Jul 31, 1896

Born in Trenton, Ontario to Joseph Nelson and Mary Evelina (nee Hubble) McKibbon

Nov 5, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59731 (temporary number 143)

Ø  Next of kin given as Nelson McKibbon, father, Trenton, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Blacksmith

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Methodist

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “A” Company

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

Nov 10, 1914

Appointed to the provisional rank of Corporal

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

Jul 1, 1915

Confirmed in the rank of Corporal

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Dec 2, 1915

Admitted to the Division Rest Station in Loker, Belgium with a diagnosis that reads Influenza

Dec 13, 1915

Transferred to the North Midland Rest Station at Mont des Cats, France

Dec 21, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital care

Apr 8, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Lance Sergeant

Jun 29, 1916

While the battalion was moving from the front lines south of Ypres, Belgium into the Micmac Camp near Dickebusch, Belgium, L/Sgt McKibbon stepped on a nail that went through the sole of his boot and penetrated his foot.  He was initially treated by the battalion’s Medical Officer

Jul 14, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads ICT (Inter Connective Tissue) infection of the right foot caused from stepping on a nail

Jul 18, 1916

Transferred to the No. 35 General Hospital

Jul 20, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship New Haven

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the North Midland Hospital in Evington, Leicester

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

Sep 16, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Oct 6, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Oct 8, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling.  Shortly after the battalion’s formation, it moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Mar 19, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Mar 20, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 67 reinforcements from England and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Apr 14, 1917

After leaving the base depot, James McKibbon rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in billets in Bois des Alleux, France

Apr 25, 1917

While the battalion was defending the rail line at Farbus, France, just east of Vimy Ridge, James McKibbon received a shrapnel wound to his shoulder and was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to the 2^nd Australian General Hospital in Wimereux, France

Apr 30, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Andrew

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Mote Hospital in Maidstone and Pleurisy was added to the diagnosis

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

May 29, 1917

Transferred to the Fort Pitt Military Hospital in Chatham

Jun 8, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Jun 18, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital and transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Jun 30, 1917

Reverted to the rank of Corporal for being drunk

Jul 7, 1917

Attached to the Shoeing, Smiths & Ferriers Course in Shorncliffe

Sep 6, 1917

Rejoined the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford on completion of the course

Sep 19, 1917

Transferred to the CETD (Canadian Engineers Training Depot) in Shoreham

Reverted to the rank of Sapper on being transferred

Oct 15, 1917

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Apr 28, 1918

Granted permission to marry. 

His next of kin was later changed to read Jane Clunas Weeks (nee Waddell), 19 Ardmillan Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland

May 21, 1918

Transferred to the 1^st CERB (Canadian Engineers Reserve Battalion) in Seaford

Dec 12, 1918

Transferred to the CERD (Canadian Engineers Regimental Depot) in Seaford

Dec 12, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Engineers Regimental Depot in Seaford and posted to the Depot Company

Jan 10, 1919

Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Jan 31, 1919

Embarked the SS Tunisian in Liverpool

Feb 10, 1919

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength Military District No. 3 Casualty Company

Feb 13, 1919

Granted leave until February 26, 1919

Mar 3, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 90469

Ø  War Service Badge Class “B” issued number C55165

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Trenton, Ontario

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

In 1922 he was appointed the Assistant Collector of Customs in Trenton, Ontario.  In 1935 he was elected President of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 110 in Trenton, Ontario

He continued serving his country as a member of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, Canadian Militia, rising to the rank of Lieutenant

In 1936, James McKibbon was a member of the Vimy Pilgrimage Committee for the 21^st Battalion participants.  He proceeded to France with his wife to attend the ceremony to unveil the Canadian National Vimy Memorial at Vimy Ridge, France July 26, 1936

A group of 21^st Battalion veterans aboard the SS Montcalm sailing to France
in 1936 for the unveiling of the Vimy Memorial.

James McKibbon is seated in the front, 3^rd from the left

Jan 2, 1940

Signed Officer’s Declaration into the Canadian Field Force on attesting into the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment

Ø  Rank on enlistment Lieutenant

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Jane Clunas McKibbon, wife, 124 Henry St., Trenton, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Collector of Customs and Excise

Ø  Previous military experience given as 21^st Battalion and Canadian Engineers in WW1 and currently serving with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment CASF (Canadian Active Service Force)

Ø  Religion given as United Church

Ø  Posted to the Recruiting Company

Jan 13, 1940

Transferred to the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Depot in Picton

Jan 15, 1940

Transferred to the Canadian Infantry Training Centre in Valcartier, Quebec

May 29, 1940

Transferred to the CITR (Canadian Infantry Training Regiment) in Camp Borden, Ontario

Sep 14, 1940

James McKibbon was involved in a serious car crash while off duty that resulted in fractures to his spinal column.  There were 2 others in the car that received similar injuries

Admitted to the Camp Borden hospital with spinal fractures

Sep 15, 1940

Transferred to the Christie Street Hospital in Toronto, Ontario for treatment

Oct 13, 1940

Discharged from hospital and granted 10 days sick leave

Oct 23, 1940

Rejoined the Canadian Infantry Training Regiment in Camp Borden, from leave

Jun 30, 1941

Transferred to the CATS (Canadian Army Trades School) in Hamilton, Ontario

Jul 13, 1941

Admitted to the Toronto Military Hospital with suspected Epilepsy after suffering a seizure and losing consciousness

Aug 12, 1941

Transferred to the Christie Street Hospital in Toronto for treatment

Sep 15, 1941

Transferred to Military District No. 3 in Kingston

Sep 26, 1941

Discharged from active service as Medically Unfit due to the Epilepsy diagnosis

War Service Badge Class GSC issued No. 263233

Following his discharge, there were many letters written requesting a review of the diagnosis of Epilepsy indicating that his seizures were caused by something other than the disease.  James McKibbon, backed by his personal physician, vehemently denied that he suffered from Epilepsy.  His requests were repeatedly denied as the official military medical opinion was that he suffered from Epilepsy and that the condition was present prior to enlistment.  This was not proven wrong until an autopsy following his death discovered a brain tumor.

Jun 25, 1946

James Edwin McKibbon died of a brain tumour in the Kingston General Hospital and was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, Trenton, Ontario.  His death was then considered to be a result of his service

Following his death, the Memorial Cross, CVSM (Canadian Volunteer Service Medal), and War Medal 1939-45 were sent to his widow, Mrs. Jane McKibbon, 124 Henry St., Trenton, Ontario