May 19, 1889
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Born in
Coldwater, Ontario
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Mar 15, 1915
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Attested into
the 21st Battalion in Lindsay, Ontario
Ø Number 59708 (temporary number 1830)
Ø Next of kin given as Mary Cook, mother, 73 Ontario St., Toronto,
Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Carpenter
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Ø Assigned to the Depot Company
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS
Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
Transferred
to “C” Company
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent
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May 25, 1915
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Sentenced to 10
days detention. The offence that prompted
this punishment is not recorded.
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Jun 3, 1915
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Released from
detention
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Jun 10, 1915
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Sentenced to 5
days detention for Drunkenness
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Jun 26, 1915
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Sentenced to 10
days detention and forfeits 5 days pay for being AWL (Absent Without Leave)
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Jul 6, 1915
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Sentenced to 28
days detention and forfeits 3 days pay for being AWL and Drunkenness
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Aug 15, 1915
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Forfeits 8 days
pay for being AWL from August 8 to August 15, 1915
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Sep 9, 1915
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Transferred from
“C” Company to the Depot Company
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Sep 14, 1915
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The battalion
embarked for France but Private McDonald was left behind in England
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Sep 25, 1915
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Transferred to the 39th
Reserve Battalion
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Oct 7, 1915
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Fined $6.00 for
being drunk
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Oct 13, 1915
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Sentenced to 28
days Field Punishment #2
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Oct 26, 1915
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Transferred to
the 21st Battalion
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Oct 27, 1915
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Arrived at the
CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 655
reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
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Nov 3, 1915
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Joined the 21st
Battalion in billets in the town of La Clytte, France
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Nov 20, 1915
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Sentenced to 5
days Field Punishment #2 for Drunkenness
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Dec 13, 1915
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Sentenced to 7
days Field Punishment #1 and forfeits 2 days pay for being AWL for 2 days
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Dec 18, 1915
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Sentenced to an
additional 5 days Field Punishment #2 for being drunk
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Jan 20, 1916
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Sentenced to 28
days Field Punishment #1 for stealing his comrades rum and for resisting police
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Mar 4, 1916
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Forfeits 1 days
pay for being AWL from 9.00 AM February 24, 1916 till 10.00 PM February 24, 1916,
sentenced to 14 hours extra fatigue duty and forfeits 2 days pay for being absent from the
CO’s Parade and absent from the Marching Out Parade 4.00 PM February 25, 1916 until
being handed over by Military Police at 9.00 AM February 26, 1916
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Jun 3, 1916
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Received a
shrapnel wound to his left hand and admitted to the No. 2 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance)
for first aid then transferred to the Divisional Rest Station
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Jun 5, 1916
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Transferred to
the No. 23 General Hospital in Etaples
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Jun 10, 1916
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Invalided to
England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen
Posted to the
CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital
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Jun 11, 1916
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Admitted to the
Park House VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) Hospital, Tunbridge Wells
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Jul 7, 1916
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Transferred to
the Military Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom
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Jul 28, 1916
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Discharged from
hospital to base details
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Sep 8, 1916
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Admitted to the
Shorncliffe Military Hospital diagnosed with VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea). This was later changed to read VDS (Venereal
Disease Syphilis)
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Sep 9, 1916
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Transferred to
the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Etchinghill
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Nov 17, 1916
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Discharged from
hospital
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Nov 18, 1916
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Reported to the
CCAC at Shoreham
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Jan 3, 1917
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Transferred to
the No. 3 CCD (Canadian Convalescent Centre) at St. Leonard’s Hospital for
rehabilitation
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Mar 10, 1917
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Transferred to
the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes but remained at the No. 3 CCD
to continue his rehabilitation
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Apr 9, 1917
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Tried by
District Court Martial for the charges of
- Being
AWL from December 16, 1916 to December 29, 1916
- Escaping
custody on December 22, 1916
- Being
AWL from January 15, 1917 until being apprehended January 21, 1917
- Theft
of 4 kit bags, 2 Greatcoats and 2 pairs of boots while AWL
Private
McDonald was found Guilty of the first 3 charges and Not Guilty on the 4th charge of
theft. He was sentenced to 6 months in
detention.
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Apr 10, 1917
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Entered the
Wandsworth Detention Barracks, London, to begin his sentence
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Jun 22, 1917
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Transferred to
the 6th Reserve Battalion but shown in the Wandsworth Detention Barracks
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Aug 21, 1917
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Transferred to
the 21st Battalion
Private
McDonald was released early in order to proceed to the front lines in France
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Aug 22, 1917
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Arrived at the
No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France as part of a draft of 26
reinforcements from England and TOS the 21st Battalion
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Sep 4, 1917
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Left the CIBD to
join his battalion
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Sep 6, 1917
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Joined the 21st
Battalion in billets in Villers au Bois carrying out training exercises.
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Oct 2, 1917
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Sentenced to 28
days Field Punishment #2 for being drunk while on Guard Duty
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Nov 9, 1917
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While on a work
party rebuilding front line trenches on the Passchendaele front, he received severe
shrapnel wounds to his back and legs and was removed to the field ambulance for first aid,
then transferred to the No. 44 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for treatment.
Private
McDonald died of his wounds that same day at the No. 44 CCS and was buried in the Nine
Elms British Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium
Following the
war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny),
Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. Mary Ann Cook, 5 Cassels Ave.,
Toronto, Ontario
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