Herbert Miller Swaine   

 

    

Aug 22, 1881

Born at Pittsburgh Township, Ontario 

On enlistment with the PWOR in 1901, he gave his birth date as August 23, 1880, but on Attestation into the 21st Battalion he gave his birth date as August 22, 1881.  I could not locate him on either the 1901 or 1911 Census to confirm which date is correct.

 

Mar 1, 1899

Enlisted in PWOR as a Private and assigned to “B” Company

 

Apr 30, 1901

Promoted to rank of Sergeant in “B” Company

 

Jun 10, 1904

Commissioned as a Provisional 2nd Lieutenant

 

Nov 15, 1904

Qualified with Lieutenant Certificate from Provincial School

 

Dec 15, 1906

Qualified Captain Certificate

 

Apr 25, 1907

Qualified as Lieutenant (Signalling)

 

May 15, 1907

Qualified Signalling Certificate Grade B and appointed to be Signalling Officer

 

Jun 22, 1910

Promoted to rank of Captain and ceases to be Signalling Officer

 

Aug 1, 1911

Transferred to Corps of Reserve Officers and moved to Toronto Ontario

 

Nov 19, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59942 (temporary number 21)

Ø      Next of kin given as Bertha Swaine (sister) of 67 Rideau St, Kingston Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Salesman

Ø      Previous military experience given as 14th Regiment PWOR – 15 years

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to No 2 Company with the rank of Sgt

o       Later reorganized into “A” Company

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec

  

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp, near Hythe Kent

 

May 20, 1915

Promoted to rank of Warrant Officer Class II, and appointed CSM (Company Sergeant Major) of No 2 Company to replace CSM Lattion who died of Appendicitis the day previous.

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone

  

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer

 

Oct 11, 1915

Proceeded on Course

 

Jan 11, 1916

Granted a Commission as a Temporary Lieutenant

 

Mar 26, 1916

Admitted to No 6 Field Ambulance, diagnosis NYD (Not Yet Determined) then transferred to Rest Station at No 6 Field Ambulance and diagnosis changed to read Overwork

 

Apr 1, 1916

Discharged to duty

 

Apr 10, 1916

Admitted No 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) then transferred to No 10 CCS suffering from Shell Shock having been knocked unconscious and buried for some time before being rescued. 

Transferred via No 20 AT (Ambulance Transport) and admitted to No 14 General Hospital at Boulogne

 

Apr 29, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Newhaven

  

Admitted to Miss Pollock’s Hospital, London where diagnosis changed to read Shell Shock and Pleurisy. 

Doctor recommends he not be returned to the front 

Posted to the General List while in hospital

 

May 12, 1916

Medical Board recommendations 

Ø      Diagnosis of Shell Shock and Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Ø      Patient losing weight

Ø      Recommends 2½ months leave to Canada

 

May 16, 1916

Discharged from hospital

 

May 23, 1916

Granted leave to Canada until July 26, 1916

 

Jul 19, 1916

SOS (Struck Off Strength) the OMFC (Overseas Military Force of Canada) on being retained in Canada for duty

 

Jul 27, 1916

Transferred to the Petawawa Camp

 

Apr 24, 1917

Appointed to the Board of Pension Commissioners as Pension Commissioner for MD #3 at Kingston Ontario

 

Jan 9, 1918

Admitted to Kingston General Hospital with diagnosis of General Debility, suffering from weakness and dizziness 

Doctors note that 2 sisters died of Tuberculosis at the age of 20 and 21.  His father suffered a stroke and died of an infection, and his mother died suddenly of an unknown cause

 

Feb 19, 1918

Deceased at Kingston General Hospital from Tuberculosis due to service at the front

  
Cataraqui Cemetery
Kingston ON

 

May 9, 1920

Beginning on this date, and on subsequent dates, the following medals were sent to his eldest brother WE Swaine of 100 Clergy St, W, Kingston Ontario 

1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Death Plaque
Scroll 

There was no Memorial Cross sent as there was no eligible recipient 

Some forms in the file indicated that he was married to Bertha Swaine, but I believe this to have been in error, as the Census records Bertha as his sister.

 

Herbert Swaine is commemorated on the Kingston, Ontario Memorial Wall

 

2010

For the 7 nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers were projected onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres.  At the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across Belgium and Canada.  The image above shows the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010. 

Below is the name of Herbert Swaine being broadcast to the schools.  Each name appeared for 25 seconds and each night 9,700 names were shown.

 

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