Sep 19, 1897

I could not confirm his birth location, but according to his obituary, he was born in Kingston, Ontario to Robert and Elizabeth (nee Sylvester) Wilson.  When he married and on the 1911 census, he claimed to have been born in New York State, USA.  On the 1921 census he claimed to have been born in Ontario

Nov 27, 1914

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

Ø  Number 60080 (temporary number 1110)

Ø  Next of kin given as Robert Wilson, father, 28 Cowdy St., Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “A” Company

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

Earl’s brother, Edward Robert Wilson number 60081 and his adopted brother William Collard number 59183, also joined the battalion

Earl lied about his age, declaring that his birth year was 1896, not his actual birth year of 1897.  He also stated he had been born in Kalora, New York, USA

Dec 24, 1914

Married to May Knott in Kingston, Ontario

Mar 24, 1915

Son, Edwin Earl Wilson, was born in Kingston, Ontario

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

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

May 19, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

Jun 22, 1916

Earl’s wife May, was sentenced in Kingston Court to 6 months imprisonment on a charge of Streetwalking.

Jul 20, 1916

The separation allowance to his wife was stopped and re-directed to his mother-in-law Flora Knott as his child’s guardian.  His wife had been sentenced to a 6 month jail term

Dec 3, 1916

Proceeded on the Lewis Gun Course at the 2^nd Division School

Dec 9, 1916

Rejoined the battalion resting in Bully Grenay, France from the Lewis Gun Course

Dec 13, 1916

Granted 10 days leave

Dec 26, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion at the front west of Lens, France from leave

Jun 19, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

Aug 15, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal with pay

Aug 17, 1917

Proceeded on course

Sep 6, 1917

Rejoined the battalion resting in Villers au Bois, France from course

Oct 8, 1917

Reverted to the rank of Lance Corporal

Oct 27, 1917

Promoted to the rank of Corporal

Nov 30, 1917

Granted 14 days leave to the United Kingdom

Dec 15, 1917

Rejoined the battalion in the front line on Vimy Ridge from leave

May 11, 1918

Proceeded on course at the British Army’s 6^th Corps School

May 18, 1918

Rejoined the battalion resting in Wailly, France from course

Aug 25, 1918

Appointed to the rank of Lance Sergeant

Aug 28, 1918

While the 21^st Battalion was advancing along the Arras – Cambrai Road towards the Sensee River, near Vis en Artois, Earl Wilson received bullet wounds to his left arm and was evacuated to the No. 8 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the No. 42 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further treatment

Aug 29, 1918

Transferred to the No. 12 Stationary Hospital in St. Pol, France

Aug 30, 1918

Transferred via the No. 23 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 18 General Hospital in Camiers, France

Sep 2, 1918

Transferred to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot in Etaples, France

Sep 10, 1918

Transferred to the No. 5 Rest Camp in Ecault, France

Sep 14, 1918

Transferred to the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France

Sep 18, 1918

After leaving the base depot, he joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin St. Vaast, France

Sep 20, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private Wilson rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the support line just west of Canal du Nord, on the Arras – Cambrai Road, France

Oct 10, 1918

During the advance to the Erclin River, west of Iwuy, France, Earl Wilson received a bullet wound to his left arm and was evacuated to the No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station

Oct 12, 1918

Transferred via the No. 1 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 55 General Hospital in Boulogne, France

Oct 13, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Fort Pitt Military Hospital in Chatham

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

Nov 3, 1918

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

Nov 29, 1918

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

Dec 27, 1918

Attached to Military District No. 3 at Kinmel Park, Rhyl pending return to Canada

Jan 12, 1919

Embarked the Empress of Britain in Liverpool

Jan 22, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario where he was posted to the Military District No. 3 Casualty Company

Jan 26, 1919

Granted leave until February 8, 1919

Feb 17, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Lance Sergeant

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 90157

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 131 Stephen St., Kingston, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 67 Charles St., Kingston, Ontario

1921 census shows May and son Edward living with her mother, Flora Knott, at 255 Montreal St., Kingston.  Earl is not listed as living with them

Earl Wilson is listed on the 1921 census as living with his parents at 67 Charles St., Kingston, Ontario

The 1949 Voter List shows Earl living with his wife, Ida May, at 297 Sidney St., Belleville, Ontario

Oct 7, 1968

Earl Wilson died and was buried in the Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, Ontario

Dec 31, 1990

Earl’s wife Ida May died at the age of 95 and was buried in the Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, Ontario