Aug 21, 1893

Born in Brockville, Ontario to Samuel and Euphemia (nee McKay) Rothwell

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59856 (temporary number 467)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mr. CR Johnston, Smiths Falls, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Plumber

Ø  Previous military experience given as 41^st Regiment, Brockville Rifles for 3 years

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “D” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

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

Feb 8, 1915

Sentenced to 20 days Detention for an unrecorded offence

The sentence was reduced by 3 days

Mar 22, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Detention and forfeited 1 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

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Feb 1, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Influenza.  He was moved into the Division Rest Station to recuperate

Feb 7, 1916

Discharged to duty and rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the front line near Voormezeele, Belgium

Mar 17, 1916

Sentenced to 7 days Field Punishment No. 1 for being absent from a work party and for being drunk

Jul 3, 1916

Sentenced to 7 days Field Punishment No. 1 and fined $5.00 for being drunk and absent without leave

Sep 15, 1916

During the capture of the strongly held sugar factory south of Courcelette, France, Private Rothwell received a shrapnel wound to his back and was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station

Sep 16, 1916

Transferred to the No.1 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples where surgery was performed to remove the shrapnel

Sep 21, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Dieppe

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the No. 2 Southern General Hospital in Bristol

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Sep 28, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bear Wood, Wokingham

Oct 17, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre

Oct 27, 1916

Admitted to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital for treatment of Warts

Nov 6, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre

Nov 11, 1916

Attached to the CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) for physical training at the St. Leonard’s Hospital

Jan 31, 1917

Sentenced to 11 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being absent from the hospital from January 21, to January 31, 1917

Feb 5, 1917

Admitted to the 2^nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Feb 19, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital and was issued a travel warrant to proceed to Hastings by train with orders to report to the 3^rd Canadian Convalescent Depot in Hastings on February 21, 1917

Feb 21, 1917

He failed to report as ordered and was considered to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Mar 10, 1917

While absent, he was transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) and remained attached to the 3^rd Canadian Convalescent Depot

Mar 23, 1917

Private Rothwell surrendered to the Military Police in London and signed a confession that he was absent without leave

Apr 23, 1917

Private Rothwell was tried by District Courts Martial and charged with being Absent Without Leave from February 21 to March 23, 1917. 

He entered a plea of Not Guilty on advice of his counsel, Captain A.W. Black of the 21^st Battalion.

After testimony was given and his signed confession was entered into evidence, a discussion took place concerning the validity of the confession and the Court was adjourned to await a ruling by the Judge Advocate General.

Apr 27, 1917

The Court Martial resumed and after it was determined that the signed confession was not properly signed and ruled inadmissible as evidence. 

Private Rothwell was then found Not Guilty of the charge and released from custody

May 14, 1917

Sentenced to 3 days Field Punishment No. 2 for absent for 1 day

May 23, 1917

Admitted to the Scabies Isolation Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Scabies

Jun 2, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jun 14, 1917

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Jul 7, 1917

Sentenced to 21 days Detention for being absent for 21 days

Aug 25, 1917

Admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital in Eastbourne with an infected arm.  He had open sores, noted as being a result of his previous Scabies infection

Aug 29, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

May 11, 1918

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being absent from noon to 10:15 pm May 9 and for being drunk

May 29, 1918

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

May 30, 1918

Arrived at the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Jun 6, 1918

After leaving the base depot, he joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin St. Vaast, France

Jun 16, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Edmund Rothwell rejoined the 21^st Battalion at the front near Mercatel, France

Aug 13, 1918

During fighting near Méharicourt, France, Edmund Rothwell received a shrapnel wound to his left leg and was evacuated to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 47 Casualty Clearing Station

Aug 14, 1918

Transferred via the No. 25 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 1 Australian General Hospital in Rouen, France

Aug 22, 1918

Transferred to the No. 74 General Hospital in Trouville

Sep 14, 1918

Transferred to the No. 13 Convalescent Depot in Trouville

Oct 12, 1918

Discharged from hospital

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

Oct 15, 1918

Reported to the Canadian Infantry Base Depot in Etaples

Oct 17, 1918

Promoted to the rank of Corporal

Oct 23, 1918

After leaving the base depot, he joined the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in Aubin St. Vaast, France

Oct 27, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, he rejoined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Auberchicourt, France

Oct 30, 1918

Appointed to the rank of Lance Sergeant with pay

Dec 13, 1918

The 21^st Battalion crossed the Bonn Bridge to enter Germany as part of the Occupying Force and proceeded to Seigburg

Apr 2, 1919

Embarked the Western Australia in Havre, France

On arrival in England, he was posted to “P” Wing in Witley pending return to Canada

Apr 30, 1919

Reduced to the rank of Corporal and forfeited 5 days pay for being absent from April 25 to April 29, 1919

May 4, 1919

Admitted to the Canadian Special Hospital in Witley with a diagnosis that reads Venereal Disease Gonorrhea

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

Jul 7, 1919

Discharged from hospital and posted to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot Casualty Company in Witley

Jul 9, 1919

Posted to “M” Wing in Witley pending return to Canada

Jul 15, 1919

Embarked the SS Regina in Liverpool

Jul 24, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Jul 28, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Lance Sergeant

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 213761

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Smiths Falls, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Smiths Falls, Ontario

Nov 7, 1920

Married to Viola Eldeena Thomas in Smiths Falls, Ontario

Jan 16, 1939

Edmund Fulton Rothwell died while a patient of the Kingston General Hospital of a pelvic abscess