Jun 1, 1887

Born in Morayshire, Scotland to John and Janet (nee Rosie) Winchester

Jun 4, 1910

Embarked the SS Cassandra in Glasgow, Scotland

Jun 12, 1910

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Port Hope, Ontario

May 28, 1915

Attested into the 59^th Battalion CEF in Lindsay, Ontario

Ø  Number 454257

Ø  Next of kin given as John Winchester, father, Morayshire, Scotland

o   There is a note to also notify W. Margaret Winchester, wife, 70 Durham St., Lindsay, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Engineer

Ø  No previous military service given

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area

Aug 27, 1915

Embarked the SS Scandinavian in Montreal, Quebec as part of the 59^th Battalion’s 1^st Regimental Draft

Sep 5, 1915

Disembarked in England and proceeded to West Sandling where the draft was absorbed into the 39^th Reserve Battalion to continue training

Jun 16, 1916

Medical Board at West Sandling notes that while conducting training exercises, Private Winchester severely sprained his ankle when it was crushed by a motor truck the previous January.  He had been placed on light duties with the battalion but the board decided to transfer him to a convalescent hospital to recover with 4 weeks of physical training.

Jul 6, 1916

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Nov 15, 1916

Discharged from hospital care and transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion for full duty

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling.  Shortly after the formation of the battalion, it moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Apr 21, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 22, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 3,000 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

May 11, 1917

After leaving the base depot, Private Winchester joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin, France as part of a draft of 34 reinforcements destined to join the 21^st Battalion

He joined the 21^st Battalion at the front a short time later.

May 28, 1917

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Aug 15, 1917

During hand to hand combat in the fighting at Hill 70, near Lens, France, Private John Winchester was killed in action.  His identifiable body was never recovered from the battlefield and his name is etched on the walls of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France, for those killed during the war in France 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 widow, Mrs. John Winchester, Box 927, 70 Durham St., Lindsay, Ontario

A second Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. J.R. Winchester, Inchberry, Morayshire, Scotland

John Winchester is honoured on the war memorial in Lindsay, Ontario