Oct 25, 1870

Born in London, England to Thomas and Sarah (nee Porter) Upson

Sep 6, 1903

Married to Emily Clapham in St. Mark, Victoria Park, England

Nov 11, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 60015 (temporary number 584)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. W.G. Upson, wife, Cornwall, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  Previous military experience given as 59^th Stormont and Glengarry Regiment, Cornwall and the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment for 8 years

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “E” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “C” Company

On attesting, he lied about his age, stating that he was born October 23, 1876, not his actual birth date of October 25, 1870.

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

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

Apr 3, 1916

Granted 9 days leave

Apr 11, 1916

Rejoined the battalion resting in the “B” Camp at La Clytte, Belgium from leave

Jun 1, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Contusion to right ankle.  He was placed in the 2^nd Division Rest Station in Godewaersvelde, France to recover

Jun 6, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in Dickebusch, Belgium from the rest station

Sep 15, 1916

During the capture of the heavily defended sugar factory south of Courcelette, France, Private Upson received shrapnel wounds to his face that fractured his jaw and knocked out 2 teeth.  He was unconscious for some time and does not remember being wounded.  He was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid then transported to a casualty clearing station before being transported to the No. 6 General Hospital in Rouen, France.  One medical report states he was unconscious for 10 days after being wounded

Sep 22, 1916

Surgery performed at the No. 6 General Hospital to repair damage to jaw and remove shrapnel from behind left ear

Sep 24, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Maheno

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the No. 1 Southern General Hospital in Birmingham

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

Nov 24, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bearwood, Wokingham

Jan 25, 1917

Discharged from hospital and embarked the SS Carpathia in London

Feb 9, 1917

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

Feb 12, 1917

Medical exam at Quebec City notes

Ø  Man suffers from loss of memory and is rather nervous

Ø  He looks tired and has some hearing loss in left ear

Ø  Does not remember being wounded or what has happened since

Ø  Board recommends treatment in a convalescent home then discharge from service

Feb 14, 1917

Admitted to the Elmhurst Convalescent Home in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  On admission he was noted as suffering from Traumatic Neurasthenia and being over age at 47.  (he now claimed to have been born in 1870)

Ø  He has scars on left side of face and says he cannot hear from his left ear

Ø  He is nervous and has tremors

Ø  Man says his legs are weak and his right arm becomes paralysed at times

Ø  He has trouble remembering and spelling

Aug 31, 1917

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A” and “B”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Cornwall, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 5^th St. W., Cornwall, Ontario

Apr 7, 1919

Admitted to the Cobourg, Ontario Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Neurasthenia

Jul 17, 1919

Discharged from hospital

Jan 10, 1959

William and his wife Emily died tragically in their home from carbon monoxide poisoning while sleeping.  Their bodies were not discovered until the next evening by their son.  The fire marshal reported that the chimney had been blocked by snow and ice.  Both were buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Cornwall, Ontario