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Nov 4, 1881
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Born in Prescott,
Ontario to John and Emma (nee Slavin) O’Leary
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Nov 4, 1914
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Attested into the
21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario
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Number 59762
(temporary number 559)
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Next of kin given
as John O’Leary, father, Prescott, Ontario
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Previous
occupation given as Bartender in Brockville’s Central Hotel
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Previous military
experience given as 56th Regiment, Canadian
Militia
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Religion not stated
o
Later noted as
Roman Catholic
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Assigned to
“E” Company
o
This was later
reorganized into “D” Company
The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with
headquarters in the Kingston Armouries
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Jan 25, 1915
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Charles’
mother, Emma, died in Prescott, Ontario of complications from Diabetes
and was buried in the Saint Marks Roman Catholic Cemetery there
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS
Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling
Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training
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Aug 29, 1915
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Forfeits 1 days
pay for being absent
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St.
Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Dec 3, 1915
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Admitted to the
No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads
Myalgia. He was
transferred the same day to the Divisional Rest Station at the No. 6
CFA where the diagnosis was changed to read Lumbago
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Dec 9, 1915
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Discharged to duty
from the rest station
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Jan 28, 1916
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Admitted to the
No. 5 CFA with a diagnosis that reads Orchitis from Gonorrhea
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Jan 29, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for treatment
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Feb 1, 1916
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Transferred via
the No. 14 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 9 Stationary
Hospital in Havre where the diagnosis was changed to read Epididymitis
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Mar 12, 1916
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Discharged to the
Camp Details and his pay was reduced by 50¢ per day for 40
days in hospital as punishment for the Gonorrhea infection
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Apr 1, 1916
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Transferred to the
CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre
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Apr 8, 1916
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After leaving the
base depot Private O’Leary rejoined the 21st
Battalion in the Reserve Trenches at Scottish Wood, Belgium
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Jun 16, 1916
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While in the 33 to
38 front line trench system near Verbrande Molen, Belgium, Charles
O’Leary received a shrapnel wound to his right cheek. He was first evacuated to
the nearby field ambulance for first aid before being transported to
the casualty clearing station.
He was transported later in the day and admitted to the No. 14 Canadian
General Hospital in Wimereux with a shrapnel wound to his cheek
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Jun 17, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne
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Jun 18, 1916
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Declared to be fit
for duty and discharged to the base details
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Jun 21, 1916
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Joined the CBD
(Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre and posted to
“A” Company for those recovering from wounds and
illness
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Jun 28, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 3 General Base Depot
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Jun 30, 1916
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After leaving the
base depot he rejoined the 21st Battalion
resting in the Micmac Camp
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In a letter home he explains his
hospitalization for Gonorrhea
as an accident with a sand bag falling on him
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Aug 14, 1916
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Appointed to the
rank of Lance Corporal to replace L/Cpl Hoddinott
who had been promoted
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Sep 7, 1916
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Admitted to the
No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads NYD
(Not Yet Determined). He
was transferred the same day to the No. 6 CFA and was admitted to the
Divisional Rest Station there and the diagnosis was changed to read
Myalgia
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Sep 8, 1916
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Transferred to the
Divisional Rest Station at the No. 5 CFA
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Sep 15, 1916
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Transferred via
the No. 15 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 2 Canadian
Stationary Hospital in Boulogne
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Sep 22, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 1 Convalescent Depot
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Sep 30, 1916
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Discharged from
hospital to the base depot in Havre
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Oct 2, 1916
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Admitted to the
No. 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Havre
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Oct 15, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 4 Convalescent Depot in Havre
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Oct 24, 1916
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Discharged from
hospital care to the base depot in Havre
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Oct 31, 1916
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After leaving the
base depot L/Cpl O’Leary rejoined the 21st
Battalion in Calonne
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Nov 18, 1916
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Lance Corporal
O’Leary was killed while in the front lines near
Bully-les-Mines, and was buried in the Maroc British Cemetery south of
Vermelles, France
Following the war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal,
Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father,
John O’Leary, Prescott, Ontario
There was no Memorial Cross issued as his mother had predeceased him
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Charles Herbert O’Leary is honoured
on the War Memorial
in Prescott, Ontario
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