Mar 21, 1888

Born in Yorkshire, England to Thomas and Alice Mary (nee Lawson) Metcalfe

Mar 31, 1911

Embarked the SS Virginian in Liverpool

Apr 7, 1911

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Smiths Falls, Ontario

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59655 (temporary number 448)

Ø  Next of kin given as James William Metcalfe, 9 Livingstone Road, Windhill, Shipley, Yorkshire, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Blacksmith

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø  Posted to “D” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

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

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

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Nov 29, 1915

Attended the Bombing School

Jan 28, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads defective eyesight in that he suffered from night blindness. 

Jan 31, 1916

Transferred to the Division Rest Station at the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance

Feb 5, 1916

Discharged to duty from the field ambulance

Nov 7, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Nov 13, 1916

Granted 10 days leave

Nov 20, 1916

Married to Lucy Harriett Standen in Windhill, Yorkshire

Nov 27, 1916

Rejoined the battalion resting in Calonne, France

Dec 5, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), sometimes referred to as Trench Fever

Dec 11, 1916

Transferred to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance Rest Station and Myalgia in his back was added to the diagnosis

Dec 16, 1916

Discharged to duty from the rest station

Jan 16, 1917

Transferred to the 14^th Canadian Machine Gun Company

Aug 7, 1917

While at the front at City St. Pierre, near Hill 70 at Lens, France, Private Metcalfe received shrapnel wounds to his right forearm, right hip and ribs.  He was evacuated to the No. 4 Canadian Field ambulance for first aid

Aug 8, 1917

Transferred to the No. 22 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Surgery was performed to remove shrapnel from his abdomen, including his right kidney and buttocks. 

Aug 11, 1917

Transferred to the No. 4 General Hospital at Camiers, France and reported to be seriously ill

Aug 27, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Newhaven

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Reading War Hospital

Transferred to the MGRD (Machine Gun Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Nov 20, 1917

Retroactively granted permission to marry

Dec 22, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Epsom

Mar 18, 1918

Medical Board in Epsom notes

Ø  Suffered multiple shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and buttocks

Ø  Has to wear an abdominal support

Ø  Scar over right kidney area is tender to touch

Ø  Suffers considerable pain in back and abdomen when bending or stretching

Ø   His condition should improve in 6 months

Mar 27, 1918

Discharged to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot in Seaford

May 16, 1918

Transferred to the CAMC (Canadian Army Medical Corps) and attached to the Canadian School of Cookery, London

Jul 3, 1918

Ceased to be attached to the cooking school and reported to the Canadian Medical Corps in Shorncliffe

Jul 9, 1918

Transferred to the staff of the No. 11 Canadian General Hospital in Shorncliffe.  Although not recorded in his file, it is presumed he was employed in the hospital as a Cook

Aug 26, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Army Medical Corps Depot in Shorncliffe

Aug 30, 1918

Transferred to the No. 12 Canadian General Hospital Staff in Bramshott

Jul 10, 1919

Transferred to the staff of the Canadian Special Hospital in Witley

Jul 29, 1919

Transferred to the Canadian Army Medical Corps Casualty Company in Witley

Jul 31, 1919

Transferred to “H” Wing in Witley pending return to Canada

Aug 3, 1919

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

Aug 14, 1919

Embarked the SS Tunisian with his wife in Liverpool

Aug 25, 1919

Disembarked in Quebec City, Quebec

Aug 27, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Quebec City, Quebec

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 322148

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Box 759 Smiths Falls, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 13 Bay St., Smiths Falls, Ontario

George Francis Metcalfe died in Smiths Falls, Ontario in 1976 and was buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery there