|
Aug 23, 1895
|
Born in Tamworth, Ontario to Samuel and Sarah Ann
(nee Martin) Switzer
His mother Sarah died in 1925
|
|
Jun 4, 1915
|
Attested into the 38th Battalion CEF
in Napanee, Ontario
Ø Number 410897
Ø Next of kin given as Sarah Ann
Switzer, mother, Camden East, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as
Farmer
Ø Previous military experience
given as 2 years in the 47th Frontenac Regiment, Canadian Militia
Ø Religion given as Methodist
Ø Assigned to “D” Company
He signed his attestation papers with an X and it
is noted as “his mark”
According to the 1901 Canadian Census, he was
born in 1894
On attesting he stated his father was not alive
|
|
Aug 8, 1915
|
Embarked the SS Caledonia in Halifax, Nova
Scotia
|
|
Aug 12, 1915
|
Disembarked in Bermuda and “D” Company and part
of “C” Company proceeded to Devonshire and housed in the Prospect Barracks to
conduct Garrison Duty
|
|
May 10, 1916
|
Medical exam held at the Prospect Barracks finds
him fit for “Overseas Service”
|
|
|
Jun 8, 1916
|
Discharged from the CEF at the Quebec Discharge Depot
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø Discharged per King’s
Regulations and Orders paragraph 392 (iii) (e)
o
Discharged
as “not likely to become efficient”
Interestingly, his conduct and character are
recorded on his discharge documents are recorded as “Good”
|
|
Jan 8, 1917
|
Attested into the 254th Battalion CEF
in Napanee, Ontario
Ø Number 1093245
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs.
Sarah Switzer, mother, Tamworth, Ontario
o
This
was later changed to read Mrs. F. Clarke as his mother remarried
Ø Previous occupation given as Labourer
Ø No previous military
experience given
Ø Religion given as Methodist
He signed his attestation papers with an X and it
is noted as “his mark”
The battalion trained in the Belleville area
|
|
May 29, 1917
|
Embarked the SS Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia
|
|
Jun 9, 1917
|
Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the
battalion proceeded to Seaford where it was absorbed into the 6th
Reserve Battalion to continue training
|
|
Oct 17, 1917
|
Transferred to the 21st Battalion
|
|
Oct 18, 1917
|
Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base
Depot) in Etaples, France as part of a draft of 19 reinforcements from
England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
|
|
Oct 22, 1917
|
After leaving the base depot, he joined the CC
Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Calonne Ricouart
|
|
Nov 20, 1917
|
After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private
Switzer joined the 21st Battalion in billets in Camblain L’Abbe,
France as part of a draft of 95 reinforcements to replace the losses at
Passchendaele
|
|
Jan 31, 1918
|
Attached to the 1st Canadian
Tunnelling Company for duty
|
|
Feb 19, 1918
|
Rejoined the battalion from the tunnelling
company
|
|
Mar 4, 1918
|
While the battalion was in the trenches west of
Lens, the Germans conducted a raid with experienced Storm Troopers and caused
many casualties before being beaten back.
Private Switzer received shrapnel wounds to his neck, left arm and
hand. He was evacuated overnight to
the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid
|
|
Mar 5, 1918
|
Transferred to the No. 1 CCS (Casualty Clearing
Station) for further treatment
|
|
Mar 28, 1918
|
Discharged to duty from the clearing station and
rejoined the battalion 3 days later
|
|
Oct 11, 1918
|
The 21st Battalion, in conjunction
with the 4th Brigade, attacked the enemy lines south west of the
town of Avesnes-le-Sec, near Iwuy, France.
The Germans put up fierce resistance and the battalion was forced to
withdraw after suffering 50% casualties of their attacking force. Private Joseph Wesley Switzer was first
declared Missing in Action, but later was determined to have been killed
during this action. He was later
buried in the Niagara Cemetery, Iwuy, France.
Following the war the British War Medal, Victory
Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother,
Mrs. S.A. Clarke, Deseronto, Ontario (she had remarried)
|
|
Joseph Wesley
Switzer is honour on the War Memorial in Napanee, Ontario (above) and the
Memorial in Tamworth, Ontario (below)
|
|
