Apr 23, 1892

Born to Arthur Arnott Thompson and Hannah Ida (nee Burris) Pigden in Madoc, Ontario.

Nov 18, 1915

Attested into the 80^th Battalion in Belleville, Ontario 

Ø      Number 220215

Ø      Next of kin given as Mr. A. Pigden, father, Madoc, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Farmer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Methodist

Ø      Assigned to the Machine Gun Section 

It should be noted that the original spelling of his name was recorded as Pigden, but this was later changed by hand in many of the documents, but not all, to read Pigdon. 

Shown on the payroll of the 49^th Regiment, Hastings Rifles, of the Canadian Militia.

Nov 20, 1915

His pay account changed to that of the 80^th Battalion, CEF.

May 20, 1916

Embarked the SS Baltic in Halifax, Nova Scotia

May 29, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded to the Bordon Camp.

Jun 13, 1916

Transferred to the 74^th Battalion at Bramshott.

Jul 18, 1916

Transferred to the 54^th Battalion also at Bramshott.

Aug 13, 1916

The 54^th Battalion proceeded to France, the Transport Section, along with baggage and equipment, embarked the SS Archimedes in Southampton.  The balance of the battalion embarked the SS Connaught, also in Southampton, sailing at approximately 7.00 pm.

Aug 14, 1916

Disembarked at 7.00 am in Havre, France and proceeded to the rest camp at Sauvic.

Nov 1, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal without pay.

Apr 9, 1917

During the advance on Vimy Ridge, A/L/Cpl Pigden received a gun shot wound to his right thigh, and was treated, first at a Field Ambulance and then transferred to a casualty clearing station.  The bullet had passed through the leg without hitting any bone.

Apr 10, 1917

He was transferred to the No. 7 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples.

Apr 16, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Brighton

Posted to the BCRD (British Columbia Regimental Depot) while in hospital.

On being sent to England, he reverted to his permanent rank of private.  This decision was later reversed, and he was permitted to retain his rank of Acting Lance Corporal.

Apr 18, 1917

Admitted to the 5^th Northern General Hospital, Leicester.

Jun 13, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bearwood Park, Wokingham.

Jun 22, 1917

Transferred to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot), Seaford.

Jul 25, 1917

Discharged from the 3^rd CCD and posted to the 16^th Reserve Battalion, Seaford.

Aug 27, 1917

Posted to the 1^st Reserve Battalion, Seaford, but remained with the 16^th Reserve Battalion on attachment.

Aug 30, 1917

Ceased to be attached to the 16^th Reserve Battalion and joined the 1^st Reserve Battalion, Seaford.

Sep 7, 1917

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion, Seaford.

Nov 18, 1917

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge.

Nov 23, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion.

A report on page 7 of the August 1956 issue of The Communiqué (the 21^st Battalion Association post war newsletter) comments that he requested the transfer to the 21^st Battalion.

Nov 24, 1917

Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot), Etaples, France as part of a draft of 25 reinforcements for the front, and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion.

Nov 28, 1917

Left the CIBD and joined the CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp), Calonne Ricouart, France.

Dec 14, 1917

Left the CCRC and joined the 21^st Battalion in the front line near Winnipeg Road in the Acheville Section of France, south-west of Lens.

Apr 13, 1918

Attached to the 2^nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps for duty.

Apr 30, 1918

Transferred to the 2^nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps.

Aug 29, 1918

Promoted to the rank of corporal to replace Cpl Howlett 288028, who had proceeded to England.

Sep 28, 1918

The announcement of the awarding of the Military Medal was made in the Canadian Corps Orders, followed by being published in the London Gazette February 11, 1919, Number 31173.

I could not identify the action that this was awarded for, but the Machine Gun Corps was engaged in heavy action east of Amiens in August at Marcelcave.  From then until the end of August, when they were advancing on Arras, his battalion was constantly engaged with the enemy.  Given the timing of the announcement of the award, I strongly suspect Sgt Pigden, then officially a private, was singled out for acts of bravery during this period.

Nov 11, 1918

Granted 14 days leave to the United Kingdom.

Nov 30, 1918

Promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Dec 3, 1918

Rejoined the battalion from leave.

Apr 13, 1919

Proceeded to Witley, England from Le Havre and posted to “H” Wing at the CCC (Canadian Concentration Camp) for processing pending return to Canada.

May 14, 1919

Embarked the SS Minnekahda in Liverpool.

May 23, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario.

May 25, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø      Rank on discharge Sergeant

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 198143

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge Madoc, Ontario

Following the war the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him in Madoc, Ontario.

Sep 2, 1919

Married to Mary Doughty in Thomasburg, Ontario.

The family reports that he took up farming on the family farm on Pigden Road, Madoc Township.

May 1969

Arthur Pigden died in Madoc, Ontario and is buried in the Lakeview Cemetery there.