Source: Duty Nobly Done Honour Roll
Fred signed his attestation papers in Toronto on July 5th 1915 and was assigned to the 37th battalion. He sailed with his battalion from Halifax arriving in England Dec-11-1915 on the SS Lapland. Upon arriving in England he was with the 12th reserve battalion in Shorcliffe [Shornecliffe]. He was then taken on strenght [sic] in March 1916. At this point he was transfered [sic] to the 18th Shorncliffe 12th reserve battalion in France on May 7 1916. On May 8 1916 he was taken on strenght to the 18th Canadian Battalion. May 31 1916 Fred proceded to join his unit in the field. On Oct 1 1916 fred [sic] was wounded in the right thigh by shrapnel and was sent to the 2nd Scottish General Hospital in Edinburgh to have the troublsome [sic] piece removed. He spent 54 days in recovery before being sent to the Kings Canadian Red Cross conv [convalescent] hospital on Nov 30th 1916. Upon admission it was noted “small boils around the wound”. On Dec 13th Fred was sent to the Canadian Conv hospital in Epsom before being discharged on Jan 3 1917.(It was noted on Dec 14th 1916 that while his wound was healed, 40pcs of shrapnel still remain in his leg.)
Jan 3 1917 he was transfered [sic] to the 4th reserve battalion in Hastings. March 7th 1917, Fred was taken on strenght [sic] to the 4th reserve battalion in Bramshott. May 10th 1917 he was sent on strenght [sic] to the 18th battalion in France.
On June 16-1917 Fred finally rejoined his unit in the field in the town of Barlin, France.
Just over 2 months later on Aug-19-1917 Fred Binns was reported Killed In Action near the town of Lens in Northern France.
Source: CGWP
PTE. FRED BINNS
Pte. Fred Binns of No. 1 Foxwell street, Searlet Plains, West Toronto, has been killed in action. He was 19 years of age, went away in November , 1915, and before enlisting worked at Gunn’s abattoir. He was only 17 years old when he enlisted. He was born in Yorkshire, Eng., and has been out here four years. He was killed on August 17th. In the battle of the Somme last October he was wounded, and he had just got back to France when he was killed. One brother, Arthur, 21 years of age, is with an anti-aircraft unit in England, having gone from her and joining up in the Old Country.
Source: Toronto Evening Telegram. September 6, 1917. Via CVWM
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 