Sep 28, 1887

Born in Manchester, England

Nov 13, 1915

Attested into the 59^th Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 455709

Ø  Next of kin given as John Leigh, brother, Brighton, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Apr 1, 1916

Embarked the SS Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Apr 11, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded to the Bordon Camp

Appointed to the provisional rank of Lance Corporal

May 4, 1916

Admitted to the military hospital in the Caesars Camp, Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

May 7, 1916

Transferred to the Central Hospital in Lichfield

Jun 24, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jul 3, 1916

Proceeded on the NCO’s (Non Commissioned Officers) course

Jul 6, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Aug 27, 1916

Reverted to the rank of Private at his own request in order to proceed to the front

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Aug 28, 1916

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

Sep 12, 1916

After leaving the base depot, he joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Albert, France

Sep 16, 1916

After leaving the entrenching battalion, Private Leigh joined the 21^st Battalion in front line at the sugar factory, south of Courcelette, France and was posted to 13 Platoon, “D” Company

Oct 19, 1916

Attached to the 4^th Field Company, Canadian Engineers for duty

Nov 12, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in Bully Grenay, France from duty with the engineers

Jan 16, 1917

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with an accidental laceration to his face

Jan 17, 1917

Transported to the No. 22 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Jan 21, 1917

Transferred via the No. 12 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 20 General Hospital in Dannes Camiers, France

Jan 31, 1917

Transferred to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot in Etaples, France

Feb 2, 1917

Discharged from hospital care and reported to the base details in Etaples

Feb 6, 1917

Reported to the base depot in Havre

Feb 24, 1917

After leaving the base depot, he joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin, France

Mar 5, 1917

After leaving the entrenching battalion, Private Leigh rejoined the 21^st Battalion in Bois des Alleux, France

Aug 15, 1917

During the capture of Hill 70 near Lens, France, Private Leigh received a shrapnel wound to his left hand and was treated by the battalion’s Medical Officer

Aug 18, 1917

Admitted to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance for treatment of his wound.  He was transported the same day to the rest station at the No. 10 Canadian Field Ambulance

Aug 22, 1917

Discharged from hospital care and rejoined the 21^st Battalion in Villers au Bois, France

Sep 21, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Oct 1, 1917

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in Villers au Bois, France from leave

Oct 3, 1917

Admitted to the No. 51 General Hospital in Etaples, France with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Feb 10, 1918

Attached to the No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station for duty while receiving ongoing treatment for his infection

Once his treatment was completed, he remained attached for duty

Oct 16, 1918

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

Nov 12, 1918

After leaving the casualty clearing station, Private Leigh rejoined the 21^st Battalion in Noirchain, Belgium

Dec 13, 1918

The 21^st Battalion led the 2^nd Canadian Division across the Bonn Bridge to enter Germany as part of the Occupying Force and proceeded to Siegburg

Dec 28, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Jan 18, 1919

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

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 277503

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge General Post Office, Collingwood, Ontario

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at the Grand Union Hotel, Teeswater, Ontario

Feb 26, 1927

Married to Edith Winnifred Harkness in Brampton, Ontario

Apr 11, 1957

Thomas Leigh died while a patient in the Ajax Ontario General Hospital and was buried in the Erskine Cemetery, Pickering, Ontario.  His death was ruled to be a result of his time at the front, however no Memorial Cross was issued as he married post war and his mother predeceased him.