Source: Blog comment from family member.
Summary of Service for Private Robert McHoul, reg. no. 53871
| Date | Event | Remarks |
| April 17, 1890 | Born | Glasgow, Scotland |
| October 28, 1914 | Enlists | Enlists with the 18th Battalion at Galt, Ontario. He listed his father, William McHoul residing on Norfolk Avenue, as his next-of-kin. He was a 24-year old machinist standing 5’5.5” tall.[i] |
| November 11, 1914 | Inoculated | Anti-Typhoid |
| November 22, 1914 | Inoculated | Anti-Typhoid |
| December 15, 1914 | Vaccinated | |
| April 1915 | Assigns Pay | Assigns $20.00 per month to his father, William McHoul. |
| Leaves Halifax | ||
| April 29, 1915 | Arrives Avonmouth | Arrives Avonmouth and proceeds with Battalion by train to West Sandling, Kent. |
| July 3, 1915 | Forfeits Pay | Forfeits one-day’s pay for being absent without leave. |
| July 9, 1915 | Internal Battalion Transfer | Transferred from his Company to the Base (Command) Company. |
| July 20, 1915 | Internal Battalion Transfer | Transferred from Base Company to “D” Company. |
| September 14, 1915 | Embarks for the Continent | Embarks for the Continent with the 18th Battalion. |
| June 9, 1916 | Admitted | Admitted to No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance re. shell shock. |
| June 14, 1916 | Transferred | Admitted to No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance. Condition indicated now as myalgia. |
| June 29, 1916 | Transferred | Admitted to No. 2 Divisional Canadian Rest Station. Notation re. vesicular dermatitis, acute and |
| June 30, 1916 | Discharged to Duty | |
| December 30, 1916 | Leave | Granted 10 days leave. |
| November 6, 1917 | Leave | Granted 10 days leave to Bordeaux. |
| October 1, 1917 | Adjusts Assigned Pay | Adjusts assigned pay to his father from $20.00 per month to $15.00. |
| June 14, 1918 | Admitted | Admitted to No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance re. scabies. |
| June 16, 1918 | Transferred | Transferred to No. ? Casualty Clearing Station. |
| June 18, 1918 | Transferred | Transferred to No. 61 Ambulance Train for transport to No. 10 General Hospital. |
| June 21, 1918 | Transferred | Transferred to No. 2 Convalescent Depot. |
| September 21, 1918 | Transferred | Transferred to No. 6 General Hospital re. I.C.T., knee. |
| September 29, 1918 | Transferred | Transferred to No. 2 Convalescent Depot. |
| October 25, 1918 | Transferred | Transferred to Canadian Infantry Base Depot, Etaples. |
| November 6, 1918 | Leave | Granted 14 days leave to United Kingdom. |
| November 20, 1918 | Absent Without Leave | Notation in file indicates that Private McHoul was absent without leave this date having not returned from his leave. |
| November 21 to December 27, 1918 | Absent Without Leave | |
| December 27, 1918 | Struck of Strength | Struck off strength from the 18th Battalion and declared a deserter. |
| March 21, 1919 | Taken on Strength | Taken on Strength from desertion to be with the Western Ontario Regimental Depot at Witley. |
| May 14, 1919 | Transferred | Detached from Depot Company and now On Command at Detention Barracks, Wandsworth. |
| June 11, 1919 | Medical and Dental Exam | Medical and dental exam carried out before Private McHoul leaves England for Canada. |
| June 30, 1919 | Out of Detention | Ceased to be On Command, Detention Barracks, Wandsworth. |
| July 5, 1919 | Taken on Strength | Taken on strength “pending R.T.C.” (Return To Corps). |
| July 17, 1919 | Remission Earned | Letter in file indicates remission due to the sentence having been expired. |
| Augusts 8, 1919 | Struck off Strength | Struck off Strength to Canada. |
| Augusts 9, 1919 | Taken on Strength | Taken on Strength at No. 2 District Depot, Military District No. 2, Toronto. |
| August 19, 1919 | Discharged | Discharged at No. 2 District Depot, Military District No. 2, Toronto. |
[i] For more information about his enlistment see the story The Drummer Sergeant, which outlines some of the people that enlisted at Galt the same time as Private McHoul.
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 