Source: Per promotion in service record of Corporal Frederick Gilfoy, reg. no. 489223.
His brother, Autterson, Gordon Alexander: Service no. 53425, served with the Battalion as well.
Summary of Service for Private William Harold Autterson, reg. no. 53426
Date | Event | Remarks |
February 12, 1895 | Born | Born at Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. |
October 31, 1914 | Enlists | Enlists with the 18th Battalion at Strathroy, Ontario. His regimental number shows he is an original member of the battalion. He is a 19-year-old farmer standing 5’10” tall. He has designated Gordon Autterson, his brother and also serving in the 18th Battalion, as his next-of-kin. He has 1-year of military experience having served with the Canadian Militia in the 26th Regiment. He is a adherent of the Church of England. |
April 10, 1915 | Forfeits Pay | Forfeits 7-day’s pay for being AWL at London, Ontario. |
April 18, 1915 | Embarks | Embarks for England aboard the SS Grampian. |
April 29, 1915 | Arrives | Arrives Avonmouth, England and entrains for West Sandling Camp near Shorncliffe, Kent. |
June 8, 1915 | Admitted | Admitted at the Bear Wood Convalescent Hospital for measles. |
June 28, 1915 | Discharged | Discharged as cured. |
August 1915 | Admitted to Hospital | |
August 6, 1915 | Discharged | Discharged from hospital at West Sandling. |
August 28, 1915 | Transferred | Transferred to Base Company, 18th Battalion. |
September 12, 1915 | Transferred | Transferred from Base to “B” Company. |
September 14, 1915 | Embarks | Embarks for France for service as part of the 2nd Canadian Division, CEF. Enroute to Flanders region of Belgium, |
November 7, 1915 | Wounded | Wounded with GSW to right arm. |
November 7, 1915 | Transferred | Transferred to England for treatment of wounds aboard the HS Cambria. |
November 7, 1915 | Admitted and SOS | Admitted to Bevan Military Hospital, Sandgate, England. SOS 18th Battalion to 36th Battalion. |
November 12, 1915 | Admitted | Admitted to Shorncliffe Military Hospital, Shorncliffe. |
November 29, 1915 | Admitted | Admitted Bear Wood Convalescent Hospital for shrapnel wound to the right arm. |
December 20, 1915 | Discharged | Discharged from Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Wokingham. |
February 29, 1916 | Re-Examined by Medical Board | Exam re. GSW to right arm. Recommended fit for duty at Shorncliffe. Report endorsed on March 2, 1916. |
March 24, 1916 | Transferred | Transferred to the 18th Battalion from the 36th Battalion. |
March 26, 1916 | Arrives | Arrives at the front. |
July 6, 1916 | Completes Will | Leaves is real and personal property to Gordon A. Autterson currently serving with him in the 18th Battalion. It is witness by George Allen and Henry Wells Cash. |
April 9, 1917 | Appointed Lance-Corporal and then Lance-Sergeant | |
April 14, 1917 | Promoted Corporal | |
August 13, 1917 | TOS | TOS from 18th Battalion to WORD. |
August 16, 1917 | Granted Leave | Granted 10-day’s leave to England. |
August 20, 1917 | Promoted Sergeant | |
November 11, 1917 | Course of Instruction | To course of instruction. |
December 17, 1917 | Rejoins 18th Battalion | |
February 18, 1918 | Granted Leave | Granted 14-day’s leave to England. |
August 8, 1918 | Wounded | GSW to face and right shoulder. |
August 9, 1918 | Admitted | Admitted No. U.S.A. 9 General Hospital, Rouen, France. |
August 11, 1918 | Transferred | Transferred for further treatment to England aboard the AT Marguerite. |
August 13, 1918 | Admitted | General Military Hospital, Edmonton. |
August 20, 1918 | Admitted | Admitted hospital at Croydon. |
December 31, 1918 | Admitted | Woodcote Park, Epsom. |
January 4, 1919 | Marriage Approved | |
