Oct 10, 1896

Born in Halifax, Yorkshire, England

Nov 12, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59839 (temporary number 222)

Ø  Next of kin given as William Roberts, father, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA

Ø  Previous occupation given as Farmer

o   Later noted as Butcher

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “A” Company

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

Mar 10, 1915

Forfeited 2 day’s pay for an unrecorded offence

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

Aug 10, 1915

Forfeited 1 day’s pay for being absent

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Oct 1, 1915

Employed as “A” Company Cook with Cook’s working pay

Sep 9, 1916

Admitted to the No. 3 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Tonsilitis.  Transferred the same day to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance

Sep 12, 1916

Transferred to the No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance

Sep 14, 1916

Transferred to the No. 10 Canadian Field Ambulance

Sep 16, 1916

Transferred to the No. 8 Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, France

Sep 22, 1916

Transferred to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne

Sep 23, 1916

After being assessed, he was declared fit and discharged to the base details in Boulogne

Oct 19, 1916

Classified “C”, meaning he was unfit for front line duty and transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) in England for pay purposes

Nov 9, 1916

Admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom with a contused left thigh

Feb 22, 1917

Discharged from hospital and attached to the 1^st CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for physical training

Feb 24, 1917

Attached to the 3^rd Canadian Command Depot for physical training at St. Leonard’s Hospital

Mar 10, 1917

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

Mar 29, 1917

Discharged from hospital care and transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

May 10, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

May 11, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Jun 4, 1917

After leaving the base depot, he joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin, France.  Shortly after he joined the 21^st Battalion at the front

Sep 3, 1917

Granted 10 days leave to England

Sep 8, 1917

Granted permission to marry

Sep 15, 1917

Admitted to the Westcliffe Eye and Ear Hospital in Folkestone while on leave with a diagnosis that reads Follicular Tonsilitis.  Surgery performed shortly after admission to remove his tonsils

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

Oct 15, 1917

Medical exam notes

Ø  Man is very nervous

Ø  Claims he was buried by a shell explosion in France

Ø  Flesh is not firm

Ø  Gives general appearance of being neurotic

Ø  Breathing is shallow and vascular murmurs present

Ø  Appetite is poor

Ø  4 months in convalescent home recommended

Nov 2, 1917

Transferred to the No. 11 Canadian General Hospital in Shorncliffe

Feb 22, 1918

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Kirkdale and the diagnosis reads Chronic Bronchitis

Feb 26, 1918

Next of kin changed to read Mrs. E. Hilliwell, mother, 18 Station Rd., Huncoat, Accrington, Lancashire, England

Mar 28, 1918

Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Llandovery Castle

Apr 7, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength Military District No. 3

Apr 11, 1918

Admitted to the Queen’s Military Hospital in Kingston with a diagnosis that reads Chronic Bronchitis

Apr 18, 1918

Granted leave until May 10, 1918

Jun 5, 1918

Granted leave until June 19, 1918

Jul 5, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital and transferred to the Military District No. 3 AMC TD (Army Medical Corps Training Depot) in Petawawa, Ontario

Jul 31, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Petawawa, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Lance Corporal

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge PO Box 53, Kingston, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at PO Box 53, Kingston, Ontario