William Harold Saxby

 

Dec 11, 1891

Born to William and Agnes (nee Pengelly) Saxby at Peterborough Ontario

 

Nov 16, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59865 (temporary number 593)

Ø      Next of kin given as William Saxby (father) of Peterborough Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Plasterer

o       Later it was noted as Bricklayer & Plasterer

Ø      Previous military experience given as the 57th Regiment Militia at Peterborough Ontario

Ø      Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø      Assigned to “E” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “C” Company and he was in No 9 Platoon

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec

 

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp

 

Jul 9, 1915

AWL (Absent Without Leave) for 1 day and forfeited 1 day’s pay

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone

 

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer

 

 

 

Apr 8, 1916

Wounded in the chest and arm by shrapnel from an exploding enemy shell during the heavy fighting at the St Eloi Craters.  He was admitted to the No 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) and then transferred the same day to No 17 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station with a broken arm

 

Apr 10, 1916

Transferred to No 13 General Hospital at Boulogne via No 43 AT (Ambulance Train)

 

Apr 18, 1916 This appeared in the Peterborough Examiner

 

May 4, 1916

Invalided to England, aboard the Hospital Ship Newhaven

Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital in England 

Admitted to the Quex Park VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) Hospital at Birchington Kent where several surgeries were performed to remove bone and shrapnel fragments

 


Above from the Peterborough Examiner of May 5, 1916 and below is from same paper dated December 1, 1916

 

Jan 6, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Monks Horton

 

Feb 16, 1917

Discharged from hospital and detailed for Light Duties

 

Feb 17, 1917

On Command to the GDD (the Garrison Guard) for Base Duty

 

Mar 11, 1917

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) but remained attached to the GDD for duty

 

Mar 13, 1917

Posted to the 1st QRD (Quebec Regimental Depot) at Shoreham

 

May 18, 1917

On Command to CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) at Buxton pending return to Canada

 

Jun 15, 1917

Embarked the SS Scandinavian at Liverpool

 

 

Jun 23, 1917

Disembarked at Montreal Quebec

 

Jun 30, 1917

Prior to departing from Montreal, he was examined by a Medical Board and determined that he had a 20% disability that is permanent and was due to his service.

 

Jul 1, 1917

Posted to the MD# 3 Special Service Battalion at Kingston Ontario and TOS #3 Special Service Company  

On arrival at Kingston was admitted to the Convalescent Home and declared fit for Light Duty 

Although not recorded in the file, it is clear from the newspaper reports below that he was granted sick leave to go home for a period of time

 

Jul 3, 1917            From the Kingston newspaper

 

 

Sep 19, 1917

Discharged from CEF at the Barriefield Camp, Kingston Ontario 

His rank on discharge was Private and he was issued with the War Service Badge Class “A”, however the number was not recorded in the file 

Although he was discharged from the CEF, he was to remain under the care of the SCR (Soldier’s Civil Re-establishment) Commission  

His intended residence on discharge was given as 352 Smith St, Peterborough

 

May 14, 1921

The following medals were sent to him at 352 Smith St, Peterborough Ontario 

Ø      1914-15 Star

Ø      British War Medal

Ø      Victory Medal

 

May 16, 1928

Married to Shirley Oulcott Clow at Haileybury Ontario

 




Above from the 1962 21st Battalion Reunion in Toronto Ontario below is from the July 1937 issue of The Communiqué, the 21st Battalion Association's post war newsletter

   


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