David George Polster (alias Foster)

 

 

 

 

May 14, 1898

Born at London England 

Ø      David George Polster signed 3 sets of Attestation papers giving 3 different years for his birth.  1898 has been confirmed by viewing the 1911 Census 

Polster Geo

236 Wilton

M

Head

M

Nov

1866

Polster Fannie

 

F

Wife

M

Jun

1866

Polster Benedict

 

M

Son

S

Jun

1894

Polster Katie

 

F

Daughter

S

Nov

1896

Polster David

 

M

Son

S

May

1898

  

Jul 6, 1915

Attested into the 58th Battalion at the Niagara Camp, Ontario as David George Polster 

Ø      Number 452492

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs Fannie Polster (mother) of 236 Wilton Ave., Toronto Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation Tailor

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Jewish

o       Note that his birth date is given here as May 14, 1897

 

Aug 5, 1915

SOS as “Undesirable” 

Note:  I suspect this was because he was found to be underage.

 

Dec 14, 1915

Attested into the 120th Battalion at Hamilton Ontario as David George Foster 

Ø      Number 757308

Ø      Next of kin given as George Foster (father) of 236 Wilton St., Toronto Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Tailor Apprentice

Ø      Previous military experience given as 2 years 48th Highlanders and 6 months Queen’s Own Rifles

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

o       Note that his birth date is given here as May 14, 1896

o       The papers were signed by the Commanding Officer on January 3, 1916 

There is nothing in the file to indicate why or when he left the 120th Battalion.  Again, I suspect it is because he was discovered to be underage

 

Aug 22, 1916

Attested into the 241st Battalion at Windsor Ontario as David George Foster 

Ø      Number 1045188

Ø      Next of kin given as George Foster (father) of 236 Wilton Ave., Toronto Ontario

o       Later changed to 351 Lippincott St., Toronto Ontario

o       Later changed to 7 Victoria St., Brantford Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Tailor

Ø      Previous military experience given as 4 years in 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own Rifles

Ø      Religion given as Jewish

o       Note that his birth date is given here as May 14, 1898

o       His current address was given as 139 Sixth St., Detroit Mich., USA

 

Apr 28, 1917

Embarked the SS Olympic at Halifax Nova Scotia for England

  

 

May 7, 1917

Disembarked at Liverpool England 

TOS (Taken On Strength) the 5th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling Camp

 

Jun 6, 1917

SOS 5th Reserve Battalion on transfer to 164th Battalion at Witley

 

Sep 8, 1917

Name on records changed to David George Polster

 

Oct 23, 1917

Will made out leaving everything to his mother, Mrs Fannie Polster of 236 Wilton Ave., Toronto Ontario

 

Mar 9, 1918

Attached to 125th Battalion at Witley

 

Mar 28, 1918

Ceases to be attached to 125th Battalion

 

Mar 29, 1918

SOS 164th Battalion on posting to 21st Battalion

 

Mar 30, 1918

TOS 21st Battalion on arrival at 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot)

 

Apr 3, 1918

Left CIBD for CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp)

 

Apr 10, 1918

Left CCRC to join unit

 

Apr 12, 1918

Joined the 21st Battalion in the field and assigned to No 16 Platoon

 

May 5, 1918

Sentenced to 7 days FP No 1 (Field Punishment No 1) for absent from 8.30 pm parade 

Ø      It should be noted that the battalion was in the front line trenches on this date

 

Jul 30, 1918

Admitted to No 5 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with boils on left shoulder

 

Aug 3, 1918

Transferred to No 3 “AT”

 

Aug 4, 1918

Transferred to No 2 Canadian Hospital at Le Treport

 

Aug 10, 1918

Transferred to No 3 Convalescent Hospital at Le Treport

 

Aug 22, 1918

Discharged to base

 

Aug 23, 1918

Arrived at CIBD

 

Aug 31, 1918

Admitted to No 7 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples with Gastro Enteritis

 

Sep 4, 1918

Transferred to No 6 Convalescent Hospital

 

Sep 6, 1918

Transferred to No 12 Convalescent Depot at Aubergue

 

Sep 23, 1918

Discharged to No 5 Red Cross Camp

 

Sep 26, 1918

Arrived at No 2 CIBD

 

Oct 2, 1918

Arrived at CCRC

 

Oct 3, 1918

Left to join unit

 

Oct 4, 1918

Rejoined 21st Battalion in the field

 

Oct 10, 1918

Received a shrapnel wound to lower lip and admitted to No 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) and transferred to the Casualty Clearing Station

  

The above refers to Pte WE Campbell

 

Oct 11, 1918

Transferred to No 6 CFA then discharged

 

Oct 22, 1918

Rejoined the battalion in the field

 

Nov 15, 1918

Left for 2nd Division Employment Company

 

Nov 26, 1918

Admitted to No 7 Canadian General Hospital with boils and PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin)  (which was later called Trench Fever) 

Classified “B1”

 

Dec 3, 1918

Transferred to No 3 Employment Base Depot

 

Dec 14, 1918

SOS 21st Battalion and posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot)

 

Dec 17, 1918

Transferred to England and attached to the EORD Depot Company at Witley

 

Jan 24, 1919

SOS EORD and TOS MD 2 Wing at Rhyl

 

Feb 20, 1919

Embarked the SS Lapland for Canada

  

 

Mar 1, 1919

Disembarked in Canada

 

Apr 3, 1919

Discharged from the army at No District Depot in Toronto as Medically Unfit

 

Jun 23, 1923

Address noted as c/o Mrs Hough, 121 Riley St, East Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

 

Jun 30, 1923

British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to his address in Australia

 

Sep 26, 1930

Address noted as 59 Augusta St., Toronto Ontario

 

Oct 26, 1949

Address noted as 502 Parliament St., Toronto Ontario

 

Nov 8, 1949

Medals were resent to his address at 502 Parliament St., Toronto Ontario 

 

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