William Edward LeClair


Aug 25, 1888

Born in Brockville, Ontario to Edward and Mary Amelia (nee Dion) LeClair

 

Oct 20, 1914

Shown on the payroll of the 41st Regiment, Brockville Rifles

 

Nov 3, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

 

Ø  Number 59577 (temporary number 86)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Mary LeClair, mother, 99 Havelock St., Brockville, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Blacksmith

Ø  Previous military experience given as 2 years in the 41st Regiment, Brockville Rifles

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to “A” Company

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

 

Jan 6, 1915

Admitted to Kingston Hospital and surgery performed to repair a Hernia

 

Jan 23, 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

 

May 20, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Otitis Media, an inflammation of the middle ear

 

Jun 10, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

 

Sep 1, 1915

Posted to the Depot Company

 

Sep 25, 1915

Transferred to the 39th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling and posted to “D” Company

 

Nov 8, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Scabies

 

Nov 11, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

 

Apr 5, 1916

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Deviation of Septum, a deformed nasal passage

 

Apr 6, 1916

Transferred to the Westcliffe Eye and Ear Hospital in Folkestone

 

Apr 8, 1916

Surgery performed to the remove his Tonsils and repair his nasal passage

 

May 27, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the 39th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling for duty

 

Jun 13, 1916

Reprimanded for Improper Conduct

 

Jun 29, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion

 

Jul 30, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private LeClair rejoined the 21st Battalion resting in the Micmac Camp near Dikkebus, Belgium

 

Sep 3, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Coryza, an inflammation of the nasal passages.

 

Sep 4, 1916

Transferred to the No. 10 Stationary Hospital in St. Omer, France

 

Sep 7, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital and rejoined the battalion

 

Sep 15, 1916

During heavy fighting at the sugar factory south of Courcelette, France, Private LeClair received shrapnel wounds to his hands, arms, legs and face and was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station.

 

Sep 16, 1916

Transferred to the No. 10 General Hospital in Rouen where surgery was performed to remove shrapnel pieces

 

Sep 18, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Grantully Castle

 

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the No. 2 Scottish General Hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland.  While here he became infected with Tetanus

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

 

Jan 9, 1917

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

 

Feb 21, 1917

Transferred to the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Red Cross Special Hospital in Ramsgate for assessment

 

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

 

Mar 16, 1917

Discharged from hospital and attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

 

Apr 14, 1917

Embarked the SS Olympic in Liverpool

 

 

Apr 20, 1917

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Quebec City, Quebec

 

Apr 24, 1917

Medical Board in Quebec City notes

Ø  Man complains of dizziness, headaches and weakness of right shoulder

Ø  Symptoms are result of shrapnel wounds received in action

Ø  Suffers from Chronic Otitis Media and both ears have slight discharge

Ø  Almost completely deaf in right ear with slight deafness in left ear

Ø  There is wasting of muscle in arms and grip is weak

Ø  Board recommends convalescent home treatment

 

Apr 28, 1917

Admitted to the Elmhurst Convalescent Home in Kingston, Ontario to be treated as an out-patient

 

Jul 24, 1917

Medical Board recommends discharge from service as Medically Unfit

 

Aug 31, 1917

Discharged from hospital care and from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 99 Havelock St., Brockville, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 99 Havelock St., Brockville, Ontario

 

Aug 4, 1920

Married to Dorothy Clayton in Brockville, Ontario

 

 

 

Dec 29, 1944

William Edward LeClair died in Brockville, Ontario

 


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