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Jul 4, 1888
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Born in Chatham, Ontario to William and Ophelia
(nee Perry) McCathern
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Apr 13, 1909
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Sentenced to 5 years in prison for robbery with
violence. He served his sentence in
the Kingston Penitentiary, inmate number E842
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Apr 26, 1912
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Released from prison on parole
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Aug 27, 1917
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Sentenced to 3 years in prison for robbery. He served his sentence in Kingston
Penitentiary, inmate number G516
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Mar 26, 1918
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Released from prison early to serve in WW1. Medical exam for the MSA (Military Service
Act) of 1917 held at Kingston, Ontario
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Mar 27, 1918
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Conscripted into the 1st Depot
Battalion, EOR (Eastern Ontario Regiment) under the MSA in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 3057566
Ø Next of kin given as William
McCathern, father, Chatham, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as
Farmer
Ø No previous military
experience given
Ø Religion given as Baptist
Ø Posted to the 4th
Regimental Draft
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Apr 17, 1918
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The depot’s 4th draft embarked the SS
Toloa in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Apr 28, 1918
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Disembarked in England and proceeded to Seaford
where the entire draft was absorbed into the 6th Reserve Battalion
to continue training
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Sep 26, 1918
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Transferred to the 21st Battalion
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Sep 27, 1918
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Arrived at the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base
Depot) in Etaples, France and Taken On Strength of the 21st
Battalion
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Sep 28, 1918
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After leaving the base depot, he joined the CC
Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin St. Vaast, France
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Oct 3, 1918
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While still at the reinforcement camp, and before he could join
the 21st Battalion at the front, he was transferred to the 44th
Battalion
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Oct 6, 1918
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After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private
McCathern joined the 44th Battalion west of Douai, France
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Dec 18, 1918
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Admitted to the No. 13 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined)
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Dec 19, 1918
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Transferred to the No. 48 CCS (Casualty Clearing
Station) then transferred the same day to the No. 55 Casualty Clearing
Station
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Dec 25, 1918
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Transferred via the No. 4 AT (Ambulance Train)
and admitted to the No. 7 General Hospital in Wimereux, France and the
diagnosis was changed to read VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)
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Jan 5, 1919
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Transferred to the No. 14 Stationary Hospital in
Boulogne, France
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Feb 16, 1919
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Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Jan
Breydel
On arrival in England, he was admitted to the
Princess Patricia Red Cross Hospital in the Cooden Camp, Bexhill
Transferred to the NBRD (New Brunswick Regimental
Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital
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Mar 7, 1919
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Discharged from hospital and transferred to the
13th Reserve Battalion in Ripon
Granted 6 days sick leave
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Mar 29, 1919
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Transferred to Military District Wing No. 1 in
Kinmel Park, Rhyl pending return to Canada
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Apr 12, 1919
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Embarked the SS Adriatic in Liverpool
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Apr 20, 1919
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded
to London, Ontario where he was Taken on Strength Military District No. 1
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Apr 23, 1919
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Discharged from the CEF in London, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø War Service Badge Class “A”
issued number 289758
Ø Proposed residence on
discharge 21 Maple St., Chatham, Ontario
Following his discharge, the British War Medal
and Victory Medals were sent to him at 21 Maple St., Chatham, Ontario
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Feb 16, 1927
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William James McCathern was sentenced to death
for the rape of an 81 year old woman in Chatham, Ontario.
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Mar 14, 1927
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The death sentence for William McCathern was
reduced to 20 years in prison with 20 lashes.
He was initially held at the Burwash Industrial Farm, before being
transferred to the Kingston Penitentiary.
His inmate number was 532.
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Apr 22, 1929
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William McCathern was transferred to the
Saskatchewan Penitentiary. The full
term of his sentence would have been completed in 1947, however, his date of
death in Hamilton would indicate that he had been paroled early
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Jan 24, 1941
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William James McCathern died in the Hamilton,
Ontario General Hospital of injuries he suffered after being struck by an
automobile the previous day. He was
buried in the Woodland Cemetery, Hamilton, Ontario
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