Jan 1, 1866

Born in Banbury, England to Arthur and Elizabeth (nee Summerton) Prestidge

Feb 3, 1889

Married to Elizabeth Greenaway in Portsea, Hampshire, England

Sep 18, 1908

Shown on the nominal roll of “C” Company, 45^th Haliburton and Victoria Regiment with the rank of Sergeant

Jun 2, 1911

Embarked the SS Empress of Ireland in Quebec City with the Canadian Contingent in order to attend the Coronation of King George V

Jun 22, 1911

Thomas Prestidge attended the Coronation of King George V at Westminster Abbey, London, England as a member of the 45^th Haliburton and Victoria Regiment of Canada

Jul 3, 1911

Embarked the SS Empress of Britain in Liverpool

Jul 9, 1911

Disembarked in Quebec City, Quebec on his return from attending the King’s Coronation

Nov 16, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59812 (temporary number 702)

o   This was later changed to 50427

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. E Prestidge, Fox & Hounds Inn, Clay Colon, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Soldier

o   Later noted as Landscape Gardiner

Ø  Previous military experience given as 17 years in the Royal Army Medical Corps and 6 years in the Canadian Militia

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “F” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “C” Company

On attesting, he stated he had been born January 1, 1870 rather than his actual birth year date of January 1, 1866

The 21^st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

Dec 12, 1914

Appointed to the provisional rank of Lance Corporal with pay

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Jul 1, 1915

Confirmed in the rank of Lance Corporal

Sep 13, 1915

Transferred to the CAMC (Canadian Army Medical Corps) and his service number was changed to 50427.

He was attached to the 21^st Battalion and posted to the Water Detail

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Dec 20, 1915

Admitted to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Enteritis

Dec 23, 1915

Discharged to duty from the field ambulance

Feb 21, 1916

Granted 9 days leave

Oct 12, 1916

Admitted to the No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance sick and discharged the same day

Aug 15, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Aug 28, 1917

Rejoined the battalion resting in Villers au Bois, France

Feb 13, 1918

Classified B2 meaning he was not fit for front line duty and ceased to be attached to the 21^st Battalion

Mar 14, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Labour Pool

Apr 27, 1918

Transferred to the CGBD (Canadian General Base Depot) in Etaples, France

May 18, 1918

It would seem that there is a page missing from the file, or some details were just not recorded.  Hospital notes in more than 1 document indicate that Private Prestidge was wounded by a bomb fragment in the area of Arras, France.  The 21^st Battalion was located south west of Arras on this date, but the file indicates that he was still in Etaples.

Be that as it may, Private Prestidge received a bomb wound to his right temple that caused a severe skull fracture with shrapnel pieces imbedded in his brain.

May 20, 1918

Admitted to the No. 7 Canadian General Hospital in Trouville, France

Jun 2, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Ville de Liege

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the 1^st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham

On admission he was still haemorrhaging and brain matter was oozing from the open wound.  Surgery was performed to remove shrapnel pieces and an attempt was made to stitch the wound where a piece of his skull 2” x 1” was missing.

Transferred to the CAMCD (Canadian Army Medical Corps Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Jul 22, 1918

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Buxton

Patient complains of headaches and does not sleep well. 

Aug 16, 1918

Granted 10 days sick leave

Sep 24, 1918

Invalided to Canada aboard the SS Tunisian, embarking in London

Oct 7, 1918

Disembarked in Quebec City, Quebec and posted to the Clearing Depot in Quebec City

Oct 10, 1918

Proceeded to Kingston, Ontario and admitted to the Queen’s Military Hospital in Kingston

Oct 11, 1918

Granted leave until October 25, 1918

Oct 15, 1918

His wife Elizabeth, died in Gosport, England

Oct 31, 1918

Medical exam notes

Ø  2” x 1” piece of right temple bone missing due to bomb wound

Ø  Complains of headaches and dizzy spells and states he falls forward when he leans to wash his face

Ø  Does not sleep well

Ø  His vision is slightly affected and glasses have been ordered

Ø  Recommended that he be discharged from military service with a pensionable disability

Nov 7, 1918

Discharged from hospital care and posted to the Military District No. 3 Casualty Company in Kingston

Nov 15, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Lance Corporal

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 13 Norman Rd., Ann’s Hill, Gosport, Hants, England

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Stanford on Avon, England

From his service prior to WW1, he was also entitled to these additional medals:

Khedive’s Sudan Medal with Khartoum 1898 bar
Queen’s Sudan Medal
Queen’s South Africa Medal with 2 bars
King’s South Africa Medal with 4 bars
George V Coronation Medal

Nov 5, 1932

Thomas Edward Prestidge died while a patient in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Folkstone, England