May 6, 1893

Born at Candisville Ontario

Jan 3, 1916

Attested into the 98^th Battalion at St Catharines Ontario 

Ø      Number 211113

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs Nellie Montonia, mother, of Russell House, St Catharines Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Teamster

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Methodist 

Although he stated on Attestation that his birth date was May 7, 1894, his birth registration shows his birth date as being May 6, 1893

Jan 10, 1916

Pte Montonia was SOS (Struck Off Strength) as a Deserter

Jun 20, 1916

He was apprehended and taken into custody.  Subsequently he was sentenced to 28 days Detention with loss of pay for the time he was absent and the time he was held in Detention.  Upon being released from Detention, he was TOS (Taken On Strength) the 98^th Battalion

Jul 8, 1916

Embarked the SS Lapland at Halifax Nova Scotia

Jul 25, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England and proceeded to the Otterpool Camp

Oct 4, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Oct 5, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at the Rouelles Camp, Havre France, as part of a draft of 917 reinforcements and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Oct 14, 1916

Left the CBD to join the Battalion

Oct 16, 1916

Joined the 21^st Battalion in billets at Divion France, north west of Arras.  The Battalion was still recovering and reorganizing after heavy losses during the fighting on The Somme

Dec 3, 1916

Proceeded on the Lewis Gun Course at the 2^nd Division School

Dec 9, 1916

Returned to the 21^st Battalion from the machine gun course

Jan 22, 1917

Admitted to No 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a shrapnel wound to his left buttock

Jan 23, 1917

Transferred to No 23 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Jan 26, 1917

Transferred via No 12 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No 18 Canadian General Hospital at Dannes Camiers

Jan 30, 1917

Transferred to No 6 Convalescent Depot

Feb 1, 1917

Discharged to Base Details at the CBD Havre and posted to “A” Company for those recovering from illness and wounds

Feb 21, 1917

Left the CBD to join the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion

Feb 24, 1917

Joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion at Hersin

Mar 5, 1917

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in Divisional Reserve at Bois des Alleux

Apr 9, 1917

During the advance on Vimy Ridge, Pte Montonia was first reported Missing in Action.  He was later reported to have been Killed in Action.  His body was either never recovered, or if so, was never identified.  For this reason he has no known grave, and is honoured on the Memorial at Vimy Ridge

Following the war, the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Mr LJ Montonia, at St Catharines Ontario 

The Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Nellie Montonia, at 52 Cohoe St, Welland Ontario 

All of the above items were returned and resent a couple of times.  Each time they were returned as either “unknown” or “undeliverable”.  According to entries in the file, the family never received his medals.