Oct 4, 1886
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Born in Potton, Bedfordshire, England to Jonathan
and Naomi “Annie” (nee Pettengell) Whitfield
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Jul 27, 1915
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Attested into the 76th Battalion CEF
in Hamilton, Ontario
Ø Number 141584
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs.
Naomi Whitfield, mother, Potton, Bedfordshire, England
Ø Previous occupation given as
Labourer
Ø No previous military
experience given
Ø Religion given as Church of
England
Ø Posted to “B” Company
Assigned to the battalion’s 1st Draft
The battalion trained in Camp Niagara, Ontario
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Sep 30, 1915
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The battalion’s first draft boarded a train for
Toronto to make a connection for travel to Montreal
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Oct 1, 1915
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Embarked the SS Scandinavian in Montreal, Quebec
as part of the battalion’s 1st Draft
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Oct 10, 1915
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Disembarked in Portsmouth, England and proceeded
to West Sandling where the draft was absorbed into the 39th
Reserve Battalion to continue training
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Feb 29, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st Battalion
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Mar 2, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 947 reinforcements from
England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
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Mar 16, 1916
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After leaving the base depot, Private Whitfield
joined the 21st Battalion resting in La Clytte, Belgium
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Apr 22, 1916
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While in the front line trench near Voormezeele,
Belgium, Private Frederick Whitfield was killed by the explosion of an enemy
artillery shell and was buried by his comrades in a field behind the front
line. When the war ended, his
identifiable remains could not be found and his name is recorded on the Menin
Gate, Ypres, Belgium for those killed during the war in Belgium and have no
known grave
Following the war, the British War Medal, Victory
Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his
widowed mother, Mrs. Naomi Whitfield, King St., Potton, Bedfordshire, England
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Frederick Whitfield
is honoured on the Potton, England War Memorial
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