Bliss, Robert J.: Service no. 53655

Digitized Service Record

Source: 18th Battalion Nominal Roll, April 1915.

British Home Child

Find-A-Grave

Summary of Service[i] for Private Robert Bliss, reg. no. 53655

Date	Event	Remarks
May 1, 1892	Born	Born at Folkestone, Kent, England to Mr. and Mrs. Eliza Bliss.
November 2, 1914	Enlisted	Enlisted at St. Thomas. He was a labourer and listed his mother Eliza, residing at Folkestone, England, as his next of kin. Standing 5’9” tall, with a chest of 34” with a 3” expansion, this 22-year old man had no prior military experience.
November 11, 1914	Inoculated	Typhoid inoculations.
November 22, 1914	Inoculated	Typhoid inoculations.
December 18, 1914	Vaccinated
April 1, 1915	Assigned Pay	On this date Pte. Bliss, of “C” Company, assignes $15.00 per month to his mother. She is shown to reside at 4 Wellington Mews, Folkestone, Kent, England.
April 29, 1915	Arrive England	The Battalion arrives at Bournmouth, England and proceeds by train to West Sandling.
June 7, 1915	Absent Without Leave	Forfeits 1-day’s pay for being AWL.
June 21, 1915	Absent Without Leave	Forfeits 1-day’s pay for being AWL.
September 1, 1915	Absent Without Leave	Forfeits 1-day’s pay for being AWL.
September 14, 1915	Embarks Overseas	Embarks with the 18th Battalion for service in Belgium. Arriving at Boulogne, France, the Battalion moves to the front.
April 9, 1916	Wounded	The War Diary relates on this day 1 other rank killed in action and 25 other ranks wounded. Private Beeson was most likely wounded on this day.
April 10, 1916	Wounded	With his wounding Private Bliss proceeded first to No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance. Then to No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station. From there he embarks on No. 23 Hospital Train. Received at No. 8 Stationary Hospital, Wimereux. GSW to right arm.
April 15, 1916	Transferred	Transferred to No. 5 Convalescent Depot.
May 2, 1916	Discharged to Base	Discharged to Canadian Base Depot.
May 2 to 7, 1916	Base Hospital	GSW right arm. Returns to unit.
May 9, 1916	Arrives with Unit	After a short convalesce Private Bliss returns to the 18th Battalion.
July 3, 1916	Wounded/Ill	Contused back due to shell and pyrexia. Admitted to No. 5 CFA. Then transferred to No. 25 General Hospital. Another card shows this wound as a GSW to spine.
July 5, 1916	Transferred	Transferred to Canadian Base Depot.
August 18, 1916	Transferred	Designated Class “C” and sent to CCAC.
August 20, 1916	Arrives CCAC	Arrives Canadian Casualty Assembly Center at Folkestone.
August 21, 1916	Medical Board	Indicates that he has been nervous and shaky for 3-months and there is no organic cause.
January 31, 1917	Taken on Strength	Taken on strength from CCD to 4th Reserve Battalion, West Sandling.
March 6, 1917	On Transfer	On transfer from CCAC to 4th Reserve Battalion, Bramshott. On command.
May 3, 1917	Reported Back	Detached 4th Reserve Battalion to Western Ontario Regimental Depot (WORD).
May 4, 1917	On Command	On command with WORD at Mytchett(?).
February 14, 1917	Medical Board	Proceedings of a Medical board on this date indicate “Slight Tachycardia. Recruit exhibits signs of extreme nervousness.” The Board recommends a status of B2.
November 7, 1918	Taken on Strength	Taken on strength at No. 1 Military District, London, Ontario.
November 19, 1918	Attached	Attached Depot Company, Witley.
December 12, 1918	Granted Furlough	Granted furlough and subsistence pay until January 8, 1919.
January 6, 1919	Dental Exam	Dentist Captain J.D. Campbell notes that tooth no. 18 was extracted.
January 18, 1919	Account Opened	Post Discharge Pay Office records an account open and Private Bliss’ address is 93 Centre Street, St. Thomas, Ontario.
January 18, 1919	Discharged	According to this Discharge Certificate, Private Bliss was released from his service at London, Ontario (Military District 1) as medically unfit due to a GSW to his right arm. His last pay certificate shows his mother living at Church Terrace, Rolverden, Cranbrooke, Kent, England.
January 27, 1919	Granted Permission	Granted permission to wear 4 blue chevrons showing four years of service.

[i] The Summary of Service for this soldier is meant as just that, a summary of his service. It is not intended to be an exhaustive biographical relation of his life or his war service. Some information may be deliberately suppressed by the author out of sensitivity to the soldier. Readers are encouraged to reference the actual service records available at the Library and Archives Canada in PDF format if they wish to learn more about this soldier. Such additional information (i.e. hyperlinks etc.) are for informational purpose only and no claim to verification or accuracy is made by the author of this summary.