January 23, 1919 | Married | Married Annie Isabel Vinall at Parish Church, Folkestone, County of Kent, England. Vicar P.F. Tindall presiding. She is later listed as residing at No. 8 Coast and Cottages, Folkestone, Kent. |
February 3, 1919 | Discharged | Discharged from Woodcote Park, Epsom. |
February 3, 1919 | On Command | On Command with the 1st CCD, Witley. |
March 29, 1919 | Ceases On Command | Ceases on Command with the 1st CCD, Witley and TOS with 4th Reserve Battalion, Ripon. |
March 31, 1919 | SOS | SOS with 4th Reserve Battalion and attached to Regimental Depot No. 2. |
April 1, 1919 | Attached | Attached to “R” Wing. |
April 3, 1919 | On Command | On Command 1st CCD, Buxton. |
April 4, 1919 | Dental Exam | Dental exam reports he has 10 fillings, no extractions or crowns. |
May 3, 1919 | SOS for Discharge | SOS to discharge in Canada. Embarks ship at Liverpool, England. Sailing aboard the SS Melita. |
May 12, 1919 | Disembarks | Disembarks Quebec City, Quebec. |
May 14, 1919 | Discharged | Discharged at Quebec City. He has grown 1-inche and lost a couple of years of age as his discharge papers indicate he is now 22 years old. He has attained the rank of Sergeant. |
1970 | Passes | Buried at Green Lawn Memorial Gardens, Oldcastle, Ontario. |
Notes:
- Record shows that the army should also notify a George Stillwell of Warwick, Ontario.
- No record of Assigned Pay. May be due to the fact he married after he had active service.
Acronyms
AWL | Absent Without Leave: Generally, a soldier would be deducted 1-days pay for every day absent. In some cases, the soldier would be confined to barracks. Sometimes it was a combination of both. |
A Classification | Medical Board Classification that determined your fitness for duty. A1, A2, A3 and A4 were assigned to different units with the expectation that these men would be able to serve with active combat units. See this link for more information. |
B Classification | Medical Board Classification that determined your fitness for duty. B1, B2, and B3 were assigned to different service units such as railway and forestry corps. See this link for more information. |
D Classification | See this link for more information. |
CAMC | Canadian Army Medical Corp |
CB | Confined to Barracks: a punishment for minor infractions. |
CCD | Casualty Convalescent Depot: a depot at a base where men, in their final stages of convalescing, would be prepared for duty depending on their rating. |
CCH | Casualty Clearing Hospital |
CCRC | Canadian Corps Reserve Camp |
CCS | Casualty Clearing Station: this facility was attached to rail transportation from the front to hospitals on the coast of France |
CDC | Canadian Dispatch Camp |
CFA | Canadian Field Ambulance/Canadian Field Artillery. Most common usage would be Canadian Field Ambulance. |
DAH | Disorderly Action of the Heart |
DRS | Divisional Rest Station |
GSW | Gun Shot Wound – this was a generic term for all projectile penetrating wounds. |
In the Field | This term relates to a soldier arriving at an active-duty unit after transporting from England, to France, and then to his duty assignment. The routing varied from soldier to soldier and could take 2-3 days to several months. |
MD | Military District |
PUO | Pyrexia of Unknown Origin: This was a term used for any illness that could not clearly be identified and typically was related to influenza symptoms. |
SOS | Struck Off Strength |
TOS | Taken On Strength |
CAMC | Canadian Army Medical Corp |
CCH | Casualty Clearing Hospital |
CFA | Canadian Field Ambulance |
DRS | Divisional Rest Station |
GSW | Gun Shot Wound – this was a generic term for all projectile penetrating wounds. |
MD | Military District |
PUO | Pyrexia of Unknown Origin |
SOS | Struck Off Strength |
TOS | Taken On Strength |
WORD | Western Ontario Regimental Depot |