Frank Leal



Sep 1, 1895

Born in Coe Hill, Ontario to William Edwin and Mary Jane (nee Holly) Leal

 

Nov 5, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

 

Ø  Number 59575 (temporary number 196)

Ø  Next of kin given as William Edwin Leal, father, 247 Aylmer St., Peterborough, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “A” Company

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

 

Dec 30, 1914

Admitted to Kingston hospital with a diagnosis that reads Influenza

 

Jan 2, 1915

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

 

 

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 

 

Sep 15, 1915

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

 

Aug 23, 1916

While the battalion was resting in the Quebec Camp near Poperinge, Belgium, Frank Leal fell and sprained his left ankle and was admitted to the No. 12 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance)

 

Aug 26, 1916

Transferred to the 2nd Division Rest Station

 

Aug 30, 1916

Transferred to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance

 

Aug 31, 1916

Discharged to duty from the field ambulance and rejoined the battalion

 

Jan 23, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

 

Feb 8, 1917

Rejoined the battalion from leave

 

Feb 15, 1917

Attached to the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade to be employed as a Bomber

 

Mar 17, 1917

Rejoined the battalion from duty with the 4th Brigade

 

Dec 24, 1917

Granted 14 days leave

 

Oct 13, 1918

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

 

Dec 1, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

 

Dec 25, 1918

Rejoined the battalion in Seigburg, Germany from leave

 

Apr 3, 1919

Embarked the Western Australia in Havre, France

 

On arrival in England, he was attached to “P” Wing in Witley pending return to Canada

 

Apr 18, 1919

Medical exam in Witley notes

Ø  Man suffers from Intercostal Neuralgia

Ø  Condition dates back to October of 1915

Ø  Suffers from attacks of pain on the left side of his chest that last 3-4 days at a time

Ø  When these attacks occur, he feels faint

Ø  This condition is expected to improve in 3 to 6 months

 

May 14, 1919

Embarked the SS Caronia in Liverpool

 

 

May 22, 1919

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

 

May 24, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Lance Corporal

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 279995

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 247 Aylmer St., Peterborough, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 247 Aylmer St., Peterborough, Ontario

 

Aug 16, 1923

Married to Jennie Alfreda Hamilton in Marmora, Ontario

 

While Frank was serving with the 21st Battalion, he played for the battalion’s
baseball team as a pitcher.  Following the war, he played baseball
for the Deloro, Ontario baseball team and won the OBAA Championship
in 1926

 

 

 

May 13, 1981

Frank Leal died in Marmora, Ontario and was buried in the Legion Plot of the Marmora Protestant Cemetery

 

 

 

Frank and his brother Harold, are both Honoured on the Wall of Honour
in Peterborough, Ontario

 

 


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