Archie McPhee DCM

 

 

Apr 21, 1899

Born at Baraga Michigan, USA

 

Feb 18, 1916

Attested into the 154th Battalion at Alexandria Ontario 

Ø      Number 633512

Ø      Next of kin given as Archie McPhee (father) of Box 234 Alexandria Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as “Student”

Ø      Previous military experience given as 1 year in Cdn Militia – 59th Regiment

Ø      Religion given as Roman Catholic

 

Aug 6, 1916

Reported as being absent

 

Aug 7, 1916

Returned and fined 1 day’s pay

 

Sep 14, 1916

Reported as being absent

 

Sep 18, 1916

Returned and fined 5 day’s pay

 

Oct 25, 1916

Embarked the RMS Mauretania at Halifax

  

 

Oct 31, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England

 

Jan 29, 1917

Transferred to the 156th Battalion

 

Apr 3, 1917

TOS (Taken On Strength) the 6th Reserve Battalion at Seaford

 

Apr 28, 1917

TOS the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) at Seaford

 

May 16, 1917

Medical Board at Seaford finds: 

Ø      Soldier is underage

Ø      Will be 19 years of age on April 21, 1918

Ø      No other complaints or disability

Ø      Classified as A IV

o       Physically fit but underage

 

Jun 10, 1917

Admitted to Harfield Military Hospital with Gonorrhea

 

Jun 27, 1917

Posted to the 6th Reserve Battalion

 

Aug 10, 1917

Discharged from hospital

 

Sep 1, 1917

Awarded 14 days Field Punishment for contracting a Venereal Disease (no note is made as to whether it was FP #1 or FP #2)

 

Nov 14, 1917

Posted to the 21st Battalion 

Arrived at No 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in France and TOS 21st Battalion

 

Nov 17, 1917

Arrived at CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp)

 

Dec 2, 1917

Joined the 21st Battalion in the field

 

May 9, 1918

Transferred to No 5 Canadian General Hospital at Liverpool

 

Aug 26, 1918

Wounded by shrapnel in both legs, left foot blown off, right leg severed at knee.  Tourniquets applied. 

Admitted to No 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) then transferred to No 33 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) where double amputation took place

 

Aug 28, 1918

Transported by No 17 “AT” (Ambulance Transport)

 

Aug 29, 1918

Admitted to No 47 General Hospital

 

Oct 27, 1918

Invalided to England via the Hospital Ship St Andrew

 

 

Oct 28, 1918

Admitted to No 4 Canadian General Hospital at Basingstoke

 

Oct 31, 1918

Posted to EORD from 21st Battalion

 

Nov 15, 1918

Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for Bravery, London Gazette #31011

  

(note that the other soldier mentioned is Pte AR Fenwick, who also received the DCM for this action and was killed within hours)

Below is an excerpt from the 21st Battalion War Diary for August, 1918

 

 

May 9, 1919

Transferred to No 5 Canadian General Hospital at Kirkdale

 

May 21, 1919

Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Araguaya and TOS DD4 (District Depot No 4) at Montreal

 

May 30, 1919

Disembarked in Canada and posted to the Hospital Section

 

Nov 13, 1919

Further amputation of right stump to 3” above knee

 

 Dec 2, 1919

Granted leave with subsistence until January 5, 1920

 

Jan 12, 1920

Transferred to DD2 at Toronto and admitted to DOH (Dominion Orthopedic Hospital), Christie St. 

To be transferred back to DD4 on completion of treatment.

 

Apr 17, 1920

Granted leave with subsistence until May 17, 1920

 

May 26, 1920

DOH (Dominion Military Orthopedic Hospital), Christie St., Toronto Ontario notes: 

Ø      Wounded August 26, 1918

Ø      Right leg amputated at knee and left leg amputated below knee same day at CCS

Ø      Both legs re-amputated later at thigh level

Ø      Right thigh stump – 9”, left thigh stump – 10”

Ø      Artificial legs supplied at DOH

Ø      Can only walk about 200 yards in comfort

Ø      Can only wear legs 6 hours at a time

Ø      Depends on others for considerable assistance 

Letter from the Dominion Orthopedic Hospital Toronto states that the soldier has been examined as per government directives for Gonorrhea and no further treatment is necessary. 

The letter also states that he has been warned about the danger of transmitting the disease, and that he may receive free treatment from the Dept of Soldier’s Civil Re-establishment.

 

May 28, 1920

Posted to the DOH Casualty Company

 

Jun 1, 1920

Discharged at Toronto as being medically unfit 

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued, No 119278

Ø      Entitled to 1 Gold Wound Stripe

 

Oct 23, 1921

British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to Alexandria Ontario

 

May 10, 1960

Deceased 

 

Return to Tribute list

Home

Contact