May 17, 1895

Born in Birmingham, England

Dec 20, 1915

Attested into the 66^th Regiment CEF in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Ø  Number 489339

Ø  Next of kin given as Charlotte Abram, Truro, Nova Scotia

Ø  Previous occupation given as Teamster

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Baptist

 
He gave his date of birth as May 17, 1893

Nov 9, 1916

Admitted to the Halifax Station Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Eczema

 
No date is shown for his discharge

Feb 2, 1917

Declared to be absent and SOS (Struck Off Strength) as a deserter effective this date

Feb 12, 1917

Attested into the No. 2 Army Service Corps Training Depot, CEF in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Ø  Number 513951

Ø  Next of kin given as Miss Bertha Warham, fiancé, Box 782 Truro, Colchester, Nova Scotia

Ø  Previous occupation given as Teamster

Ø  Previous military experience given as 2 years in the 76^th Regiment

Ø  Religion given as Baptist

Feb 23, 1917

Admitted to Exhibition Camp Hospital in Toronto, Ontario with a diagnosis that reads Gonorrhea

Mar 19, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

Apr 14, 1917

Signed confession states that he was formerly a member of the 66^th Regiment, number 489339, and had deserted February 2, 1917, and that he fraudulently enlisted into the Army Service Corps on February 12, 1917

Jun 4, 1917

Declared to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Jul 3, 1917

Court of enquiry at Camp Borden, Ontario, declares Private Smith to be a deserter and is SOS accordingly

Mar 26, 1918

Conscripted into the 1^st Depot Battalion, EOR (Eastern Ontario Regiment) under the MSA in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 3057552

Ø  Next of kin given as Ida Catherine Rose, foster sister, Monteith House, Muskoka, Ontario

Ø  Current address given as 182 Argyle St., Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Teamster

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Baptist

Ø  Assigned to the 4^th Regimental Draft

Apr 17, 1918

The depot’s 4^th draft embarked the SS Toloa in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Apr 28, 1918

Disembarked in England and proceeded to Seaford where the entire draft was absorbed into the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford to continue training

Sep 4, 1918

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Sep 5, 1918

Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Sep 9, 1918

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

Sep 12, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp he joined the 21^st Battalion in Division Reserve on the Droucourt Queant Line as part of a draft of 50 reinforcements

Oct 11, 1918

Private John Henry Smith received shrapnel wounds to his head during the battalion’s advance on the town of Avesnes-le-Sec, France and was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid

Oct 12, 1918

Transferred to the No. 33 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further treatment.

Oct 14, 1918

Private John Henry Smith died of his wounds at the No. 33 Casualty Clearing Station and was buried in the nearby Bucquoy Road British Cemetery, south of Arras.

 
Following the war, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to his foster sister, Miss Ida K. Rose c/o Mrs. Albert Passmore, Rosedale Farm, Rosseau PO, Muskoka, Ontario

 
There is no record of a Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll or Memorial Cross being issued.