Jun 15, 1884

Born in Cobourg, Ontario to George and Harriet Catherine (nee Clarke) Thomas

Dec 31, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59548 (temporary number 1207)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mr. George Thomas, father, Baltimore, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as CPR Train Brakeman

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “C” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” 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

Jul 8, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Bronchitis and while in hospital suffered form Psoriasis

Aug 10, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Oct 2, 1915

Sentenced to 2 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being absent from the Commanding Officer’s Parade.  It should be noted that the battalion was forming up to move from their billets to the front line.

Nov 25, 1915

While returning to his billet from a work party near the front line, Private Thomas was shot in the head by a sniper causing a skull fracture when the bullet penetrated his skull.  He was immediately knocked unconscious and evacuated to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the No. 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for assessment

Nov 27, 1915

Still unconscious, he was transported via the No. 3 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade Hospital in Etaples where surgery was performed to bore a hole into his skull to remove bullet fragments and damaged bone.  This left a large depressed area in the left frontal part of his skull.  He did not regain consciousness until after the surgery.

Dec 29, 1915

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Dieppe

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Canterbury

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital

Feb 15, 1916

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

Mar 18, 1916

Transferred to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe

Apr 16, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Monks Horton

Apr 22, 1916

Discharged from hospital and transferred to the CETD (Canadian Engineers Training Depot) for light duties

May 16, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal while in charge of the Messengers

Oct 12, 1916

Ceased to be attached to the training depot and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre

Oct 15, 1916

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

Oct 31, 1916

Embarked the SS Olympic in Liverpool

Nov 5, 1916

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Quebec City, Quebec

 Medical Board in Quebec City notes

Ø  Man was shot in his head by a sniper and has lost a portion of his skull as a result to the surgery to remove bullet and bone fragments

Ø  Has a large depressed scar about 2” by 1” and ¾” deep

Ø  Suffers from occasional headaches

Ø  Board recommends he be discharged with a pension

Nov 13, 1916

After leaving Quebec City he proceeded to Kingston, Ontario and was admitted to the Elmhurst Convalescent Hospital in Kingston

Jan 19, 1917

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Lance Corporal

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Cobourg, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 190 Perry St., Peterborough, Ontario

Jul 4, 1918

Admitted to the Military Base Hospital in Toronto, Ontario with diagnosis that reads Myalgia and Bronchitis

Jul 8, 1918

Discharged from hospital

Jul 24, 1953

George Thomas died of Metastatic Cancer while a patient of the Kingston, General Hospital Veterans Section and was buried in the Centenary Cemetery, Roseneath, Ontario