Jun 28, 1897

Born in Toronto, Ontario to William and Blanche (nee Eaton) Rayfield

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59821 (temporary number 914)

Ø  Next of kin given as William Rayfield, Crystal Hotel, Belleville, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Student at Albert College in Belleville

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø  Posted to 16 Platoon, “H” Company

o   This was later reorganized into 16 Platoon, “D” Company

o   Later posted to the Scout Section

Frank Rayfield lied about his age, stating he had been born in 1896, not his actual birth year of 1897

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

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

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Oct 13, 1915

Attached to the 4^th Canadian Infantry Brigade to be employed as a Scout

One of his duties was to guide the Brigade Commander around the font lines during inspections.

Jun 26, 1916

Admitted to the No. 6 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with a diagnosis that reads Appendicitis. 

Jul 27, 1916

Discharged from hospital care and reported to the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot)

Nov 7, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Jan 28, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal without pay

Jun 28, 1917

Admitted to the No. 18 General Hospital in Camiers, France with a diagnosis that reads Appendicitis

Reverted to the rank of Private on being admitted to hospital

Jul 6, 1917

Transferred to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot in Etaples

Jul 9, 1917

Transferred to the No. 5 Convalescent Depot in Cayeux

Jul 26, 1917

Discharged to the Base Depot in Etaples

Aug 12, 1917

Rejoined the 4^th Brigade Headquarters from hospital

Aug 31, 1917

Admitted to the No. 23 Casualty Clearing Station with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), a fever without a known cause.  This was often referred to as Trench Fever

Sep 1, 1917

Transferred to the No. 11 General Hospital in Camiers, France and Appendicitis was added to the diagnosis

Sep 7, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Ville de Liege

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the DE Walden Court Hospital in Eastbourne

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Oct 1, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Military Hospital in Eastbourne

Oct 8, 1917

Attached to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot)

Dec 24, 1917

Medical Board notes

Ø  Patient suffers from DAH (Disordered Activity of the Heart)

Ø  Complains of pain around the heart

Ø  Has a Heart Murmur

Ø  Medical Category is B3, meaning he is only fit for sedentary work

Ø  His condition is not likely to improve in 6 months

Jan 2, 1918

Ceased to be attached to the command depot and reported to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Seaford

Jan 25, 1918

Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Feb 2, 1918

Embarked the SS Olympic in Liverpool

Feb 13, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario and Taken On Strength District Depot No. 3 Casualty Company

Feb 23, 1918

Transferred to the No. 3 Special Service Company in Kingston

Medical exam in Kingston notes

Ø  Man suffers from Indigestion and DAH (Disordered Activity of the Heart

Ø  There is a heart murmur present

Ø  Claims he cannot eat anything that contains grease as it causes gas in his stomach

Ø  Does not sleep well and has bad dreams

Ø  Complains of shortness of breath on slight exertion

Ø  Has pain on the left side of his chest

Mar 8, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 311 B Front St., Belleville, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 311 B Front St., Belleville, Ontario

Aug 23, 1922

Married to Lilly May Hart in Belleville, Ontario

Spider Rayfield, as he was known to his comrades, was an active member of the 21^st Battalion Association for many years after the war.  He was 1 of only 4 members of the battalion at the last reunion in Belleville in 1985 when the decision was made to dissolve the Association.

Jan 5, 1995

Frank Rayfield died while a resident of the Belcrest Villa Nursing Home in Belleville, Ontario and was interred in the Belleville Cemetery