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Oct 22, 1894
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Born in Kingston,
Ontario to James and Ida (nee Wilson) Willis
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Nov 11, 1914
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Attested into the
21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario
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Number 60075
(temporary number 134)
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Next of kin given
as Mrs. Ida Willis, 163 Clergy St., Kingston, Ontario
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Previous
occupation given as Labourer
o
Later noted as
Farmer
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Previous military
experience given as 14th Princess of
Wales’ Own Regiment for 1 year and the 4th
Hussars for 1 year
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Religion given as
Roman Catholic
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Posted to
“A” Company
On
attesting he stated that his birth year was 1895, not his actual birth
year of 1894
The
battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with
headquarters in the Kingston Armouries
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS
Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling
Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St.
Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Nov 11, 1916
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Awarded the Good
Conduct Badge
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Dec 23, 1916
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Granted 10 days
leave
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Jan 6, 1917
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Rejoined the
battalion resting in Calonne, France from leave
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Jan 9, 1917
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Admitted to the
No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance with a Hernia
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Jan 25, 1917
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Discharged to duty
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Mar 24, 1917
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Admitted to the
No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Hernia. He was transferred the
same day to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance
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Mar 29, 1917
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Discharged to duty
from the field ambulance and rejoined the 21st
Battalion resting west of Villers au Bois, France
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Nov 12, 1917
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Private Willis
received shrapnel wounds to head, abdomen and legs during the fighting
at Passchendaele, Belgium. He
was evacuated to the No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid
before being transported to the No. 18 General Hospital in Camiers,
France
He
later reported that he was carrying a wounded German to the rear when
he was hit with the shrapnel shell.
He made no mention of what happened to his
prisoner
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Nov 15, 1917
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Invalided to
England aboard the Hospital Ship Ville de Liege
On
arrival in England, he was admitted to the No. 4 Southern General
Hospital in Plymouth
Transferred
to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while
in hospital
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Dec 19, 1917
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Transferred to the
No. 4 Canadian General Hospital in Basingstoke
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Feb 28, 1918
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Surgery performed
to repair the previously reported Hernia
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Apr 24, 1918
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Transferred to the
Military Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom
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Aug 2, 1918
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Discharged from
hospital with sick leave until August 14, 1918.
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Aug 14, 1918
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Attached to the 3rd
CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for physical training and exercise
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Aug 24, 1918
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Admitted to the
Canadian Military Hospital in Etchinghill with a diagnosis that reads
VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)
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Sep 12, 1918
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Transferred to the
Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot for pay purposes while in hospital
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Nov 22, 1918
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Discharged from
hospital and attached to the No. 1 Canadian Command Depot for physical
training and exercise
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Dec 10, 1918
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Transferred to the
6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford
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Dec 27, 1918
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Attached to
Military District No. 3 in Kinmel Park, Rhyl pending return to Canada
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Jan 12, 1919
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Embarked the
Empress of Britain in Liverpool
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Jan 22, 1919
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Disembarked in
Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Jan 26, 1919
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Taken On Strength
Military District No. 3 Casualty Company, Kingston, Ontario and granted
leave until February 8, 1919
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Feb 15, 1919
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Discharged from
the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
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Rank on discharge
Private
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Entitled to War
Service Badge Class “A”
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Proposed residence
on discharge 163 Clergy St., Kingston, Ontario
Following
his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals
were sent to him at 163 Clergy St., Kingston, Ontario
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