William Charles Offord


Jan 25, 1891

Born in Sydenham, Ontario to George Webb and Julia Ann (nee Lees) Offord

 

Mar 31, 1901

The Canadian Census shows William and his family living in Oso Township, north of Kingston

 

Aug 8, 1914

Joined the 14th PWOR (Princess of Wales’ Own Rifles)

Ø  Number 1933

Ø  Assigned to “C” Company

 

Oct 22, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59758 (temporary number 213)

Ø  Next of kin given as George Offord, father, Sydenham, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Locomotive Fireman

Ø  Previous military service given as 7 weeks in the 14th PWOR (Princess of Wales’ Own Rifles)

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “A” Company

For some reason he gave his birth date as January 25, 1890 on attestation.  The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

 

While onboard ship, he was admitted to the infirmary with a diagnosis that reads Gonorrhea

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

 

May 16, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea).  This was later changed.

 

Jun 2, 1915

Transferred to the Central Hospital in Lichfield where the diagnosis was changed to read Phimosis, and surgery was performed to correct the problem

 

Jul 16, 1915

Transferred to the Moore Barracks Military Hospital in Shorncliffe

 

Jul 23, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

 

Sep 25, 1915

Transferred to the 39th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

 

Oct 31, 1915

Transferred to the 21st Battalion

 

Nov 2, 1915

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion.  Shortly after his arrival at the base depot, Private Offord pulled his abdominal muscles.

 

Nov 3, 1915

Admitted to the No. 6 Stationary Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Strained Abdomen.  He hadn’t rejoined the 21st Battalion as yet.

 

Nov 12, 1915

Transferred to the Convalescent Depot in Havre

 

Nov 20, 1915

Medical classification changed to “TB” (Temporary Base) meaning he was temporarily unfit for front line duty and then he was discharged to light duties at the base depot in Havre.

 

Dec 13, 1915

After leaving the base depot, Private Offord finally rejoined the 21st Battalion in the front line on the Ypres Salient near Voormezeele, Belgium

 

Jan 7, 1916

Attached to the 250th Tunnelling Company for duty

 

Mar 24, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Varicose Veins and transferred the same day to the No. 8 Casualty Clearing Station

 

Mar 26, 1916

Transferred via the No. 25 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples, France.  Private Offord refused surgery to correct the Varicose Veins when it was offered.

 

Apr 5, 1916

Transferred to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot in Etaples

 

Apr 10, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 General Base Depot in Havre

 

Apr 20,1916

Rejoined the 21st Battalion near Voormezeele, Belgium

 

May 1, 1916

Attached to the 2nd Canadian Tunnelling Company in Armentieres, France for duty

 

Jun 7, 1916

Attached to the 1st Tunnelling Company for duty at La Clytte, Belgium

 

Jul 27, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Dermatitis

 

Jul 28, 1916

Transferred to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance and the diagnosis was changed to read Eczema and he was placed in the 2nd Division Rest Station

 

Aug 1, 1916

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance and after being assessed, was discharged to duty with the tunnelling company

 

Aug 25, 1916

Ceased to be attached to the tunnelling company and rejoined the 21st Battalion resting in Steenvoorde, Belgium

 

Sep 15, 1916

During the attack on the sugar factory on the Somme, Private Offord sprained an ankle when a shell exploded nearby.  He developed Shell Shock and was evacuated to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station for treatment

 

Sep 16, 1916

Transferred via the No. 25 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples, France with a diagnosis that reads Shell Shock

 

Sep 19, 1916

Transferred to the No. 20 General Hospital in Camiers, France

 

Sep 20, 1916

Transferred to the No. 5 Convalescent Depot in Cayeux, France

 

 

 

Oct 4, 1916

Discharged from hospital care and reported to the Base Details in Havre

 

Oct 7, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre

 

Oct 26, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

 

Nov 5, 1916

After leaving the base depot, William Offord rejoined the 21st Battalion in the front line west of Lens, France

 

Dec 18, 1916

Attached to the 4th Field Company, Canadian Engineers for duty

 

Dec 28, 1916

Granted leave until January 7, 1917

 

Jan 10, 1917

Rejoined the 4th Field Company from leave

 

Jan 17, 1917

Ceased to be attached to the Canadian Engineers and rejoined the 21st Battalion

 

Apr 9, 1917

During the capture of Vimy Ridge, Private Offord was wounded in the back as a result of an enemy shell explosion that partially buried him.  It was 5 hours before he could be rescued and he was then evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station

 

Apr 16, 1917

Transferred to the No. 3 Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Boulogne, France with abdominal and back pain

 

Apr 18, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Patrick

 

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

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

 

May 15, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

 

May 25, 1917

When he became severely constipated, Private Offord was transferred to the Manor, County of London War Hospital in Epsom

 

Jun 30, 1917

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

 

Jul 6, 1917

Discharged from hospital and transferred to the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

 

Jul 17, 1917

Admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital in Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads Appendicitis

 

Sep 6, 1917

Surgery performed to remove his Appendix

 

Oct 22, 1917

Discharged from hospital to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot and attached to the 3rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for physical training

 

Mar 14, 1918

Discharged from hospital care and transferred to the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

 

Apr 27, 1918

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot but remained attached to the 6th Reserve Battalion

 

May 9, 1918

Transferred to the CFCBD (Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot) in Sunningdale

 

May 16, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps District No. 53 in Egham, Surrey and posted to the 101st Company

 

Aug 22, 1918

Granted permission to marry

 

Aug 31, 1918

Married to Emily Budd in the All Saints Church, Carshalton, Surrey, England

 

Dec 2, 1918

Medical Board in Sunningdale notes

Ø  Patient is diagnosed with Neurasthenia

Ø  Complains of being short of breath, feels weak and is nervous

Ø  He stutters when excited

Ø  Has a poor physique looks distressed

Ø  His condition is due to service at the front

Ø  Minimum duration of above conditions will probably last for 6 months

 

Dec 7, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot in Sunningdale

 

Jan 2, 1919

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

 

Jan 31, 1919

Embarked the RMS Tunisian in Liverpool with his wife Emily

 

 

Feb 10, 1919

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

 

Feb 12, 1919

Posted to the Military District No. 3 Depot in Kingston

 

Feb 13, 1919

Granted leave until February 26, 1919

 

Mar 7, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 90510

Ø  War Service Badge Class “B” issued number C55186

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 368 Princess St., Kingston, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Trenton, Ontario

 

Sep 30, 1919

Admitted to the Sydenham Street Military Hospital in Kingston with a diagnosis that reads Bronchitis

 

Oct 31, 1919

Discharged from hospital to the care of the SCR (Soldier’s Civil Re-establishment) Department

 

Nov 17, 1922

William Charles Offord died when his chest was crushed in an accident in Marmora, Ontario and buried in Kingston, Ontario.  At the time of his death, his occupation was listed as a Switchman

 

Jun 30, 1927

William’s widow Emily, remarried in Kingston to William Bertram Evans

 


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