Sep 11, 1892

Born in Middlesex, England

Mar 22, 1915

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

Ø  Number 60032 (temporary number 1293)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Elizabeth Watts, mother, Kenton Lane, Harrow Wild, Middlesex, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Plumber

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to the Depot 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

May 31, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital with an accidental gunshot wound to his leg

Jun 4, 1915

Transferred to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital

Jun 9, 1915

Transferred to the Hawkurst Convalescent Home to continue his recovery

Jul 6, 1915

Discharged to duty from the Convalescent Home

Jul 29, 1915

A court of enquiry was held at West Sandling by L/Col WSP Hughes and it was determined that Private Watts was on duty at the time of the accident, and was not to blame in any way for his gunshot wound.  No other details were recorded.

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 

Sep 15, 1915

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

Mar 20, 1916

Granted 9 days leave

Dec 6, 1916

Attached to the Composite Battalion for duty

Mar 22, 1917

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

May 18, 1917

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in Aux Rietz, France from the composite battalion

Aug 24, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Sep 8, 1917

Rejoined the battalion from leave

Sep 19, 1917

While in the front line trench near Lens, France, Private Watts received a severe laceration from a piece of barbed wire and was treated by the battalion’s Medical Officer.

Nov 21, 1917

Admitted to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads ICT (Inter-Connective Tissue) infection in his right leg caused from the recent laceration from barbed wire

Nov 23, 1917

Transferred to the No. 22 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further treatment

Nov 24, 1917

Transferred via the No. 24 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 7 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples, France for further treatment

Dec 8, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth

On arrival in England he was admitted to the 1^st Western General Hospital in Fazakerley, Liverpool

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

Dec 22, 1917

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Buxton

Feb 2, 1918

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

Feb 23, 1918

Admitted to the No. 14 Canadian General Hospital in Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads Ulcer of left leg

Mar 1, 1918

Surgery performed to remove a piece of metal from his leg that was causing the infections.  This had been present from his original wound received September 19, 1917.

Apr 23, 1918

He was transferred to the Princess Patricia Canadian Red Cross Hospital in the Cooden Camp, Bexhill

Jul 2, 1918

A new diagnosis of Influenza added to the diagnosis and was transferred to the No. 14, Canadian General Hospital in Eastbourne

Jul 6, 1918

Transferred to the Princess Patricia Canadian Red Cross Hospital in the Cooden Camp, Bexhill

Aug 30, 1918

Discharged to duty with the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Nov 11, 1918

Admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital in Etchinghill with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Dec 16, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jan 18, 1919

Posted to Kinmel Park pending return to Canada

Jan 20, 1919

Posted to the permanent staff MD #13 and employed as a Batman in “A” Company

Feb 1, 1919

Transferred to MD #5 permanent staff at Kinmel Park

Feb 28, 1919

Posted to the MD #10 Staff at Kinmel Park

Mar 22, 1919

Awarded 2^nd Good Conduct Badge

May 1, 1919

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal with pay

Jun 14, 1919

Transferred to MD #3 pending return to Canada

Jun 18, 1919

Embarked the SS Saturnia in Glasgow, Scotland

Jun 28, 1919

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

Jun 30, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 213287

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Haliburton, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals (shown below) were sent to him at Post Office Box 811, Port Hope, Ontario

 
If you know the location of the missing 1914-15 Star and British War Medal
please contact the webmaster to arrange to have his medals reunited

Feb 14, 1920

Married to Dorothy Jones in Haliburton, Ontario

Apr 9, 1927

Embarked the SS Celtic in Liverpool with his wife Dorothy. 

On disembarking the couple proceeded to Port Hope, Ontario

Apr 13, 1929

Embarked the SS Cedric in Liverpool, England

 

Apr 21, 1929

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Port Hope, Ontario

Jul 27, 1930

Edmund Augustus Watts died of Renal Tuberculosis in Port Hope, Ontario and was buried in the St. John’s Cemetery there.

His death was considered to be attributed to his war time service and the Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his widow, Mrs. Dorothy Watts, Port Hope, Ontario.  She did not receive a Memorial Cross as they married post war.

A Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Watts, 42 Woodlands Drive, Harrow, Weald, London, England.