Oct 13, 1895

Born at Golden British Columbia 

His Attestation Papers claim his birth year as 1896, and the 1911 Census states his birth year as 1894.  I have taken the birth year from the information supplied in his own book, The Stump Ranch.

Oct 20, 1914

Shown on payroll of the 15^th Regiment, Argyll Light Infantry at Belleville Ontario

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59802 (temporary number 912)

Ø      Next of kin given as Thomas F Pirie (father) of RR #3 Ingersoll Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Student

Ø      Previous military experience given as 15^th Regiment, Argyll Light Infantry at Belleville Ontario

Ø      Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø      Assigned to “H” Company

o       Later reorganized into “D” Company

Nov 10, 1914

TOS 21^st Battalion and placed on payroll of 21^st Battalion

Jan 23, 1915

Admitted to Kingston Hospital with Measles

Feb 4, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp, near Hythe Kent

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkstone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer

Nov 11, 1915

Appointed to rank of Lance Corporal with pay to replace L/Cpl Cochrane who was killed

May 10, 1916

Admitted to No 7 General Hospital at St Omer with Measles

May 30, 1916

Transferred to No 14 Stationary Hospital at Wimereux

Jun 6, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Cambria

Posted to CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital

Jun 7, 1916

Admitted to Northern General Hospital at Sheffield

Jul 7, 1916

Transferred to King’s Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Bushey Park, Hampton

Jul 9, 1916

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom

Jul 14, 1916

Discharged from hospital and posted to the 39^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling Camp

Sep 10, 1916

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Sep 11, 1916

Arrived at CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at Havre France and TOS the 21^st Battalion

Sep 15, 1916

Promoted to rank of Cpl to replace Cpl Thomas Gauthier who was killed on this date

Oct 1, 1916

Left for the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion

Oct 4, 1916

Joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion in the field

Oct 5, 1916

Left to join unit

Oct 6, 1916

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field

Oct 19, 1916

Appointed to rank of Lance Sgt to replace Sgt PG Wallace

Nov 3, 1916

Appointed to rank of Acting Sgt with pay

Dec 10, 1916

At duty from Gas Course

May 9, 1917

Promoted to rank of Sgt

May 24, 1917

Appointed to rank of Acting CSM with pay

Jun 18, 1917

Reverts to rank of A/Sgt with pay

Aug 15, 1917

Admitted to No 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) then transferred to No 23, CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with a shrapnel wound to hip

 From his own book, The Stump Ranch, is a description of the event

Aug 17, 1917

Transferred to No 6 British Red Cross Hospital at Etaples

Aug 30, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital

Aug 31, 1917

Admitted to Norfold War Hospital at Thorpe Norwich

Nov 2, 1917

Awarded the Military Medal per the London Gazette #30364

This was awarded for his actions at the battle for Hill 70 on August 15th

Citation reads

For conspicuous courage and strong determination.  His Officer a casualty and himself wounded he led his platoon against the enemy, forcing them to retire.  He again was wounded seriously but refused to leave the line until ordered by an Officer.  After nearly two years service in the trenches, this NCO has at all times been a splendid example to his men.  He has been recommended on two previous occasions.

AFW 3121    28-8-17

Compare the citation to his own account above as he seems to have downplayed his actions in the book

Nov 17, 1917

Transferred to CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) at Woodcote Park, Epsom

Jan 21, 1918

TOS 6^th Reserve Battalion at Seaford

Mar 28, 1918

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Mar 29, 1918

Arrived at No 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre and TOS 21^st Battalion

Apr 3, 1918

Arrived at CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Centre)

Apr 10, 1918

Left to join unit

Apr 12, 1918

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field

Aug 27, 1918

Posted to the EORD

Aug 29, 1918

Placed On Command to 1^st Reserve Battalion pending Commission

Sep 8, 1918

Placed On Command to OTC (Officer Training Course) at Bexhill

Nov 22, 1918

Posted to 6^th Reserve Battalion on being Commissioned as a Temporary Lieutenant

Dec 22, 1918

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Dec 23, 1918

Arrived at No 2 CIBD at Havre France and TOS 21^st Battalion

Jan 14, 1919

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field and posted to “A” Company as Lieutenant

Apr 3, 1919

Embarked the SS Western Australia at Havre

Disembarked at Southampton and proceeded to the Witley Camp and TOS “P” Wing pending return to Canada

Jun 14, 1919

Embarked the SS Aquitania at Southampton

Jun 19, 1919

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia and proceeded by train to Montreal Quebec

Jun 25, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at Montreal Quebec 

Ø      Rank on discharge – Lieutenant

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge – RR #3 Ingersoll Ontario

Jul 30, 1921

1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to Columbian College, New Westminster British Columbia

During 1928 he joined the New Westminster Regiment, a Militia unit, at Chilliwack British Columbia and rose to position of Commanding Officer of “D” Company by 1933. 

Between 1929 and 1939 he attended the following courses at Esquimalt British Columbia 

Lieutenant to Captain

Captain to Major

Staff Course

Machine Gun

Equestrian

Sep 1, 1939

The New Westminster Regiment was mobilized and Major Pirie, in Command of “D” Company, was instructed to put his Company on “a war footing”.

Sep 2, 1939

TOS Westminster Regiment on mobilization with rank of Major and placed in Command of “D” Company

May 27, 1941

The Regiment proceeded by train to Camp Borden in Ontario for training.

Jan 6, 1942

The Regiment proceeded by train to Halifax Nova Scotia and on January 8^th, embarked the troopship Bergensfjord.

Jan 18, 1942

Disembarked at Gourock Scotland and proceeded by train to Bordon England

Apr 26, 1942

Proceeded to the Witley Camp to be in Command of the Reinforcement Company of the Westminster Regiment.  After a short illness, was transferred to the CORU (Canadian Ordinance Reinforcement Unit) as a Company Commander. 

He was eventually to become the 3^rd Division’s Education Officer based north west of Brighton England. 

After a short period in Yorkshire prior to the Normandy landing, he was posted to London as the Educational Officer for Canadian Hospitals in the United Kingdom.  Returning to Canada at war’s end in 1945 and was discharged from the Canadian Forces at Vancouver British Columbia in December 1945.

Jan 2, 1983

Deceased at Sardis British Columbia

 
Royal Canadian Legion Cemetery
Chilliwack BC