Nov 14, 1894

Born in Nottingham, England to Henry and Eliza (nee Brittan) Varley

May 20, 1909

Embarked the SS Corsican in Liverpool under the care of the Dr. Barnardo’s Homes as a British Home Child

May 28, 1910

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to the Barnardo’s Boy’s Home in Toronto, Ontario

The 1911 Canadian Census shows him and his brother Herbert, living with the William Symons Family as boarders in Belleville, Ontario

Jul 23, 1913

Shown on the payroll of the 15^th Regiment Argyll Light Infantry as a Bugler in “D” Company in Belleville, Ontario

Nov 7, 1914

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

Ø  Number 60018 (temporary number 923)

Ø  Next of kin given as Henry (Herbert) Varley, brother, 61 Burly St., Belleville, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Polisher and Plater

Ø  Previous military experience given as the 15^th Regiment, Argyll Light Infantry in Belleville

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to 16 Platoon “H” Company

o   This was later reorganized into 16 Platoon “D” Company

o   He also performed as a Bugler in the battalion’s Bugle Band

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

Apr 3, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with an accidental bayonet wound to his right leg.  He was placed in the Division Rest Station to recover

Apr 10, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion at the front near Voormezeele, Belgium after being discharged from the rest station

Sep 15, 1916

During the capture of the heavily defended sugar factory south of Courcelette, France, James Varley received a machine gun wound that pierced his right arm causing a fracture before entering his abdomen, lodging in his lower spine.  He was evacuated to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 3 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) where surgery was performed to clean and dress the wounds.

Sep 17, 1916

Transferred via the No. 16 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne, France.  A second surgery was performed but the decision was made not to remove the bullet from his spine as it would be too dangerous.  The bullet was lodged between the 3^rd and 4^th Lumbar Vertebrae.  A Fecal Fistula had developed that was leaking fecal matter that could not be repaired.  His left leg was initially paralyzed but he later regained use of it.

Oct 23, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Epileptic and Paralytic Hospital in Maida Vale, London

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

Nov 5, 1916

Transferred to the Ontario Military Hospital in Orpington

Jan 13, 1917

Discharged from hospital and embarked the SS Northland in Liverpool

Jan 23, 1917

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario where he was admitted to the Elmhurst Convalescent Hospital

Jan 27, 1917

Transferred to the Ongwanada Hospital in Kingston

Oct 17, 1917

Transferred to Queen’s Military Hospital in Kingston

Nov 11, 1917

To be treated as an out patient of the Queen’s Military Hospital in Kingston

Dec 26, 1917

Re-admitted as an in patient of the Queen’s Military Hospital in Kingston

Apr 11, 1918

Surgery performed to repair the leaking bowel, however it continued to leak fecal matter into the abdomen

Jun 29, 1918

Transferred to the Convalescent Home on Leek Island in the St. Lawrence River, off Gananoque, Ontario

Sep 24, 1918

Transferred back to the Queen’s Military Hospital in Kingston

Oct 3, 1918

Medical exam in Kingston notes

Ø  Machine gun bullet remains lodged between his 3^rd and 4^th Lumbar Vertebra

Ø  Man complains of pain in lower back and weakness of left leg

Ø  Board recommends he be discharged from service with a pensionable disability

Oct 8, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital and posted to Military District No. 3 Casualty Company

Oct 11, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

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

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge #5 RFD Belleville, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 413 Bleecker Ave., Belleville, Ontario

His special qualification for employment on discharge is listed as Clerk

Sep 1, 1928

Married to Kathleen Van Trump in Belleville, Ontario

Dec 4, 1936

James Varley had surgery at the Christie Street Hospital in Toronto to finally remove the bullet from his spine.  The surgery was reported to have been a success.

Jun 28, 1938

More surgery was performed in the Christie Street Hospital in an attempt to close the Fecal Fistula that was allowing fecal matter to leak into the bowel.  This was followed by several blood transfusions.  It appears that he remained in hospital following this surgery.  A final surgery was performed in November 1938

Dec 23, 1938

James Varley died while a patient of the Christie Street Hospital in Toronto, Ontario and was buried in the Belleville Ontario Cemetery.  His death was caused by Toxic Osteomyelitis of the spine and Fecal Abscesses in his abdomen from his colon that has leaked fecal matter ever since his initial injury in 1916.  His death was ruled to be due to his service at the front, but no Memorial Cross was issued as he married after his discharge and his mother had predeceased him