in the file

May 6, 1915

Embarked the SS Metagama at Montreal for England

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp, near Hythe

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked at Folkestone for France

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France

Mar 6, 1916

Admitted to No 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with Neurasthenia 

Ø      Neurasthenia covers a wide spectrum of symptoms, including painful sensations or numbness in parts of the body, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and fainting.

Mar 10, 1916

Transferred to NMDCCS (North Middlesex Division Casualty Clearing Station)

Mar 21, 1916

Discharged to duty

Mar 27, 1916

Granted leave until April 4, 1916

Apr 1, 1916

Buried by shell explosion and unconscious for ½ hour, received shrapnel wounds to right side and right foot 

Ø      Note that the only places in the file where this date is recorded is in medical reports recorded well after the incident.  The first mention of being wounded on the Casualty Form is April 10, and I suspect this is the actual date that he was wounded.  It should also be noted that on April 1, he was recorded as being on leave.

Ø      The Battalion’s War Diary shows enemy shelling on both dates, so it is not possible to determine the correct date from there.

Apr 10, 1916

Admitted to No 23 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples France with shrapnel wounds to right leg and left side.

Apr 13, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Newhaven, and transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Center) at Folkestone

Apr 14, 1916

Admitted to the Great Northern Central Hospital, Holloway Rd., London

Sep 28, 1916

Admitted to No 16 Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley 

Ø      Complains of pain in left side when walking, coughing or laughing

Ø      Recorded as being in “3” Company, 21^st Battalion

Oct 5, 1916

Admitted to West Cliff Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital at Folkestone with deafness and concussion

Oct 26, 1916

Medical Board at Shoreham declared him fit for Light Duty only

Oct 27, 1916

Discharged from West Cliff hospital

Nov 4, 1916

Posted to GDD (General Guard Duty) at the PBD (Permanent Base Depot) Folkestone

Nov 5, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge, representing 2 years Good Conduct

Dec 9, 1916

Ceases to be attached to GDD Hastings

Mar 10, 1917

SOS CCAC on transfer to EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) and on Command to GDD at Hastings

Jun 1, 1917

TOS HQCI (Headquarters Canadian Infantry), Hastings, from EORD

Jun 6, 1917

Ceases On Command to GDD and placed On Command to Headquarters, Hastings

Jul 13, 1917

TOS CMP (Canadian Military Police) at Hastings

Sep 10, 1917

SOS HQCI Hastings on posting to EORD

Oct 23, 1917

Attached to the 6^th Reserve Battalion at Seaford

Nov 16, 1918

Granted permission to marry

Nov 19, 1918

Ceases to be attached and is now posted to 6^th Reserve Battalion

Nov 20, 1918

Married to Rosina Wilkie of 66/8 Lever St., Goswell Rd., London EC1, England 

Marriage took place at the St Barnabas parish church, London England

Mar 5, 1919

Medical report done at Seaford shows the following 

Ø      Head, heart and scroll tattooed on left forearm

Ø      Heart, flags, Maple Leaf and clasped hands tattooed on right forearm

o       Both tattoos acquired while in the army

Mar 12, 1919

SOS 6^th Reserve Battalion on transfer to #3 Wing at Kinmel Park, Rhyl, pending return to Canada

Mar 23, 1919

Embarked for Canada

Mar 31, 1919

Disembarked in Canada

Apr 1, 1919

Discharged from the CEF on Genera Demobilization at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” No 91757 issued

Nov 22, 1922

British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent 

Ø      Note that the address on the medals card that they were delivered to is unreadable

Dec 12, 1922

Medals were returned

May 3, 1927

Medals were sent out again to a different address, but again, the address on the card is unreadable 

Ø      The last recorded address in the file is RR #3, Victoria Ontario

Feb 25, 1960

Deceased and buried at Sunderland Ontario Cemetery