|
May 19, 1898
|
Born in Cardiff Township, Haliburton, Ontario to
Manson and Charlotte (nee Spencer) Townsend
|
|
Feb 4, 1916
|
Attested into the 109th Battalion CEF
in Highland Grove, Ontario
Ø Number 726116
Ø Next of kin given as Manson
Townsend, father, Harcourt P.O., Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as
Farmer
Ø No previous military
experience given
Ø Religion given as Church of
England
Ø Posted to “D” Company
His brother, William Walter Townsend attested
into the battalion the same day. Like
Herbert, William survived the war
|
|
Jul 23, 1916
|
Embarked the SS Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia
|
|
Jul 31, 1916
|
Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded
to the Bordon Camp, west of Bramshott
|
|
Aug 16. 1916
|
The battalion moved to Bramshott to continue
training. The battalion was later
re-designated as a reserve battalion.
|
|
Aug 28, 1916
|
Admitted to hospital
|
|
Sep 3, 1916
|
Discharged to duty from hospital
|
|
Oct 5, 1916
|
Transferred to the 21st Battalion
|
|
Oct 6, 1916
|
Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st
Battalion
|
|
Nov 2, 1916
|
After leaving the base depot, Private Townsend
joined the 21st Battalion resting in billets in Calonne, France
and was posted to “B” Company
|
|
Nov 10, 1916
|
Admitted to the No. 22 CCS (Casualty Clearing
Station) with a diagnosis that reads Pleurisy
|
|
Nov 14, 1916
|
Transferred to the No. 22 General Hospital in
Camiers, France
|
|
Nov 23, 1916
|
Private Townsend was invalided to England aboard
the Hospital Ship Dieppe
On arrival in England he was admitted to the 3rd
Northern General Hospital in Sheffield
Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Corps Assembly
Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital
|
|
Jan 13, 1917
|
Transferred to the Hillingdon House Canadian
Convalescent Hospital in Uxbridge
|
|
Jan 25, 1917
|
Attached to the 3rd CCD (Canadian
Convalescent Depot) and transferred to the St. Leonard’s Hospital to continue
his recovery
|
|
Mar 8, 1917
|
Discharged from hospital care and transferred to
the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford
|
|
Apr 21, 1917
|
Transferred back to the 21st Battalion
|
|
Apr 22, 1917
|
Arrived at the base depot in Havre, France and TOS
the 21st Battalion.
|
|
May 11, 1917
|
After leaving the base depot, he joined the 2nd
Canadian Entrenching Battalion Hersin, France as part of a draft of 34
reinforcements destined to join the 21st Battalion
|
|
Aug 18, 1917
|
During the severe fighting at Hill 70, near Lens,
France, Private Townsend was wounded during one of the many German counter
attacks. He received shrapnel wounds
to both buttocks, left thigh and hands and was evacuated to the No. 4
Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid
|
|
Aug 19, 1917
|
Transferred to the No 22 Casualty Clearing
Station
|
|
Aug 20, 1917
|
Transferred via the No. 27 AT (Ambulance Train)
and admitted to the No. 11 General Hospital in Camiers
|
|
Sep 19, 1917
|
Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship
Brighton
On arrival in England he was admitted to the
Endell Street Military Hospital in London
Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario
Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital
|
|
Sep 28, 1917
|
Transferred to the Hillingdon House Canadian
Convalescent Hospital in Uxbridge
|
|
Oct 30, 1917
|
Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital
in Woodcote Park, Epsom
It is noted here that pieces of shrapnel remain
in his wounds
|
|
Nov 16, 1917
|
Discharged from hospital care and transferred to
the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford
|
|
Mar 6, 1918
|
Awarded the Good Conduct Badge
|
|
Apr 10, 1918
|
Transferred to the 21st Battalion
|
|
Apr 11, 1918
|
Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base
Depot) in Etaples, France and Taken On Strength the 21st Battalion
|
|
Apr 16, 1918
|
After leaving the base depot he joined the CC
Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) as part of a draft of 9
reinforcements destined to join the 21st Battalion
|
|
May 12, 1918
|
After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private
Townsend rejoined the 21st Battalion in the front lines south-east
of Mercatel, France
|
|
Dec 13, 1918
|
Following the Armistice, the 21st
Battalion crossed the Bonn Bridge and entered Germany as part of the
occupying force.
|
|
Mar 15, 1919
|
Granted 14 days leave
|
|
Apr 3, 1919
|
Embarked the SS Western Australia in Havre,
France for England
On arrival in England he was posted to the “P”
Wing in Witley for processing pending his return to Canada
|
|
May 14, 1919
|
Embarked the SS Caronia in Liverpool
|
|
May 22, 1919
|
Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded
by train to Kingston, Ontario
|
|
May 24, 1919
|
Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø War Service Badge Class “A”
issued 277491
Ø Proposed residence on
discharge Harcourt, Ontario
Following his discharge, the British War Medal
and the Victory Medals were delivered to him at Highland Grove, Ontario
The
Allied Victory Medal is shown below. If you know the location of
his missing British War Medal, please contact the webmaster to enquire
about reuniting his medals in one place
A second pair of medals were sent to Mr. Raymond
Lewis, Harcourt, Ontario August 29, 1968
|
|
Aug 25, 1984
|
Herbert Wesley Townsend died in Haliburton, and
was buried in the Deer Lake Cemetery, Highlands East, Ontario
|
|