May 16, 1898

Born in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada to Charles Arthur Truesdell and Armintha (nee VanNorman) Truesdell

Jun 24, 1913

Attended the training camp at the Barriefield Camp, Kingston, Ontario as a member of “H” Company 49^th Regiment Hastings Rifles and shown as a Bugler

Jun 15, 1914

Attended the training camp at Camp Petawawa, Ontario, as a member of “C” Company, 49^th Regiment Hastings Rifles with the rank of Private

Nov 5, 1914

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

Ø  Number 60000 (temporary number 231)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. A. Truesdell, mother, Wellman’s Corners, Ontario

Ø  Previous Occupation given Boiler Maker

o   Later noted as Motor Mechanic and Driver

Ø  Previous military experience given as Active Militia

Ø  Religion given as Methodist

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “A” Company

Norman Truesdell lied about his age on attesting, stating that his birth date was May 16, 1895.  At the age of 16, he was too young to enlist.

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

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

Oct 15, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being absent from the 1.45 pm parade in La Clytte, Belgium

The battalion was forming up to move into the front-line trench and Private Truesdell was 1 of 24 men absent from that parade

Sep 15, 1916

While the 21^st Battalion was attacking the heavily defended sugar factory south of Courcelette, France, Norman Truesdell received a shrapnel wound to his right leg and was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station for treatment

Sep 16, 1916

Transferred to the Liverpool Merchants Military Hospital in Etaples

Sept 20, 1916

Invalided to England on the Hospital Ship Brighton

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Queen Mary’s Military Hospital in Whalley, Lancashire

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

Jan 17, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Park, Epsom and loss of function of his right leg is noted

Feb 1, 1917

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Ramsgate

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Apr 24, 1917

Discharged from hospital care and attached to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for light duties in Seaford

May 1, 1917

Transferred to the Permanent Cadre of the 3^rd Canadian Command Depot

July 17, 1917

Forfeits 2 day’s pay for being Absent Without Leave for 2 days, Seaford.  As additional punishment, his pay was reduced by 20¢ per day for the next 2 months

Aug 18, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant with pay

Jan 18, 1918

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot but remained attached to the Canadian Command Depot for duty

Reverted to the rank of Private

Jan 24, 1918

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Feb 28, 1918

Medical Board in Seaford notes

Ø  Shrapnel wound to right leg healed

Ø  Complains of weakness in right calf muscles

Ø  Left foot is swollen and states he fractured it in a motor vehicle accident prior to joining army

Ø  There is limited motion in the left ankle and cannot walk a mile without pain

Ø  Board recommended Category B II, meaning he is only fit for non-combat base duty

Mar 18, 1918

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot but remained attached to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Mar 31, 1918

Attached to the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) for duty

Jul 9, 1918

Ceased to be attached to the YMCA

Jul 18, 1918

Transferred to the CFC BD (Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot) in Sunningdale

Aug 30, 1918

Transferred to the 10^th Company, Canadian Forestry Corps

Aug 31, 1918

The 10^th Company CFC arrived in France to assist in the construction of aerodromes at Saulxures

Jan 7, 1919

The 10^th Company proceeded to Etaples upon completion of the airport construction at Saulxures

Jan 12, 1919

Transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps Depot in Sunningdale, England

Feb 1, 1919

Married to Grace Alma Reynolds in Clapham

Feb 22, 1919

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

Mar 15, 1919

Embarked the SS Metagama in Liverpool with his wife Grace

Mar 24, 1919

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick

Mar 26, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Saint John, New Brunswick

Ø  Rank on discharge Acting Corporal

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 130226

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Kingston, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Stirling, Ontario

Jan 13, 1976

William Norman Arthur Truesdell died in Toronto, Ontario and was buried in the Pine Hills Cemetery, Toronto