Jan 8, 1887

Born in Dublin, Ireland

Mar 18, 1915

Shown on the payroll of the 45^th Victoria Regiment in Lindsay, Ontario, then shown as “transferred to Kingston”.

Mar 19, 1915

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Lindsay, Ontario

Ø  Number 59870 (temporary number 1334)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Guinning, sister, 4 West Terrace, Dublin, Ireland

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to the Depot Company

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

May 4, 1915

Sentenced to 56 days detention 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 his detention sentence

May 26, 1915

Sentenced to additional 10 days detention and fined $2.00 for being drunk

Jun 16, 1915

Declared to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Jun 19, 1915

Sentenced to 14 days detention and forfeited 4 day’s pay for being absent

Jul 12, 1915

Declared to be Absent Without Leave

Jul 16, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days detention and forfeited 5 days pay for being absent

Aug 11, 1915

Declared to be Absent Without Leave

Aug 18, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days detention and forfeited 8 day’s pay for being absent

Sep 1, 1915

Transferred to the 2^nd Division Supply Column while in detention

On release from detention, he was transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling and posted to “D” Company

Oct 29, 1915

Declared to be Absent Without Leave

Nov 11, 1915

Placed under arrest by civilian police in Liverpool

Nov 12, 1915

Escorted to the 39^th Reserve Battalion Guard Room in West Sandling to await Court Martial

Nov 25, 1915

Tried by General District Court Martial and charged with

Ø  Desertion, in that while on active service he absented himself without leave from the 39^th Reserve Battalion from October 29, 1915 until apprehended in Liverpool on November 11, 1915

Ø  Private Searle entered a plea of Not Guilty

Evidence was given that he had been warned to remain in barracks on October 29, 1915 pending being sent to the front in France.  When the roll was called to proceed to the front, he was not present.

Private Searle testified that he was not present when the warning to remain in barracks was given and that he had received a message that his sister was ill and he left to see her.

After deliberation, he was found Guilty of the charge of Desertion and sentenced to 91 days detention

Dec 13, 1915

Released from detention early in order to proceed to the front.  Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Dec 14, 1915

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

Dec 25, 1915

After leaving the base depot, Private Searle rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in Ridgewood, Belgium

Feb 25, 1916

Declared to be absent without leave

Mar 1, 1916

Reported for duty from being absent and placed under arrest

Mar 4, 1916

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeited 6 days pay for being absent from February 25 to March 1, 1916

Mar 17, 1916

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment for refusing to obey and order while in detention.  Sentence to begin at completion of detention

Apr 24, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Shell Shock after being buried by a shell explosion while defending a crater at St. Eloi, Belgium.  He was evacuated to the No. 17 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Apr 29, 1916

Transferred to the No. 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, France

May 2, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Newhaven

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Queen Mary’s Royal Naval Hospital in Southend-on-Sea

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

Jun 18, 1916

Declared to be absent from hospital without leave

Jun 24, 1916

Transferred to the Fort Pitt Hospital in Chatham

Jun 26, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Military Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Aug 19, 1916

Declared to be absent

Aug 31, 1916

A notice was filed with the Registrar at Epsom of his intention to marry without a licence.  His intended bride Annie Beatrice Evaldi, a widow, living in Buxton

Sep 9, 1916

Court of Inquiry declared him to be illegally absent and deficient in his kit to the amount of $21.43

Sep 24, 1916

Discharged from hospital by reason of being absent

Oct 25, 1916

Taken On Strength the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre for records purposes while absent

Jan 3, 1917

After being arrested by civil police and charged with threatening his wife, he was sentenced by civil court to 1 month imprisonment

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the CORD (Central Ontario Regimental Depot) and attached to the GDD (General Duty Depot) in Seaford for duty

He was then transferred to the 4^th Canadian Labour Battalion in Seaford

Mar 15, 1917

Admitted to the Military Court Farm Hospital in Warlingham with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Mar 28, 1917

Attached to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot) while receiving hospital treatment as an out patient

Apr 2, 1917

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

Apr 3, 1917

Attached to the Garrison Duty Depot for light duties in Seaford while receiving treatment as an out patient

Apr 27, 1917

Ceased to be attached to the Garrison Duty Depot on being admitted to hospital as an in patient

May 6, 1917

Arrested by Hospital Police at Purley Downs and returned to the Military Court Farm Hospital in Warlingham

Jun 27, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bromley

Jun 29, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom and Scabies was added to the diagnosis

Jul 30, 1917

Sentenced to 5 days Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeited 5 days pay for being absent from July 26 to July 30, 1917

Aug 20, 1917

Sentenced to 9 days detention and forfeited 9 days pay for being absent from August 12 to August 20, 1917.

Sep 5, 1917

Transferred to the King’s Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Bushey Park, Hampton Hill and the diagnosis was changed to read DAH (Disordered Activity of the Heart)

On admission he is noted as “quite nervous and will never do a high category”.  Tremors in hands are noted

Nov 4, 1917

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Seaford

Nov 8, 1917

Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Dec 6, 1917

Embarked the SS Justicia in Liverpool while his wife remained in England

Dec 19, 1917

Disembarked in New York City, New York, USA and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario

On arrival in Toronto, he was classified fit for duty

Jan 17, 1918

Medical exam at the Ravina Barracks, Toronto notes

Ø  Man suffers from shell shock and myalgia in the lumbar region of his back

Ø  Has general body tremors, his knee jerks are exaggerated and has tremors in extended fingers

Ø  Suffers from headaches and dizzy spells

Ø  Conditions are likely to last at least 8 months

Ø  Board recommends he be discharged from military service as physically unfit

Jan 30, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 582 Clarens Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Apr 8, 1918

John’s wife Annie, embarked the SS Mauritania in Liverpool

Apr 15, 1918

Annie Searle disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to join her husband John in Toronto, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 48 Constance Rd., E. Dulwich, London, England

Feb 25, 1954

Reported to Veterans Affairs Canada that John Searle died with no other details provided