Apr 21, 1899

Born at Baraga Michigan, USA

Feb 18, 1916

Attested into the 154^th Battalion at Alexandria Ontario 

Ø      Number 633512

Ø      Next of kin given as Archie McPhee (father) of Box 234 Alexandria Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as “Student”

Ø      Previous military experience given as 1 year in Cdn Militia – 59^th Regiment

Ø      Religion given as Roman Catholic

Aug 6, 1916

Reported as being absent

Aug 7, 1916

Returned and fined 1 day’s pay

Sep 14, 1916

Reported as being absent

Sep 18, 1916

Returned and fined 5 day’s pay

Oct 25, 1916

Embarked the RMS Mauretania at Halifax

Oct 31, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England

Jan 29, 1917

Transferred to the 156^th Battalion

Apr 3, 1917

TOS (Taken On Strength) the 6^th Reserve Battalion at Seaford

Apr 28, 1917

TOS the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) at Seaford

May 16, 1917

Medical Board at Seaford finds: 

Ø      Soldier is underage

Ø      Will be 19 years of age on April 21, 1918

Ø      No other complaints or disability

Ø      Classified as A IV

o       Physically fit but underage

Jun 10, 1917

Admitted to Harfield Military Hospital with Gonorrhea

Jun 27, 1917

Posted to the 6^th Reserve Battalion

Aug 10, 1917

Discharged from hospital

Sep 1, 1917

Awarded 14 days Field Punishment for contracting a Venereal Disease (no note is made as to whether it was FP #1 or FP #2)

Nov 14, 1917

Posted to the 21^st Battalion 

Arrived at No 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in France and TOS 21^st Battalion

Nov 17, 1917

Arrived at CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp)

Dec 2, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field

May 9, 1918

Transferred to No 5 Canadian General Hospital at Liverpool

Aug 26, 1918

Wounded by shrapnel in both legs, left foot blown off, right leg severed at knee.  Tourniquets applied. 

Admitted to No 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) then transferred to No 33 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) where double amputation took place

Aug 28, 1918

Transported by No 17 “AT” (Ambulance Transport)

Aug 29, 1918

Admitted to No 47 General Hospital

Oct 27, 1918

Invalided to England via the Hospital Ship St Andrew

Oct 28, 1918

Admitted to No 4 Canadian General Hospital at Basingstoke

Oct 31, 1918

Posted to EORD from 21^st Battalion

Nov 15, 1918

Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for Bravery, London Gazette #31011

(note that the other soldier mentioned is Pte AR Fenwick, who also received the DCM for this action and was killed within hours)

Below is an excerpt from the 21st Battalion War Diary for August, 1918

May 9, 1919

Transferred to No 5 Canadian General Hospital at Kirkdale

May 21, 1919

Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Araguaya and TOS DD4 (District Depot No 4) at Montreal

May 30, 1919

Disembarked in Canada and posted to the Hospital Section

Nov 13, 1919

Further amputation of right stump to 3” above knee

 Dec 2, 1919

Granted leave with subsistence until January 5, 1920

Jan 12, 1920

Transferred to DD2 at Toronto and admitted to DOH (Dominion Orthopedic Hospital), Christie St. 

To be transferred back to DD4 on completion of treatment.

Apr 17, 1920

Granted leave with subsistence until May 17, 1920

May 26, 1920

DOH (Dominion Military Orthopedic Hospital), Christie St., Toronto Ontario notes: 

Ø      Wounded August 26, 1918

Ø      Right leg amputated at knee and left leg amputated below knee same day at CCS

Ø      Both legs re-amputated later at thigh level

Ø      Right thigh stump – 9”, left thigh stump – 10”

Ø      Artificial legs supplied at DOH

Ø      Can only walk about 200 yards in comfort

Ø      Can only wear legs 6 hours at a time

Ø      Depends on others for considerable assistance 

Letter from the Dominion Orthopedic Hospital Toronto states that the soldier has been examined as per government directives for Gonorrhea and no further treatment is necessary. 

The letter also states that he has been warned about the danger of transmitting the disease, and that he may receive free treatment from the Dept of Soldier’s Civil Re-establishment.

May 28, 1920

Posted to the DOH Casualty Company

Jun 1, 1920

Discharged at Toronto as being medically unfit 

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued, No 119278

Ø      Entitled to 1 Gold Wound Stripe

Oct 23, 1921

British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to Alexandria Ontario

May 10, 1960

Deceased