Nov 1, 1889

Born in Glasgow, Scotland to George and Annie (nee Carmichael) McNab

Nov 12, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston Ontario

Ø  Number 59737 (temporary number 324)

Ø  Next of kin given as William McNab, 109 Plantation St, Glasgow Scotland

Ø  Previous occupation given as Railway Clerk

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø  Posted to “C” Company

o   Later reorganized into “B” Company

o   Later posted to the Machine Gun Section

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

While in West Sandling, he was placed in quarantine for a short time
for a Measles outbreak.  To break the boredom, the men took a
couple of crows as pets.  He is here with one of those crows with
Art Redpath looking on

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Oct 30, 1915

While in the front line trench near Voormezeele, Belgium, Private McNab received shrapnel wounds to his right elbow and was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station for further assessment.

Nov 2, 1915

Transferred to the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples, France

Nov 5, 1915

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Brighton

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Bevan Military Hospital in Sandgate

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital

Nov 29, 1915

Surgery was performed to repair damage to his elbow

Dec 9, 1915

Transferred to the Bearwood Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Ramsgate

On admission it was noted that his elbow is painful when moving it and there is a marked tremor in his right hand.  Grip in right hand is greatly diminished

John McNab recovering from his surgery

Feb 15, 1916

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

Mar 19, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Apr 6, 1916

Discharged from hospital and transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Apr 10, 1916

Granted leave until April 24, 1916

Jun 17, 1916

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

Jun 22, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital on refusing surgery for his Hemorrhoids

Aug 11, 1916

Ceased to be attached and Taken On Permanent Strength of the 39^th Reserve Battalion

Sep 7, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Sep 8, 1916

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

Sep 18, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Vadencourt, France

Sep 30, 1916

During heavy fighting at the Regina Trench near the Miraumont Road, John McNab received a shrapnel wound to his right foot and was evacuated to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the No. 9 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further treatment

Oct 3, 1916

Transferred via the No. 17 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 22 General Hospital in Camiers, France

Oct 16, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the No. 6 Canadian Convalescent Depot in Etaples

Oct 25, 1916

Discharged from the convalescent depot and reported to the Details Camp in Etaples

Oct 28, 1916

After leaving the base details he joined the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre and posted to “A” Company for those recovering from wounds and illness

Nov 5, 1916

After leaving the base depot, John McNab rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the front line west of Lens, France

Nov 12, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Nov 26, 1916

Proceeded on the Lewis Machine Gun Course

Dec 3, 1916

Rejoined the battalion at the front west of Lens from the machine gun course and posted to the Machine Gun Section

Dec 17, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

Apr 12, 1917

Promoted to the rank of Corporal

May 17, 1917

The awarding of the Military Medal to Cpl McNab for bravery was announced in the Brigade Routine Orders

May 19, 1917

Lieut Gen Sir J. Byng KCB, KCMG, MYO, inspected the 21^st Battalion in Aux Rietz, France.  During that parade, Corporal McNab was presented with his Military Medal for bravery

Jul 9, 1917

Awarded the Military Medal per the London Gazette #30172 (originally announced May 17, 1917)

Aug 17, 1917

Proceeded on course

Sep 1, 1917

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

Sep 28, 1917

Promoted to the rank of Sergeant and appointed as Lewis Gun Sergeant

Oct 26, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

He was very fortunate in that he missed the mud and horror of Passchendaele

Nov 8, 1917

Rejoined the battalion resting in the Erie Camp near Brandhoek, Belgium

Nov 3, 1918

Proceeded to England and transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot pending Officer Training

Nov 4, 1918

Attached to the 1^st Reserve Battalion pending OTC (Officer Training Course)

Nov 26, 1918

Because the war had ended on November 11, 1918, the training of new officers was suspended

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Dec 19, 1918

Attached to the 3^rd Reserve Battalion in Witley pending return to Canada

Jan 1, 1919

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot and remained attached to the 3^rd Reserve Battalion pending return to Canada

Mar 19, 1919

Embarked the SS Minnekahda in Liverpool

Mar 27, 1919

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston Ontario

Mar 29, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 91539

Ø  Rank on discharge Officer Cadet with the permanent grade of Sergeant

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Kingston Ontario

Sep 17, 1919

Married to Grace Helena Wallace Auld in Kingston, Ontario

On discharge Sandy took up his old job in the freight office of the Grand Trunk Railway.  In 1929 he left that position and took a job with the Customs and Excise Staff at Cobourg, where he retired in 1955.

He served in several different positions with the Royal Canadian Legion and with the Masonic Lodge, holding the position there of District Deputy Grand Master.  He also served on the Board of Stewards for the Trinity United Church, Cobourg.

He also served on the executive of the 21^st Battalion Association, rising to the office of President, from which he retired in 1963.

Jul 18, 1964

John Graham McNab died in Cobourg, Ontario and was buried in the Union Cemetery there