Nov 4, 1896

Born in Ulster, Ireland to Samuel and Sarah (nee Hull) Steenson

 
Tommy was living with his aunt, Margaret Switzer, at White Lake, Ontario when the war broke out.

Jan 4, 1916

Attested into the 109^th Battalion CEF in Kinmount, Ontario

Ø  Number 726045

Ø  Next of kin given as Sarah Steenson, mother, Faulkland, Glaslough, Ireland

Ø  Previous occupation given as Farmer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Assigned to “D” Company

 
The Kinmount Platoon trained in the old Forrester’s Hall (now the Community Centre) for the winter of 1915-16. In the spring of 1916, the 109^th went to Camp Borden near Barrie for advanced training

Apr 1, 1916

Appointed to the provisional rank of Lance Corporal

Jul 23, 1916

Embarked the SS Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Jul 31, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded to the Bordon Camp, near Longmoor, Hampshire

Aug 16, 1916

The battalion moved to Bramshott to continue training

Oct 5, 1916

Reverted to the rank of Private and transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Oct 6, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 917 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Oct 22, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Steenson joined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Bully Grenay, France

Apr 9, 1917

During the Canadian Corps attack on and capture of Vimy Ridge, Private Steenson received a shrapnel wound to his right knee.  He was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station for further treatment

Apr 17, 1917

Transferred to the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples for treatment

May 17, 1917

Discharged to duty at the base depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre

Jun 1, 1917

Transferred to the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples and posted to “A” Company for those recovering from wounds and illness

Jun 7, 1917

After leaving the base depot he joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin, France

Jun 12, 1917

After leaving the entrenching battalion he rejoined the 21^st Battalion in huts in Coupigny, France

Aug 15, 1917

The Canadian Corps attacked and captured Hill 70, north of the city of Lens, France.  The fighting was fierce and often the men were engaged in hand to hand combat.  Private Thomas Steenson was first reported to be wounded, but then reported to have been killed in the action.  He was buried in a field about ¼ mile north-west of the town of Lens by his comrades when the fighting had finally subsided.  When the war ended his remains could not be located for burial in a war graves cemetery, and his name is listed on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France for those killed during the war in France with no known grave.

 
Following the war, the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. S. Steenson, Faulkland, Glaslough, Ireland

 
The Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Samuel Steenson, at the same address

Thomas Steenson is also honoured on the Kinmount, Ontario War Memorial