Apr 30, 1890

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick to William and Rossana (nee Rogan) O’Connor

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59754 (temporary number 948)

Ø  Next of kin given as Rose O’Connor, mother, Cedar St., Saint John, New Brunswick

Ø  Previous occupation given as Newspaper Reporter for the Ottawa, Citizen

Ø  Previous military experience given as 8^th Signals Section

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to the Signals Section, Headquarters Company

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

Feb 9, 1915

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

Mar 4, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Detention and reduced to the rank of Private for an unrecorded offence

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

Jun 14, 1915

Sentenced to 120 hours Detention for Misconduct

Jul 19, 1915

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Jul 23, 1915

Reported for duty and forfeited 5 days pay and restricted to ½ pay for 1 month for his absence

Aug 30, 1915

Forfeited 1 day’s 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

Oct 15, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being absent from the 1:45 pm Parade.  It should be noted that the battalion was forming up in La Clytte, Belgium to move into the front line trench.  There were a considerable number of men missing from this parade and a lengthy list of punishments is recorded.

Mar 22, 1916

While in the front line near Voormezeele, Belgium, Frank O’Connor received a shrapnel wound to his left thigh and was evacuated to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the No. 1 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Mar 23, 1916

Transferred via the No. 20 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 18 Canadian General Hospital in Camiers, France

Apr 6, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Cambria

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Weston Favell Auxiliary Hospital in Northampton

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

May 2, 1916

Transferred to the 1^st Eastern General Hospital in Cambridge

May 25, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Military Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Jun 7, 1916

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

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling.  Shortly after the battalion’s formation, it was moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Feb 7, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Feb 8, 1917

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

Feb 15, 1917

After leaving the base depot, Frank O’Connor rejoined the 21^st Battalion at the front, west of Vimy Ridge

Apr 16, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal without pay

May 2, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

Aug 15, 1917

During the attack on Hill 70 near Lens, France, Lance Corporal O’Connor was attempting to lay communication wire and received a severe shrapnel wound to his left hand and was evacuated to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 23 Casualty Clearing Station.  He was then transported to the No. 20 General Hospital in Camiers, France where surgery was performed to remove shrapnel from his hand.

Aug 21, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the 1^st Western General Hospital in Liverpool

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot for pay purposes while in hospital

Nov 7, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Feb 5, 1918

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Kirkdale

Mar 11, 1918

Invalided to Canada, embarking the Hospital Ship Araguaya in Liverpool

Mar 21, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and posted to the Military District No. 7 Casualty Company in Fredericton, New Brunswick

Apr 24, 1918

Admitted to the Saint John, New Brunswick No. 2 Military Hospital for treatment of his wounded hand

May 7, 1918

Medical Board in Saint John, New Brunswick notes

Ø  Man suffered a shrapnel wound to his right hand

Ø  Hand is cold and shrunken

Ø  Only 25% normal strength

Ø  2^nd finger is shortened

Ø  2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th fingers have no movement

Ø  Can only use thumb and forefinger

Ø  Board recommends discharge from service to the care of the ISC (Invalided Soldier’s Commission)

May 31, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Fredericton, New Brunswick

Ø  Rank on discharge Lance Corporal

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 27 Cedar Street, Saint John, New Brunswick

Ø  Entitled to 2 Wound Stripes

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 14 St. Monique St., Montreal, Quebec

Jan 17, 1935

Francis Wynn O’Connor died in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA