Source: Per record of promotion in H. McGinley, reg. no. 63628 service record.
Family Search: When Sergeant Frederick Benjamin Isom was born on 2 November 1896, in Edmonton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom, his father, Joseph Isom, was 31 and his mother, Priscilla Jane Ward, was 27. He married Margaret Emmaline Knight on 14 May 1919, in Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Sarnia, Sarnia, Lambton, Canada in 1931. He registered for military service in 1914. He died on 11 August 1960, in Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 63, and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
Military Medal for bravery in the field. London Gazette. No. 30172. July 6, 1917. Page 6841.
Military Medal
For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. This N.C.O. was placed in charge of a party with instructions to dig a jumping off trench the position of which was indicated by tape. Owing to the intense hostile fire it was impossible to proceed with digging on the site indicated.
With great coolness and excellent judgement Sgt. ISOM, selected an alternative position and carried on and completed the work with great vigor. By his utter disregard for Danger and great coolness and gallantry with this N.C.O. ensured the success of this work which was of primary importance.
Record Notes & Research
1896 Birth: 07 Nov 1896 GRO Birth Registration: ISOM, Frederick Benjamin 1897 M quarter Vol 03a Page 447 MMN Ward
see HCC Registry # 9653
1912 Emigrated by the Annie MacPherson Organisation aged 15, for indentured farm labour.
1914 Enlisted: at Stratford, Ontario on 03 Nov 1914. Declared his DoB to be 07 Nov 1895, 19 yrs [sic, 1896, 18 yrs] 5′ 6¼”, fair complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair. Church of England. Allocated pay to P J Isom.
1915 Embarked: from Canada aboard the SS Grampian. Disembarked England 15 Apr 1915
1915 To France: 15 Sep 1915
1916 Promoted: to Corporal 19 Sep 1916
1917 Wounded: 09 Apr by shrapnel at Vimy Ridge, walked to the dressing station. Fractured left femur – outer side of lower third of femur, 3″ above the knee
1917 Admitted: 10 Apr 1917 to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne, France. Shrapnel removed in Boulogne. 15 Apr 1917, to the Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital, Taplow, Berkshire. 16 Jun 1917 Hillingdon House, Uxbridge. Knee movement limited – can extend, but flexion is only to 90 degrees. Chronic periostitis. Wife came over, stayed in Edmonton, London, with Frederick’s family.
1917 Awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field 30 Aug 1917
1917 Repatriated to Canada: embarked England on 18 Oct 1917 aboard the SS Missanabie. Disembarked 25 Oct 1917. Admitted to Guelph Hospital. Soft tissue sinuses, adhesions and abscess circling the femur – drained at Guelph Hospital, further piece of shrapnel removed
Discharge 30 Aug 1918 at London, Ontario, medically unfit to serve due to wound. Rank: Acting Sergeant “I have received all just demands due me”
Married 1919, 5 children, 1 died
see HCC Registry # 9653
1960 Death: aged 63 on 11 Aug 1960 Burial: Lakeview Cemetery, Sarnia, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada Plot: Section E, plot 247 Findagrave: 161020026
