May 31, 1872

Born in Staffordshire, England

Mar 23, 1915

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

Ø  Number 60059 (temporary number 1340)

Ø  Next of kin not given

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  Previous military experience given as 101^st Royal Munster Fusiliers in England for 12 years

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Employed as a member of the Pipe Band as a Drummer

On attesting he gave his birth date as October 13, 1875, not his actual birth date of May 31, 1872

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

Aug 2, 1915

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Aug 9, 1915

Reported for duty from being absent

Aug 11, 1915

Forfeited 8 day’s pay and restricted to half pay for 1 month for his absence

Aug 29, 1915

Reported to be Absent Without Leave

Sep 14, 1915

The 21^st Battalion embarked for France however Private Whitmore remained absent

Sep 25, 1915

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling while absent

Sep 29, 1915

Reported for duty from being absent

Oct 1, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 1 and restricted to half pay for 2 months for misconduct

Oct 26, 1915

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Oct 27, 1915

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Mar 4, 1916

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 1 for

Ø  Using abusive language to an Officer

Ø  Absent from platoon when moving into the trenches

Ø  Using abusive language to an NCO

Ø  Drunkenness

Mar 17, 1916

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No. 1 for refusing to obey an order of a superior and using offensive language to an Officer.  This sentence to run consecutive to the current sentence

May 3, 1916

Sentenced to 21 days Field Punishment No. 1 for

Ø  Making remarks on parade

Ø  Falling out of parade

Ø  Insolence to an Officer

May 20, 1916

Sentenced to 6 hours extra fatigue duty and 6 hours of Pack Drill for being absent from camp

Jul 14, 1916

Attached to the 1^st Canadian Tunnelling Company in La Clytte, Belgium

Jan 6, 1917

Granted leave until January 16, 1917

Jan 17, 1917

Reported to be Absent Without Leave

Jan 26, 1917

Transferred to the 1^st Canadian Tunnelling Company for permanent duty and rank changed to read Sapper

Feb 19, 1917

Arrested by civil police in London and placed in custody

Apr 4, 1917

Rejoined the 1^st Canadian Tunnelling Company under escort

May 1, 1917

Tried by Field General Court Martial and charged with

 Ø  When on active service, deserting His Majesty’s Service

Sapper Whitmore pleaded Not Guilty

Evidence was given and Sapper Whitmore explained that he intended to return to his unit, but was sidetracked on meeting up with old friends and went drinking with them

He was found Not Guilty of Desertion, but Guilty of being Absent Without Leave and sentenced to 2 year Detention with Hard Labour

May 10, 1917

Sentence of detention was suspended and he was released from custody and rejoined the 1^st Canadian Tunnelling Company

Sep 5, 1917

Admitted to the No. 11 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined)

Sep 9, 1917

Invalided to England

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Horton County of London War Hospital in Epsom and the diagnosis was changed to read Trench Fever

Transferred to the CERD (Canadian Engineers Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Oct 25, 1917

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Nov 30, 1917

Discharged from the convalescent hospital and attached to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for physical training and exercise

Dec 8, 1917

Granted permission to marry and next of kin changed to read Mrs. Lily Maud Whitmore, 10 Essex Road, Acton, London W3, England

Feb 16, 1918

Medical Board in Seaford notes

Ø  Suffers from general debility

Ø  Has pain in legs and back

Ø  Suffers from dizzy spells

Ø  Heart action is only fair

Ø  Lacks muscular tone

Ø  Not likely to improve in 6 months

Feb 19, 1918

Attached to CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Feb 26, 1918

Embarked the SS Canada in Liverpool (later named the SS Thislehurst)

Mar 11, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Apr 12, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 270 Blackthorne Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 10 Essex Road, Acton W3, London, England