Commanded
the 21st Battalion from August 9, 1918 to the end of the War
(The
following is taken from the 21st Battalion Historical Calendar)
For some years before the war
Lieut.-Colonel Pense was associated with Brigadier-General W. St. Pierre Hughes in the
14th Regiment (Princess of Wales's Own Rifles), of Kingston, Ontario. On the mobilization
of the 21st Canadian Battalion he was taken on the strength as a Lieutenant, and posted as
a Platoon Commander in "A" Company. On the 5th of February, 1915, he was
promoted to the rank of Captain, and assumed the duties ot Second-in-Command of
"C" Company, which post he held until appointed to command "A" Company
in the fighting at the St. Eloi craters in April, 1916. He was appointed an Acting-Major
on July 1st, 1916, and was wounded on September 15th, 1916, when the Battalion captured
the Sugar Factory, near Courcelette, on the Somme. Rejoining the Battalion in February,
1917, he was promoted to the temporary rank of Major, from the 18th of January, 1917, and
appointed Adjutant on the 25th of February of the same year. He held this appointment
until assuming the duties of Second-in-Command of the Battalion on the 29th of October,
1917. On the death in action of the late Lieut.-Colonel E. W. |ones, he was appointed to
command the Battalion, and promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on the 9th
of August, 1918.
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Summary
of Service Record
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Aug 2, 1889
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Born Kingston Ontario Canada
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Nov 8, 1914
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Attested at Kingston Ontario into the 21st
Battalion
Ø next of kin given as Elizabeth M Pense (mother), address 436 Princess
St. Kingston Ont
Ø Occupation given as Newspaper Reporter
Ø Previous service given as 2 years AMC and 8 years with 14th
Regiment
Ø Religion given as Wesleyan
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Feb 5, 1915
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Promoted to Captain
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May 1, 1915
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Pay assignment of $30 per month given to Mrs.
Elizabeth M. Pense in care of Capt Edward H. Pense, 4th Pioneer Battalion,
Witley Camp, England
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked SS Metagama at Montreal
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked at England and proceeded to West
Sandling Camp
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked at Folkestone and disembarked at
Boulogne France
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Oct 11, 1915
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Attending course at Warfare School
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Oct 23, 1915
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Return to duty from course
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Mar 20, 1916
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Proceeded on leave
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Mar 31, 1916
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Return to duty from leave (one extra day)
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Apr 20, 1916
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Proceeded on leave of absence
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Jun 5, 1916
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Granted leave until June 14, 1916
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Jul 1, 1916
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To be Temporary Major while in the field in
command of a company
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Sep 17, 1916
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Admitted to No 5 Red Cross Hospital, Boulogne
with gun shot wounds in ankle, shoulder and back.
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Sep 21, 1916
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Invalided to England aboard the HS St. Patrick
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Sep 22, 1916
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Admitted to Royal Free Hospital Grays Inn Rd
-Taken on Strength Canadian Training Depot and posted to General List - Relinquishes rank
of Temp Major on ceasing to command a company
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Oct 16, 1916
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Granted leave to Canada on recommendation of
Medical Board until Dec 16, 1916 – without expense to public – embarked SS
Caronia
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Nov 13, 1916
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Awarded Military Cross, London Gazette #29824
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Dec 24, 1916
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Leave extended to Jan 8, 1917
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Jan 8, 1917
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Leave extended to Feb 1, 1917
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Jan 18, 1917
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To be Major to replace Major JH Sills who is
appointed Staff Captain, 3rd Bde. – Relinquishes rank of acting Major to
be Temporary Major.
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Feb 11, 1917
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Struck off strength General List on proceeding
for service with 21st Battalion
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Feb 13, 1917
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Arrived from England as a reinforcement to 21st
Battalion
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Feb 15, 1917
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Left to join unit in the field
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Feb 21, 1917
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Joined unit in the field
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Feb 25, 1917
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Appointed Adjutant replacing Capt SL
Cunningham who proceeds to Regimental Duty
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Mar 13, 1917
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TOS 21st Battalion as reinforcement
from England
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May 7, 1917
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Influenza and debility – admitted to 4th
Canadian Field Ambulance then transferred to 5th CFA
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May 13, 1917
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Admitted No 7 Stationary Hospital Boulogne -
Debility
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May 17, 1917
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Discharged to duty
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May 20, 1917
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TOS Canadian Base Details, Havre
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May 31, 1917
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Left to join unit
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Sep 10, 1917
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No 10 Canadian Field Ambulance with Trench
Fever
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Sep 18, 1917
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Discharged to duty and rejoined unit in the
field
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Sep 19, 1917
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Granted 10 days leave
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Sep 29, 1917
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Rejoined unit from the field
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Nov 11, 1917
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Proceeded on course
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Dec 16, 1917
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Rejoined 21st Battalion from course
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Feb 5, 1918
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Proceeded on course
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Feb 10, 1918
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Granted 14 days leave
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Feb 26, 1918
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Rejoined 21st Battalion from leave
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Apr 11, 1918
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Relinquished appointment to Adjutant on
returning to Regimental duty
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Apr 14, 1918
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Attached to 2nd Tramways Coy for
duty
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Jun 3, 1918
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Awarded the Distinguished Service Order in
London Gazette 30716
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Jul 22, 1918
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Proceeded to 1st Army Rest Camp
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Aug 7, 1918
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Rejoined 21st Battalion from rest
camp
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Aug 9, 1918
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Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel to command a
battalion as per London Gazette No 30889
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Oct 17, 1918
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Granted 14 days leave to UK
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Nov 4, 1918
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Rejoined 21st Battalion from leave
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Mar 16, 1919
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Mentioned In Despatches in London Gazette
30706 and
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Apr 3, 1919
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Proceeded to Canadian Embarkation Camp England
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Apr 4, 1919
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TOS “P” Wing, Canadian Concentration
Camp, Witley
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May 13, 1919
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TOS CEF in Canada
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May 14, 1919
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Embarked SS Caronia at Liverpool for Canada
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May 31, 1919
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SOS CEF on General Demobilization
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Feb 1, 1962
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Died at Kingston General Hospital
Cataraqui Cemetery
Kingston Ontario
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