Apr 2, 1877

Born in Witney, Oxfordshire, England

Aug 5, 1905

Married to Mary Ellen in England

Mar 7, 1907

Embarked the SS Ionian in Liverpool along with his wife, Mary

 
The ship’s manifest shows his occupation as Carpenter

Mar 17, 1907

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Niagara Falls, Ontario

Mar 24, 1915

Attested into the 39^th Battalion CEF in Lindsay, Ontario

Ø  Number 413088

Ø  Next of kin given as Mary Ellen Scanes, wife, 17 Alpha Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Carpenter

Ø  Previous military experience given as 8 ½ years in the Oxfordshire Infantry in England

o   Entitled to the Queen’s South Africa Medal with 4 Clasps

Ø  Religion given as Methodist

Ø  Assigned to “A” Company

 
The battalion trained in the Belleville, Ontario area

Jun 17, 1915

Embarked the SS Missanabie in Montreal, Quebec

Jul 3, 1915

Disembarked in Plymouth, England and proceeded to Shorncliffe and then on to Lydd to continue training

Aug 17, 1915

To receive extra duty pay of 50¢ per day while employed as a Cook

Sep 24, 1915

The 39^th Battalion moved to West Sandling to continue training

Apr 26, 1916

Promoted to the rank of Sergeant Cook

Jul 14, 1916

After being held in custody for 31 days, Acting Sergeant Scanes was tried by Courts Martial in West Sandling, charged with

Ø  First Charge – at West Sandling, on the 18^th June, 1916, when employed in the care of the Cook House Stores of the 39^th Battalion, stole 20 or 25 pounds of sugar valued at about 11 shillings and 8 pence

Ø  Alternative Second Charge - at West Sandling, on the 18^th June, 1916, when employed in the care of the Cook House Stores of the 39^th Battalion, stole 20 or 25 pounds of sugar valued at about 11 shillings and 8 pence, sold, or caused to be sold the said sugar with intent to defraud

Ø  Third Charge - Neglect to the Prejudice of good order and Military Discipline, in that he, at West Sandling, between 20^th April1916 and 18^th June, 1916, when in charge of the Cook House of the 39^th Battalion permitted Public Property viz: Quantities of dripping to be sold by private soldiers and by such negligence caused a loss to the messing account of the men of the 39^th Battalion

 
A not guilty plea was entered on the first 2 charges and a plea of guilty was entered on the 3^rd Charge

Jul 19, 1916

He was found guilty by the court of the 2^nd and 3^rd charges and sentenced to 49 days of Field Punishment No. 2

 
19 days of the punishment were remitted in partial compensation for pre-trial custody

 
Forfeited a total of 61 days pay and allowances

Jul 24, 1916

Reduced to the rank of Private

Aug 27, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Aug 28, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 150 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Sep 12, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Scanes joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Albert, France

Sep 16, 1916

After leaving the entrenching battalion he joined the 21^st Battalion rear details in Vadencourt.  The main body of the battalion was involved in heavy fighting south of Courcelette.  He would have joined the rest of the battalion a short time later

Dec 18, 1916

Attached to the 4^th Field Company, Canadian Engineers for duty

Jan 17, 1917

Rejoined the battalion from the 4^th Field Company

Apr 12, 1917

During the attack on Vimy Ridge, Private Scanes received shrapnel wounds to his right knee and shoulder.  He was evacuated to the nearby field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station for further treatment

Apr 13, 1917

Transferred to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne for treatment

Apr 14, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel

On arrival in England he was admitted to the East Leeds War Hospital

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

Apr 24, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Depot at Woodcote Park, Epsom, to continue his recovery

May 11, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital and posted to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford and assigned to “C” Company

Oct 6, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal with pay

May 5, 1918

John Scanes was thrown out of a sidecar of a motorcycle and knocked unconscious when his skull was fractured.    He was rushed to the Eastbourne Military Hospital for treatment

May 6, 1918

Acting Lance Corporal John Scanes died of his wounds in hospital without regaining consciousness and was buried in the nearby Ocklynge Cemetery, Eastbourne.

 
Following the war, the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his widow, Mrs. Mary E. Scanes, 143 Constitution Rd., Luton, Chatham, England.

 
A second Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. Louisa J. Lea Scanes, 1 Gloster Place, Witney, Oxon., England