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Valcartier draft
Gord:
Hello;
I am attempting to do some research on a member of the Valcartier draft, William Henry Porter regimental number 16074. On another website I found that he attested with the regiment in Bermuda on 13 November 1914 with the rank of Private.
I also have copies of his CEF attestation papers signed 20 April 1916 in Chatham New Brunswick where he lists under prior military service as "18 months Drummer with RCR" along with 7 1/2 years militia experience with the 13the Royal Regiment.
With his CEF attestation papers I was able to get from Ottawa his military file under his new number, and therefore know his whereabouts after 20 April 1916 and the units he served with up until his discharge.
I do not know however, where to look or go about finding where he was and what he did between 13 Nov 1914 and 20 April 1916.
Specifically I am wondering as to why he did not go to France with the rest of the RCR's in 1915? How long was he in Bermuda? Where in Canada was he with the RCR as I had thought the regimental depot was in Halifax, so why did he attest for the CEF in New Brunswick and the 132and Battalion instead of with the RCR's?
Are there copies of personnel lists for the regiment, or sailing lists somewhere that I could find out when he left Bermuda, or lists of personnel at the depot in Halifax?
Any assistance you can give me to point me in the right direction so I can answer some of these questions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Gord
Michael OLeary:
From the Part II Daily Orders:
DO No. 206, dated 1915-08-24: 16074 Pte - Transferred on 1915-08-24 from "A" Coy to Regt Depot
I also have a notation that he was later enlisted under the CEF service number 793691.
--- Quote ---Name: PORTER, WILLIAM HENRY
Regimental number(s): 793691
Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7916 - 1
Date of Birth: 21/12/1888
--- End quote ---
Attestation Paper:
http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc014/583898a.gif
http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc014/583898b.gif
The CEF service record will cover his re-enlistment, but there won't be anything else while he was in Canada unless something ended up in the service record file. The note on the back of his attestation paper referring to a hernia (rupture) operation may be a clue for you. Do any of his medical documents provide a summary of medical issues before enrollment?
Gord:
Thank you for the quick response.
In the CEF service record there is mention of a medical inquiry that occurred in England while he was with the 13th Reserve Battalion, and the results state he is fit for duty and there is a notation on the back of the report that says "would make a good A man" ..... I'm not certain what that means ..... assault man??
Where and how were you able to so quickly find info on him in the daily orders, and are these available somewhere for the general public to view??
Thank you
Gord
Michael OLeary:
I was able to find him in the Daily Orders because I hired a researcher in Ottawa to photograph all 1200+ pages of them. I then transcribed them into a database of over 17,000 entries to support my own research on the Regiment and our soldiers in the First World War. It also supported completion of an associated Great War nominal roll for The RCR with about 4800 names. These are not available on line.
Medical Category "A" meant fit for front line service.
--- Quote ---OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN FORCES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-19
THE MEDICAL SERVICES
(pp. 211-12)
For the purpose of ascertaining the physical condition of each soldier and his value as a reinforcement a system was established early in 1917 by which men were assigned to groups according to their fitness for service. Five medical categories were created, A, B, C, D, E, to include, respectively, men who were fit for general service; fit for certain kinds of service; fit for service in England; temporarily unfit but likely to become fit after treatment; and all others who should be discharged.
Category A was divided into four classes 1, 2, 3, 4, which contained respectively: men who were fit for active service in respect of health and training; men who had not been in the field but only lacked training; casualties fit as soon as they were hardened by exercise; and boys who would be fit as soon as they reached 19 years of age.
Category B was likewise subdivided into four groups, to include men who were fit for employment in labour, forestry, and railway units; men who were fit for base units of the medical service, garrison, or regimental outdoor duty; men capable of sedentary work as clerks; or skilled workmen at their trades. In Category C were placed men fit for service in England only.
In Category D were all men discharged from hospital to the command depot, who would be fit for Category A after completion of remedial training; and there was a special group to include all other ranks of any unit under medical treatment, who on completion would rejoin their original category. Category E included men unfit for A, B or C, and not likely to become fit within six months. It was a general rule that a soldier could be raised in category by a medical officer but lowered only by a board.
A commanding officer could, however, raise a man in Category A from second to first group, since training alone and not medical treatment was involved. All soldiers of low category were examined at regular intervals and new assignments made.
It was the function of the medical services to assign recruits and casualties to their proper categories. In April, 1918, when the demand for men became urgent, an allocation board was set up for the duty of examining all men of low category, and assigning them to tasks that were suitable for their capacity.
--- End quote ---
Gord:
Thank you for the info on the "A" classification - I wondered what that meant !!
Where and how were you able to so quickly find info on him in the daily orders, and are these available somewhere for the general public to view??
Thank you
Gord
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