May 3, 1875

Born in Hexham, Northumberland, England

Nov 10, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59658 (temporary number 658)

Ø  Next of kin given as R Middleton, father, 32 Giles Gate, Hexham, Northumberland, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Plasterer

Ø  Previous military experience given as 3 years in the Northumberland Regiment

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to “E” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “C” Company

On attesting he stated his birth date was May 3, 1878, not his actual birth date of May 3, 1875

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

Jul 12, 1915

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Jul 15, 1915

Sentenced to 14 days Detention, forfeited 3 days pay and restricted to half pay until further orders for being absent

Aug 30, 1915

Forfeited 1 days pay for being absent

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Nov 28, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being absent from parade and for disobeying an order

Jun 10, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Conjunctivitis (commonly called Pink Eye)

Jun 19, 1916

Rejoined the battalion near Bedford House, Belgium

Sep 1, 1916

Sentenced to 7 days Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeited 1 day’s pay for being absent while under open arrest.

Sep 15, 1916

During the 21^st Battalion’s capture of the sugar factory south of Courcelette, France, Private Middleton received shrapnel wounds to his head, left shoulder and right hand.  He was evacuated to a nearby field ambulance for first aid

Sept 16, 1916

Transferred to the No. 49 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Sep 17, 1916

Transferred to the No. 18 General Hospital in Camiers, France

Sep 23, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Brighton

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the No. 3 Northern General in Sheffield

On admission his shoulder wound was noted as very severely infected

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

Dec 4, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hillingdon House Hospital in Uxbridge

Jan 4, 1917

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre

Jan 6, 1917

Attached to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot) to receive physical therapy at the St. Leonard’s Hospital

Mar 10, 1917

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

May 18, 1917

Discharged from St. Leonard’s Hospital and reported to the Eastern Ontario Regiment Depot

Jun 20, 1917

Attached to the 7^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Nov 21, 1917

Admitted to the No. 14 Canadian General Hospital in Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads Migraine headaches.  This was later changed to read VDS (Venereal Disease Syphilis)

On admission to hospital, he ceased to be attached to the 7^th Reserve Battalion

Jan 4, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Military Hospital in Etchinghill, Lyminge

May 27, 1918

Discharged to duty with the Eastern Ontario Regiment Depot from hospital

Jun 20, 1918

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

Sep 24, 1918

Embarked the SS Llanstephan Castle in London

Oct 8, 1918

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength No. 2 District Depot and posted to the Casualty Company

Granted leave until October 22, 1918

Oct 22, 1918

Medical Board at Park School Barracks in Toronto notes

Ø  Suffers from general debility

Ø  Has a previous Syphilis infection

Ø  Has pain in right wrist and left shoulder that is worse in wet weather

Ø  Suffers dizzy spells on exertion

Ø  Knee jerks are slightly exaggerated

Ø  Board states “incapacity is due to impaired function of body due to need of rest”

Ø  Condition is due to his service at the front

Ø  Board recommends discharge from service

Nov 2, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 85 McGee St. E., Toronto, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 77 Seaton St., Toronto, Ontario

Apr 5, 1939

John Michael Middleton died of Colon Cancer while a patient of the St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Ontario and was buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Toronto.  On his death certificate, his birth place is noted as Ireland