Source: Via Cheryl McNeil from a post at the 18th Battalion Facebook Group. This is her Great Uncle.
Summary of Service[i] for Private Stanley Edward McNeil, reg. no. 3130301
| Date | Event | Remarks |
| January 2, 1895 | Born | Born at Forest, Ontario to Mr. and Mrs. Flora McNeil. |
| October 4, 1917 | Medical Exam | Medical exam at Sarnia, Ontario in response to receiving his draft notice. Classified A11. |
| January 3, 1918 | Drafted | Drafted under MSA, 1917, at London, Ontario with the 1 Depot Battalion Western Ontario Regiment. He was 22 years and 2 months old, unmarried, standing 5’5.5” tall. He had his medical examination at Sarnia, Ontario on October 4, 1917 and declared A11. He was an electrician and practiced the Methodist faith. He had a medium complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair. His sight in both eyes was 20/20 and his hearing was normal. Note that his papers have been signed by Lt.-Col. H.L. Milliganv, the former officer commanding the 18th Battalion. He listed his next-of-kin as his mother, Flora McNeil, R. R. No. 3, Sarnia, Ontario. Noted on the form, “Particulars of Family of an Officer or Man Enlisted in the C.E.F.” was that his mother was a widow and he had life insurance at the Prudential Life Insurance Company. It was noted on his Medical History sheet that he was 116 pounds. A dental exam was completed. He was missing molar no. 32. |
| March 30, 1918 | Admitted | Admitted to Military Hospital, London, Ontario. Suffering from la grippe (influenza). Medical history relates his father died from stomach trouble. One sister has asthma. Two cousins died of TB. He has a history of frequent colds “tenacious”. Treatment appears to be saline and zinc. |
| April 3, 1918 | Discharged | Discharged to duty from hospital. |
| April 16, 1918 | Embarks | Embarks for England from Canada aboard the HMT (SS) Scotian. |
| April 28, 1918 | Arrives | Arrives England. |
| April 28, 1918 | Arrives | Arrives Witley Camp and taken on strength with the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion. |
| May 1918 | Assigns Pay | Assigns $15.00 per month to a John McNeil, 394 Maxwell Street, Sarnia, Ontario. |
| September 4, 1918 | Proceeds Overseas | Proceeds overseas for service with the 18th Battalion. |
| September 5, 1918 | Arrives | Arrives at the Canadian Infantry Base Depot, Etaples, France. Taken on strength with the 18th Battalion. |
| September 9, 1918 | Arrives | Arrives at the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp, France. |
| October 4, 1918 | Joins Battalion | Joins the 18th Battalion “in the field”. The 18th is in divisional reserve (as of October 1, 1918) at Haynecourt, France. The war diary relates that day: “During the day Battalion Hdqrs. was moved to a more suitable location in X.14.central. All Battle Stores, Bombs, Flares, etc. were formed into Company Dumps. A canteen was established to-day near one of our Company Hdqrs. enabling the men to keep well supplied with cigarettes and various eatables. Parties were sent forward to reconnoitre [sic] the MARCOING LINE in squares X.23, 17 and 12c. During there was heavy enemy bombing in the area. Lieut. H.N. Bawden proceeded on leave. Fourteen O.R.s arrived as reinforcements.” His baptism of fire would start on October 9, 1918. |
| December 23, 1918 | Appointed | Appointed to the rank of Lance-Corporal. |
| April 4, 1919 | Proceeded to England | Along with the rest of the 18th Battalion the battalion embarked for England from France on this date. |
| April 7, 1919 | Medical Exam | Medical exam on discharge at Witley Camp, England. Notations for scars obtained before his service. That his nutrition was good. His pulse rate was 68 and his arteries were soft. His sight was 6/12 in both eyes. His hearing was rated at 20 feet in both ears when hearing conversational voices. He now weight 125 pounds. |
| April 7, 1919 | Dental Exam | Dental exam. Nothing of note. |
| May 13, 1919 | Taken on Strength | TOS to No. 1 District Depot Dispersal Station. |
| May 14, 1919 | Sailed | Sailed for Canada from Liverpool. |
| May 19, 1919 | Struck off Strength | SOS from P Wing Witley to Canada. |
| May 24, 1919 | Discharged | Discharged London, Ontario due to demobilization. Indicates his residence after discharge will be 175 Penrose Street, Sarnia, Ontario. |
| March 15, 1922 | Notice of Address Change | Address changed from 175 Penrose Street, Sarnia to 115 Vincent Street, Sarnia, Ontario. |
| November 1972 | Dies | Dies and is buried at Lakeview Cemetery, Sarnia, Ontario. |
[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. In addition, some errors and omissions may occur. This is a best efforts by a the author who has no professional training in the interpretation of these records. 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.
[i] This street has been renamed.
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 