May 28, 1895

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland

May 31, 1913

Embarked the SS Scandinavian in Glasgow

Jun 9, 1913

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Perth, Ontario where he found employment in the T.A. Code Woollen Mill, below, then and now

Dec 1, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59838 (temporary number 1138)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Jane Robb, mother, 23 Harriet St., Aberdeen, Scotland

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø  Assigned to the Depot Company

 
The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

Feb 13, 1915

Admitted to the Kingston Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Influenza

Mar 4, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

  
The embarkation roll lists his name as John Roff, but his number is listed correctly

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

Nov 5, 1915

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with an infected neck.  He was transferred the same day to the Divisional Rest Station in La Clytte, Belgium

Nov 7, 1915

Transferred to the No. 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) Rest Station at Mont des Cats, France

Nov 8, 1915

Transferred to the Divisional Rest Station at the No. 6 CFA at Locre, France

Nov 18, 1915

Transferred via the No. 7 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 23 General Hospital in Etaples, France and the diagnosis is changed to read ICT (Inter Connective Tissue) Infection in the neck, and Synovitis of left toe

Dec 15, 1915

Discharged from hospital and posted to the base depot in Etaples for light duties

Dec 18, 1915

Transferred to the base depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre

Dec 25, 1915

After leaving the base depot, Private Robb rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in Ridgewood, Belgium

Sep 15, 1916

The 21^st Battalion was assigned the objective of capturing the sugar refinery south of Courcelette as part of the battle of the Somme.  The refinery was strongly defended by the German army, and the fighting was fierce and involved tanks and hand to hand combat.  The battalion suffered heavy casualties, Private Robb among them.  His identifiable body was never recovered from the battlefield, and as such, his name is honoured on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France for those killed during the war in France that have no known grave.

 
Following the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. Jane Robb, 29 Hunter St., Toronto, Ontario.

 The Memorial Cross, the last to be sent, was returned with the note “gone away”.  It is likely she returned to Scotland and left no forwarding address.