Aug 19, 1890

Born in Belfast, Ireland

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59899 (temporary number 346)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mary Smyth, mother, Belfast, Ireland

o   Later noted as Margaret Smyth, wife, Belfast, Ireland

Ø  Previous occupation given as Machinist

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø  Posted to “C” Company

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

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 training

May 22, 1915

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

May 26, 1915

Arrested and sentenced to 168 hours Detention and forfeited 5 days pay for his absence

Jun 28, 1915

Reported to be Absent Without Leave

Jul 6, 1915

Taken into custody and sentenced to 14 days Detention and forfeited 9 days pay for his absence

Aug 14, 1915

Reported to be absent

Aug 15, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days Detention and forfeited 2 days pay for being absent and posted to the Depot Company while serving the sentence

Sep 9, 1915

Posted to “C” Company on completion of his sentence

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Oct 15, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being absent from the morning and afternoon parades in La Clytte, Belgium.  The afternoon parade was formed to move into the front line trench

Dec 11, 1915

Sentenced to 21 days Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeited 3 days pay for being absent from December 5 to December 7, 1915 while the battalion was occupying the front line trench near Voormezeele, Belgium

Jan 22, 1916

While the 21^st Battalion was occupying the front line trench near Voormezeele, Belgium, Private Smyth received a bullet wound to his left leg and was evacuated to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance)

Jan 24, 1916

Transferred to the Division Rest Station at Godewaersvelde, France to recover from his wound

Feb 4, 1916

After being discharged from the rest station, Private Smyth rejoined the 21^st Battalion at the front

Sep 15, 1916

During the attack on the sugar factory south of Courcelette, France, Private Smyth received a shrapnel wound to his groin and was evacuated to a casualty clearing station where surgery was performed to repair damage

Sep 16, 1916

Transferred to the No. 26 General Hospital in Etaples

Sep 24, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the No. 1 Eastern General Hospital in Cambridge

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

Dec 29, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Feb 23, 1917

Attached to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for physical training

Feb 28, 1917

Moved to the St. Leonard’s Hospital in Stonehaven, Scotland for additional therapy

Mar 10, 1917

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

May 7, 1917

Ceased to be attached to the 3^rd Canadian Command Depot and joined the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Seaford

May 22, 1917

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

Jun 15, 1917

Embarked the SS Scandinavian in Liverpool

Jun 23, 1917

Disembarked in Quebec City, Quebec and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario where he was admitted to the Military District No. 2 Convalescent Home

Jun 30, 1917

Medical exam at Quebec City notes

Ø  The shrapnel wound to his groin is severe

Ø  Vision in his left eye is greatly reduced

Ø  Ring finger of right hand was amputated prior to enlistment

Ø  Board recommends he be admitted to a convalescent home

He was subsequently transferred to Military District No. 2 and admitted to the Military Convalescent Home in Toronto, Ontario

Jul 3, 1917

Transferred to the Spadina Military Hospital to be treated as an Out Patient for ongoing treatment of his groin wounds

Jul 13, 1917

Ceased to be an Out Patient of the Spadina Hospital

Jul 26, 1917

To be treated as an Out Patient of the Spadina Hospital

Aug 31, 1917

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 Brantford, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 498 Victor St., Winnipeg, Manitoba

Oct 8, 1970

Reported to Veterans Affairs that John Smyth died on this date with no cause or location given.