Jul 18, 1893

Born in Toronto, Ontario

Jun 17, 1915

Attested into the 35^th Battalion CEF in the Niagara Camp, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario

Ø  Number 405095

Ø  Next of kin given as Charlotte Oliver, mother, 89 Collier St., Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Cleaner, Presser and Dyer

Ø  Previous military experience given as 12^th Regiment, York Rangers in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Religion given as Baptist

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

Note that he attested as simply Roy Oliver

His service number was first recorded as 404595.  That number is used on the embarkation roll when he proceeded to England.  It was changed in England to read 405095.  It would appear that another man, George Robinson, had also been given the number 404595.

Oct 16, 1915

Embarked the SS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

Oct 25, 1915

Disembarked in Plymouth, England and proceeded to Shorncliffe

Feb 12, 1916

Pay withheld until further notice for being drunk

Mar 3, 1916

Sentenced to 14 days CB (Confined to Barracks) and fined $6 for being drunk

Apr 1, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 2, 1916

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

Apr 20, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Hamilton joined the 21^st Battalion on the Ypres Salient near Voormezeele, Belgium

Jun 16, 1916

While occupying the front line trench near Verbrande Mollen, Belgium, Private Oliver was buried in his dug out when an enemy high explosive shell collapsed the trench.  He was knocked unconscious and evacuated to the No. 1 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the No. 14 General Hospital in Wimereux, France

Jun 20, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Bagthorpe Military Hospital in Nottingham.  He later claimed that he had been unconscious from the time of the shell explosion until he reached hospital in England

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

Jul 13, 1916

Transferred to the King’s Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Bushy Park, Hampton Hill, Middlesex

Jul 14, 1916

Declared to be AWL (Absent Without Leave).  He was arrested by civil police in nearby Twickenham that evening and described as “drunk and incapable”.

Jul 15, 1916

Fined 3 day’s pay plus $6.50 Cdn for his absence

Jul 17, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom and Rheumatism was added to the diagnosis of Shell Shock

Aug 8, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre in Seaford

Noted on his discharge that he is still dizzy and nervous.  It is also noted that he does not sleep well.  It is recommended that he is only fit for office work

Aug 9, 1916

Attached to the Division Paymaster in Sandgate for duty

Aug 15, 1916

Returned to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre for being improperly dressed

Aug 29, 1916

Attached to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling for duty

Sep 26, 1916

Attached to the 5^th CTB (Canadian Training Battalion) for duty

Sep 29, 1916

Ceased to be attached and rejoined the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre

Oct 1, 1916

Attached to the 4^th Canadian Training Battalion Headquarters for duty

Oct 26, 1916

Medical exam held at St. Martin’s Plains Hospital notes that he suffers from shell shock and would likely be fit after 4 weeks of physical training

Jan 4, 1917

Attached to the 2^nd Canadian Reserve Brigade for duty in Shorncliffe

Feb 6, 1917

Ceased to be attached on pending to Canada on leave and Escort Duty

Feb 13, 1917

Attached to the Canadian Discharge Depot in Buxton pending return to Canada

Mar 5, 1917

Granted leave to Canada until May 14, 1917

Embarked the SS Metagama in Liverpool at his own expense

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the  Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot and attached to the Canadian Discharge Depot while on leave to Canada for 10 weeks.  He was later Struck Off Strength of the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot, Seaford, England on being retained in Canada effective March 5, 1917

Mar 16, 1917

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick

Apr 27, 1917

Medical exam at the Exhibition Camp in Toronto notes

Ø  Noted that when he arrived in Canada from England the previous month, he was suffering from Psoriasis and Syphilis

Ø  Board recommends a 2 month extension to his leave for the purpose of receiving treatment as an Out Patient of the base hospital

May 12, 1918

Struck Off Strength of the CEF in Toronto, Ontario as a Deserter

Nov 20, 1918

His discharge as a deserter was amended to read Discharged from the CEF on Demobilization in Toronto, Ontario effective May 14, 1917.  This was the date his original leave expired.

It would seem that his being declared a deserter was a lack of communication between hospital and his holding units

Aug 20, 1921

Married to Hessie Hamilton in Richmond Hill, Ontario