Aug 30, 1876

Born in Taunton, England to James and Jane (nee Burrows) Tarrington

Aug 6, 1900

Married to Lily Lizzette Lake in the St. Mary Church, Somerset, England

Nov 29, 1907

Embarked the SS Empress of Britain in Liverpool with his wife and 3 children, Lydia, James and William

Dec 8, 1907

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Napanee, Ontario

Nov 9, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59951 (temporary number 808)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Tarrington, wife, Alexander St., Port Hope, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Bricklayer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Assigned to “G” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “D” Company

 
The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

 
The ship’s manifest for his immigration to Canada indicated his age as “33 years”.  On attesting he stated he was born August 30, 1881, not his actual birth year of 1876.

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

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Dec 4, 1915

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Sciatica.  He was transferred the same day to the No. 6 CFA Divisional Rest Station in Locre, Belgium

Dec 8, 1915

Transferred to the North Midlands Division Rest Station in Mont des Cats, France

Dec 15, 1915

Discharged to duty with the 21^st Battalion

Jan 2, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Bronchitis.  He was transferred the same day to the Divisional Rest Station at Mont Des Cats and Lumbago and Myalgia are added to the diagnosis

Jan 20, 1916

Transferred via the No. 24 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, France

Feb 22, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Patrick

  
On arrival in England he was admitted to the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Taplow and Rheumatism is added to the diagnosis

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

 
Red Cross hospital record shows moderate tobacco use and “good deal alcohol use”.  The record also indicates that the present illness was caused by exposure to the wet and cold of the trenches.

Mar 20, 1916

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Ramsgate

Apr 24, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Apr 30, 1916

Attached to the discharge depot in Folkestone pending return to Canada

May 12, 1916

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Liverpool

May 20, 1916

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

May 26, 1916

Admitted to the Elmhurst Military Hospital in Kingston with a diagnosis that reads Myalgia

Jul 29, 1916

Transferred to the Richardson Convalescent Hospital in Kingston

Oct 20, 1916

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Discharged as Medically Unfit

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued

Apr 20, 1918

James Tarrington died of Pneumonia while a patient in the Grace Hospital, Toronto, Ontario and was buried in the Prospect Cemetery there

  
Following the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to Alexander St., Port Hope, Ontario.  There is no indication in the file who they were sent to, as both James and Lily Tarrington were deceased at the time.  Neither is there any indication that the medals were ever returned

Sep 4, 1919

Lily Tarrington died while a patient in the Toronto General Hospital of a Pulmonary Embolism, and was buried in the Prospect Cemetery, near her husband, James

 
The Tarrington children were separated and raised by various family members and friends

Toronto Telegram, July 29, 1918

 Toronto Star, August 1, 1918

Despite repeated claims that he had been gassed at the front
there was no evidence found at the time that this was true.  Upon
reviewing his file, and the battalion's war diary, I could find no
indication that he ever suffered from the effects of a gas attack.  His
medical records indicate that the health problems were a result of exposure
to the wet and cold of the trenches.  It was for this reason that no
pension was ever granted, either to him or his surviving family.

James Tarrington is honoured on the Port Hope, Ontario War Memorial