Feb 22, 1896

Born at London England to Arthur and Adelaide Routledge

Jan 19, 1916

Married to Beatrice Maude Underwood at Ingersoll Ontario

Jan 20, 1916

Attested into the 168^th Battalion at Ingersoll Ontario 

Ø      Number 675304

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs Beatrice Maude Routledge (wife) of King St, Ingersoll Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Machinist

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Baptist 

The Medical Officer declared him “Fit”

Jan 24, 1916

Discharged from the CEF at Woodstock Ontario as “Not likely to be efficient” and noted as having defective eyesight, despite having passed the medical exam 4 days earlier

Feb 28, 1916

Attested into the 168^th Battalion at Ingersoll Ontario 

Ø      Number 675828

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs Beatrice Routledge (wife) of King St, Ingersoll Ontario

o       His father had enlisted in the 216^th Battalion

Ø      Previous occupation given as Machinist

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Baptist 

The same Medical Officer from the first examination declared him to be “Fit”

Oct 30, 1916

Embarked the RMS Lapland at Halifax Nova Scotia

Nov 11, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England

Dec 5, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling

Mar 19, 1917

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Mar 20, 1917

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

Mar 22, 1917

Left the CBD to join his unit

Apr 14, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion at Volker House at Vimy Ridge as they were in close support of the 2^nd Division following the taking of Vimy Ridge proper.  He was assigned for duty as a Runner. 

There is no explanation in the file as to why it took Pte Routledge so long to join the Battalion, but I would assume it was because of the fighting and confusion surrounding the attack on April 9^th

Jul 7, 1917

Admitted to the No 1 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with a fractured right ankle.  He was transferred the same day via No 27 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to No 7 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples.  The Battalion was proceeding to billets at Fosse 10, so one would assume this was a non-combat injury

Sep 16, 1917

Discharged to duty

Sep 17, 1917

Arrived at No 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) at Etaples and assigned to “A” Company for those recovering from wounds and illness

Sep 26, 1917

Left No 2 CIBD

Sep 27, 1917

Arrived at the CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) at Villers Au Bois

Oct 9, 1917

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the front line in the Chaudier Section

Nov 20, 1917

Admitted to the No 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) diagnosed with Impetigo and transferred to the No 5 CFA

Dec 5, 1917

Discharged to duty and rejoined the 21^st Battalion

Dec 31, 1917

Granted 14 days leave

Jan 18, 1918

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion from leave

Feb 28, 1918

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Aug 27, 1918

Received shrapnel wounds to his left leg during the heavy fighting at Cambrai.  The 21^st Battalion suffered over 300 casualties, dead, wounded and missing, over a 3 day period. 

He was admitted to the No 4 CFA and transferred the same day to the CCS

Aug 29, 1918

Transferred to the No 2 Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne

Aug 31, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Pieter de Conninck

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital

Sep 1, 1918

Admitted to the County of Middlesex War Hospital at Mapsbury, St Albans

Oct 1, 1918

Transferred to the Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom

Nov 4, 1918

Reported to the 1^st CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) at Witley for Physical Training and conditioning

Dec 18, 1918

Posted to the 6^th Reserve Battalion at Seaford

Dec 27, 1918

On Command to MD (Military District) No 1 at Kinmel Park, Rhyl pending return to Canada

Jan 11, 1919

Embarked the RMS Olympic at Southampton

TOS No 1 District Depot at London Ontario

Jan 17, 1919

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia and proceeded to London Ontario

Feb 8, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at London Ontario 

Ø      Rank on discharge Private

Ø      A Class “A” War Service Badge would have been issued but the number was not recorded in the file

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge Charles St, Ingersoll Ontario

Feb 11, 1919

Awarded the Military Medal per London Gazette #31173

Mar 2, 1922

The British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 593 Charles St, Ingersoll Ontario

Jun 23, 1960

Deceased at the Westminster Hospital, London Ontario