Jun 14, 1890
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Born in Northumberland County, Ontario to Freeman
Albert and Elizabeth Ann (nee Johnson) Walbridge
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Feb 6, 1916
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Attested into the 155th Battalion CEF
in Stirling, Ontario
Ø Number 636613
Ø Next of kin given as Elizabeth
Ann Walbridge, mother, Indian River, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as
Farmer
Ø No previous military
experience given
Ø Religion given as Methodist
The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario
area
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These photos were
probably taken the on the same day, shortly after he enlisted
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Jun 5, 1916
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Admitted to the Barriefield Military Hospital
with an infected eye
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Jun 6, 1916
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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Oct 17, 1916
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Embarked the SS Northland in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Oct 28, 1916
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Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the
battalion proceeded to Bramshott
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Oct 30, 1916
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Sentenced to 14 days detention and forfeited 88
day’s pay for an unrecorded offence
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Dec 5, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st Battalion
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Dec 6, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 147 reinforcements from
England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
On arrival at the Rouelles Camp, he was
immediately admitted to the No. 39 General Hospital in Havre with a diagnosis
that reads Scabies
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Dec 12, 1916
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Discharged from hospital for duty with the base
depot
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Dec 29, 1916
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After leaving the base depot, he joined the 2nd
Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin
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Feb 22, 1917
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After leaving the entrenching battalion, Private
Walbridge joined the 21st Battalion in reserve trenches north of
Arras, France
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Jul 22, 1917
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Attached to the 4th Canadian Machine
Gun Company for duty
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Aug 29, 1917
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Rejoined the 21st Battalion from duty
with the machine gun company
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Nov 9, 1917
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The 21st Battalion moved into the
Passchendaele front in Belgium the night of November 2-3. During the night of November 9, Private
Walbridge was a part of a large work party sent out to rebuild damaged
trenches near the front. While moving
into the area, a German artillery shell landed in the midst of the men,
killing and wounding many of them.
Private Thomas Albert Walbridge was one of those instantly
killed. He was buried a couple days
later in the White House Cemetery, north-east of Ypres, Belgium.
Following the war, the British War Medal, Victory
Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Albert
Walbridge, Indian River, Ontario
The Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs.
E. Walbridge, at the same address
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Thomas Walbridge
is honoured on the War Memorial
in Peterborough, Ontario (above)
and the Dummer Township, Ontario War Memorial, Below
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