William Lourne Whitmore


 

Jun 2, 1886

Born at Coe Hill Ontario 

Listed on the 1901 Census as William S Whitmore

 

Nov 5, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 60060 (temporary number 240)

Ø      Next of kin given as Samuel Whitmore (father) of McArthur’s Mills Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Laborer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to “B” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “A” Company

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec

  

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkstone

 

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer

 

Jun 16, 1916 

Admitted to No 1 FA (Field Ambulance) with shrapnel wounds to left hand and thigh.  Below is from the 21st Battalion War Diary

  

The “Casualties 4 OR” means there were 4 Other Ranks wounded

 

Jun 17, 1916

Transferred to No 10 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) then transferred same day to No 8 Stationary Hospital

 

Jun 19, 1916

Transferred to No 5 Convalescent Depot, then same day, transferred to No 1 Convalescent Depot, both at Boulogne

 

Jun 20, 1916

Discharged from hospital to Base Details at Boulogne

 

Jun 25, 1916

Transferred to No 3 General Base Depot at Boulogne

 

Jun 26, 1916

Transferred to No 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital at Havre with a cellulitis (an infection of the connective tissue around his wounds) and classified as “TB” (Temporary Base Duty only)

 

Jun 29, 1916

Discharged from hospital to the Convalescent Depot at Havre

 

Jul 5, 1916

Transferred to No 3 General Base Depot

 

Aug 3, 1916

Classified “C” by Medical Board  

“C” classification means that he is medically fit for duty in England only while recovering

 

Aug 8, 1916

Proceeded to England

 

Aug 10, 1916

Posted to CCAC (Canadian Convalescent Assembly Centre) while recovering

 

Aug 12, 1916

On Command to CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) and attached to Monks Horton Hospital for PT (Physical Training)

 

Jan 24, 1917

TOS (Taken On Strength) the 6th Reserve Battalion at East Sandling

 

Apr 17, 1917

Posted to the 21st Battalion

 

Apr 18, 1917

Arrived at CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at Havre France and TOS 21st Battalion

 

Apr 21, 1917

Left CBD to join unit

 

May 5, 1917

Joined the 21st Battalion in the field 

The Battalion was in the Support Trenches near Thelus Cave, close to Vimy Ridge

 

Aug 18, 1917

Admitted to No 6 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with a Shrapnel wound to side. 

This was during the battle at Hill 70

 

Aug 25, 1917

Reported to be seriously ill at No 6 CCS

 

Aug 30, 1917

Transferred to No 8 red Cross Hospital at Le Touquet via No 31 AT (Ambulance Transport)

 

Sep 9, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen

  

 

Sep 10, 1917

Admitted to Military Hospital at Devonport 

Posted to EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital

 

Dec 1, 1917

Transferred to CCH (Canadian Convalescent Hospital) at Woodcote Park, Epsom 

Complains of severe pain in abdomen, more so at site of operation and cannot walk any distance due to pain shooting down left leg

 

Feb 5, 1918

Transferred to No 5 General Hospital at Liverpool (Kirkdale)

 

Mar 11, 1918

Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Araguaya from Liverpool

  

 

Mar 22, 1918

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston Ontario

 

Mar 26, 1918

Admitted to Convalescent Home at Kingston Ontario

 

Mar 30, 1918

Transferred to Queen’s Military Hospital at Kingston

 

Apr 18, 1918

Posted to Hospital section and granted leave with subsistence

 

Apr 24, 1918

Returned from leave

 

May 27, 1918

Medical Board at Queen’s Military Hospital finds: 

Ø      Suffering from effects of shrapnel wounds to abdomen

Ø      Complains of pain in region of surgery scar

Ø      Scar is tender to touch

Ø      X-Ray shows perforation of iliac wing (the largest portion of the pelvic bone)

Ø      Condition is considered permanent

Ø      He cannot resume his former occupation

Recommend that he be discharged from the CEF with a disability caused by service

 

Jun 14, 1918

Discharged from the CEF at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Discharged as Medically Unfit

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge – Coe Hill Ontario

 

Oct 31, 1919

1914-15 Star sent to Coe Hill Ontario

 

Dec 16, 1921

British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to Coe Hill Ontario

 

 

Dec 17, 1938

British War Medal replaced and sent c/o Mr Wallie J Leal, Secretary, Tweed Branch #200, Navy Vets, Box 217, Tweed Ontario

 

Jan 13, 1969 Deceased at Marmora Ontario

Above is from the August 1969 Communiqué


William "Bill" Whitmore is shown above, on the left, prior to his discharge.  Note the 2 Wound stripes on his lower left sleeve.  These were awarded for being wounded twice at the front.  He is shown with 2 comrades, most likely taken at a convalescent hospital in England

During WW2, William joined the Veteran's Guard


Post war, William kept his treasures and momentos in this trunk, which appears to be WW2 era

Photos supplied by his daughter June Parnell and granddaughter, Dianne Gazley


July 24, 2010

Over the years, the family somehow lost track of the WW1 medals earned by Bill Whitmore.  Through research it was discovered that Stephen Nichol, author of Ordinary Heroes, had those medals in his personal collection, having purchased them from a collector in Tennessee.  Steve was contacted and agreed to sell them to the family for the same amount that he had paid for them.

On July 24, 2010, I was able to present those medals to Bill Whitmore's daughter, June Parnell, on left,  and his granddaughter, Dianne Gazley, along with a copy of the complete service file and some additional research material.  Their happy faces can be seen below.

Research and presentation by Al Lloyd


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