William Valentine


Aug 24, 1892

Born in Brighton, England

 

Feb 20, 1913

Embarked the SS Dominion in Liverpool

 

 

Mar 2, 1913

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Smiths Falls, Ontario

 

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 60016 (temporary number 478)

Ø  Next of kin given as GD Nicholas, Guardian, 48 Randolph Gardens, London, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Printer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “D” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

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.  Note that the battalion was forming up in La Clytte, Belgium to move into the front line trench.  Private Valentine was 1 of a number of men absent from that parade

 

Dec 13, 1915

Sentenced to 3 days Field Punishment for being improperly dressed by not wearing proper equipment at La Clytte, Belgium

 

Mar 22, 1916

While being relieved from the front line near Voormezeele, Belgium, Private Valentine received a wound to his back and hip and was evacuated to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the No. 1 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

 

Mar 23, 1916

Transferred to the No. 18 General Hospital in Camiers, France

 

Mar 28, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Dieppe

 

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the West Bridgford Military Hospital

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

 

Apr 12, 1916

Transferred to the Monks Horton Canadian Convalescent Hospital

 

May 9, 1916

Transferred to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital

 

May 13, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre

 

May 15, 1916

Attached to the 1st CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for training and exercise

 

Jul 10, 1916

Discharged to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre

 

Jul 11, 1916

Transferred to the 39th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

 

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling.  Shortly after the battalion’s formation, it moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

 

Mar 11, 1917

Admitted to the Eastbourne Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Laryngitis.  This was later changed to read Functional Aphonia.  He could only speak in a whisper.  Doctors concluded that there was no infection or damage to the vocal chords and that his loss of voice was voluntary

 

Mar 23, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

 

May 10, 1917

Transferred to the 21st Battalion

 

May 11, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength the 21st Battalion

 

Jun 4, 1917

After leaving the base depot, he joined the 2nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin, France

 

Jun 12, 1917

After leaving the entrenching battalion, Private Valentine rejoined the 21st Battalion in billets in Coupigny, France

 

Aug 9, 1917

The 21st Battalion, in conjunction with the 18th and 20th Battalions, carried out a trench raid on a German line north-west of Lens, France.  That location now is a parking lot for the Lens Hospital.  Private Valentine received a slight shrapnel wound to his face and he was evacuated to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid.  After receiving treatment, he was discharged and rejoined the battalion the same day

 

Aug 12, 1917

Private Valentine proceeded on course.

 

Sep 19, 1917

He rejoined the battalion from course and interestingly, he missed the attack on Hill 70.  The trench raid where he was previously wounded was in preparation for that attack

 

Jan 31, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

 

Feb 15, 1918

Rejoined the battalion from leave in reserve east of the town of Vimy, France

 

Sep 24, 1918

While in the front line east of Cagnicourt, France, near the Arras-Cambrai Road, Private Valentine received a shrapnel wound to his right foot and he was evacuated to the 2/1 London Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 23 Casualty Clearing Station

 

Sep 26, 1918

Transferred via the No. 14 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 22 General Hospital in Camiers, France where surgery was performed to remove shrapnel from his foot

 

Sep 28, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Newhaven

 

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Northampton War Hospital in Duston

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

 

Oct 5, 1918

Transferred to the Milton Park Auxiliary Hospital in Peterborough

 

Jan 13, 1919

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Ramsgate

 

Feb 7, 1919

Discharged from hospital with 10 days sick leave.  On completion of leave he was instructed to report to the No. 3 CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for training and exercise

 

Mar 1, 1919

Discharged from hospital care and transferred to the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

 

Mar 23, 1919

Transferred to Military District No. 3 Wing in Kinmel Park pending return to Canada

 

Mar 29, 1919

Embarked the SS Caronia in Liverpool

 

 

Apr 5, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

 

Apr 8, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 246079

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Smiths Falls, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 246 Colborne St., Kingston, Ontario

 

From the 1955 summer edition of the Communiqué,
the 21st Battalion post war newsletter

 

 
 


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