|
May 31, 1899
|
Born in Ingersoll, Ontario to James Little and
Mary (nee McMillan) Vance
|
|
Jan 17, 1916
|
Attested into the 168th Battalion CEF
in Ingersoll, Ontario
Ø Number 675282
Ø Next of kin given as Mr. James
Vance, father, Ingersoll, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as
Machinist
Ø No previous military
experience given
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
James Vance lied about his age, stating he had
been born in 1898 rather than his actual birth year of 1899
The battalion initially trained in Camp Francis,
near London, Ontario before moving to Camp Borden near Barrie to continue
training
|
|
Oct 30, 1916
|
Embarked the SS Lapland in Halifax, Nova Scotia
|
|
Nov 11, 1916
|
Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the
battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, to continue
training
|
|
Dec, 5, 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 formation of the battalion, it moved to Seaford to
train reinforcements for the front
|
|
Apr 21, 1917
|
Transferred to the 21st Battalion
|
|
Apr 22, 1917
|
Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 3,000 reinforcements from
England, and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
|
|
Jun 5, 1917
|
After leaving the base depot, Private Vance
joined the 21st Battalion resting in Coupigny, France and was
posted to “B” Company
|
In
July 1917, the 21st Battalion was headquartered in a convent in
the town of
Bouvigny, France while the men rehearsed for the attack on Hill 70.
Next to that convent was a church and a number of men climbed into the
bell tower and carved their names on the walls there. Below is Private Vance’s
name as he carved it. Thank you to Patrice Machin for sharing that
image
|
|
Aug 15, 1917
|
During the capture of Hill 70, near Lens, France,
Private Vance received a shrapnel wound to his left wrist and was evacuated
to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being
transported to the No. 23 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)
|
|
Aug 16, 1917
|
Transferred to the No. 2 Stationary Hospital in
Abbeville, France
|
|
Sep 16, 1917
|
Transferred to the No. 5 Convalescent Depot at
Cayeux, France to continue his recovery
|
|
Oct 9, 1917
|
Discharged from hospital care and transferred to
the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France
|
|
Oct 19, 1917
|
After leaving the base depot, he joined the CCRC
(Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Calonne Ricouart, France
|
|
Dec 14, 1917
|
After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private
Vance rejoined the 21st Battalion in the front line near
Acheville, France
|
|
Jan 17, 1918
|
Awarded the Good Conduct Badge
|
|
Jan 25, 1918
|
Granted 14 days leave
|
|
Feb 10, 1918
|
Rejoined the battalion in the support trench near
Merricourt, France from leave
|
|
Feb 18, 1918
|
Admitted to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance
with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)
|
|
Feb 19, 1918
|
Transferred to the No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance
|
|
Feb 20, 1918
|
Transferred to the No. 1 Canadian Field Ambulance
|
|
Mar 12, 1918
|
Transferred to the 13 Canadian Field Ambulance
|
|
Mar 22, 1918
|
Discharged to duty from the field ambulance and
rejoined the battalion
|
|
Mar 28, 1918
|
After suffering a relapse of his Gonorrhea
infection, he was admitted to the No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance and
transported to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance. He was then transported the same day to the
casualty clearing station before being transferred to the No. 3 Canadian
Stationary Hospital in Doullens, France.
|
|
Mar 30, 1918
|
Transferred to the No. 51 General Hospital in
Etaples
|
|
May 24, 1918
|
Discharged from hospital and transferred to the
CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples
|
|
Jun 6, 1918
|
After leaving the base depot, he joined the CC
Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin St. Vaast, France
|
|
Jun 11, 1918
|
After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private
Vance rejoined the 21st Battalion in the reserve trench near
Mercatel, France
|
|
Oct 11, 1918
|
During the capture of Iwuy, France, Private Vance
received a through and through bullet wound to his right chest that passed
through his lung and fractured 1 rib.
He was evacuated to the No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before
being transported overnight and admitted to the casualty clearing station
|
|
Oct 12, 1918
|
Transferred via the No. 23 AT (Ambulance Train)
and admitted to the No. 4 General Hospital in Camiers, France
|
|
Oct 20, 1918
|
Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Brighton
On arrival in England, he was admitted to the 1st
Birmingham War Hospital in Rednal
Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot for pay
purposes while in hospital
|
|
Nov 19, 1918
|
Transferred to the Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Buxton
|
|
Jan 15, 1919
|
Discharged from hospital and granted 10 days sick leave
Instructed to report to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot on
completion of leave
|
|
Feb 18, 1919
|
Transferred to the 6th Reserve
Battalion in Seaford
|
|
Mar 18, 1919
|
Admitted to the No. 14 Canadian General Hospital
in Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads DAH (Disordered Activity of the
Heart) and Tubercle of the Lung
Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental
Depot for pay purposes while in hospital
|
|
Mar 31, 1919
|
Transferred to the Canadian Special Hospital in
Lenham
|
|
Apr 15, 1919
|
Embarked the Hospital Ship Araguaya in Liverpool
|
|
Apr 25, 1919
|
Disembarked in Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded
to Toronto, Ontario and posted to the No. 2 District Depot
|
|
Apr 26, 1919
|
Admitted to the Spadina Military Hospital in
Toronto with a diagnosis that reads Tuberculosis
|
|
Apr 28, 1919
|
Granted leave until May 12, 1919
|
|
May 12, 1919
|
Declared to be Absent Without Leave when he
failed to return from leave.
|
|
May 14, 1919
|
Reported from leave and forfeited a total of 5
days pay for his absence
|
|
May 23, 1919
|
Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario to
the care of the SCR (Soldier Civil Re-establishment) in a Sanatorium
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø War Service Badge Class “A”
issued number 284800
Ø Entitled to 2 Gold Wound
Stripes
Ø Proposes residence on
discharge 445 Ingersoll Ave., Woodstock, Ontario
Following his discharge, the British War Medal
and Victory Medals were sent to him at Grande Prairie, Alberta
Under the care of the Department of Soldier Civil
Re-establishment, James Vance was admitted to the Central Alberta Sanatorium
in Robertson (now part of Calgary), Alberta to receive treatment for his
Tuberculosis
|
|
Sep 26, 1927
|
James Vance died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in
Glen Leslie, Alberta and was buried in the City of Grand Prairie Cemetery,
Grande Prairie, Alberta. His death was
considered to be a result of his service at the front and a Memorial Cross,
Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his mother, Mrs. Mary
Vance, Box 1007 Grande Prairie, Alberta
|
|