Stokes, George Wilfred: Service no. 654135

Digitized Service Record

Source: Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group post.

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Son to Private Frederick William Stokes.

Stokes, George Wilfred: Service no. 654135. Circa 1916 – 18. Source: Bill Donaldson via the 18th Battalion Facebook Group.

Summary of Service for Lance-Corporal George Wilfred Stokes, reg. no. 654135

DateEventRemarks
October 28, 1895BornBorn at Seaforth, Ontario to Frederick William and Agnes Stokes.
December 30, 1915EnlistsEnlists at the age of 19 with the 161st Huron Battalion at Goderich, Ontario, his current place of resident. He is a “turner” by trade and stands 5’5” tall. He has no distinguishing marks and identifies his father, Frederick Stokes, as his next-of-kin.
April 29, 1916InoculatedAnti-Typhoid inoculation course begins.
June 17, 1916Forfeits PayForfeits 3-days pay for being Absent Without Leave (AWL) per Daily Order No. 146 dated June 22, 1916.
July 21, 1916Vaccinated 
October 30. 1916Units SalesEmbarks for England at Halifax, Nova Scotia.
November 1, 1916Assigned pay starts.Private Stokes has assigned $20.00 per month of his pay to his mother, Mrs. F.W. Stokes.
November 11, 1916Arrives EnglandArrives via the S.S. Lapland.
January 14, 1917AdmittedAdmitted to hospital with influenza.
January 27, 1917DischargedDischarged.
February 11, 1917PromotedPromoted Acting Lance-Corporal at Witley Camp.
February 28, 1917Reverts to Private and Taken On StrengthReverts to “permanent grade” of private in expectation of being transferred to a line-battalion. Taken on Strength with the 18th Battalion. Leaves England and arrives the same day at 2 Canadian Infantry Base Depot, Etaples, France.
March 15, 1918Joins the 18th BattalionJoins the 18th Battalion in the field. The Battalion is resting, refitting, and training at Le Pendu, France.
August 26, 1918WoundedSuffers a G.S.W. and contusion to right knee and hip.

 

 

The Battalion had been, and continued to be, heavily engaged and the tempo of the fighting was intense. On that day the War Diary relates:

 

“Zero hour for this days operation was set for 12.30 noon. Bn. was in support of 20th Bn. Heavy casualties were suffered in the advance to the slope of the SENSEE RIVER, machine gun nests and wire in the German line being equally heavy. Capt. Mackedie was shot through the hand and instantly killed rushing a German gun post; Lieut. Cole, shot through the eye, was afterwards found dead; Major Graham and Lts. Lawrence [sic], Donaldson and Krug were wounded. Under terrific fire the Bn. was compelled to temporarily withdraw and take up a line in the sunken roads fronting the German wire East of the SENSEE RIVER. 52 O.R. arrived as reif. 3 O.Rs on leave. Approx. casualties all ranks, 10 killed & 70 wounded.”

August 27, 1917AdmittedAdmitted No. 26 General Hospital, Etaples, France.
August 30, 1917Transferred and AdmittedTransferred and admitted to No. 6 Convalescent Depot.
September 2, 1917Transferred and AdmittedTransferred and admitted to No. 10 Convalescent Depot.
September 11, 1917DischargedDischarged to No. 5 Rest Camp.
September 14, 1917AdmittedAdmitted to Canadian Infantry Base Depot, Etaples.
September 18, 1917ArrivedArrived Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp, Etaples. Designated Class ‘A’ for duty.
October 7, 1917RejoinedRejoined the 18th Battalion in the field. The Battalion was in the line at Vimy Ridge.
September 9, 1918PromotedAppointed Lance-Corporal as L/Cpl. F. Privett, 158665, was invalided to England.
November 25, 1918AdmittedListed as having a pyrexia of unknown origin. Admitted to No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station (C.C.S.). The Battalion is in transit, via marching, from Fleurus. Belgium to Namur, Germany.
November 29, 1918TransferredTransferred to No. 57 C.C.S.
December 2, 1918TransferredTransferred to [illegible].
December 3, 1918TransferredTransferred to No. 7 Canadian General Hospital,
January 13, 1919Posted Sick and TransferredPosted sick and transferred to the Western Ontario Regimental Depot.
May 3, 1919Dental Exam 
May 10, 1919TransferredStruck off strength and transferred to Casualty Clearing Centre, Military District 1 at Ripon.
May 14, 1919TransferredStuck off strength for transport to Canada.
May 24, 1919ArrivesArrives Halifax.
May 27, 1919DischargedDischarged at No. 1 Military District (London, Ontario).
February 24, 1922Latest AddressLatest address General Post Office, Goderich, Ontario.
Possible headstone. George W STOKES 1895-1970 Maitland Cemetery 35424 Huron Rd , Goderich, Goderich Township (Concession MT, Lot 4) Huron County, ON Source: http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/218946

Born on October 28, 1895 in Seaforth, Ontario to Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Stokes. On enlistment he gave his occupation as “turner” and his current address as Goderich, Ontario. He enlisted at the age of 19 on December 30, 1915 at Goderich with the 161st Huron Battalion and arrived in England on November 11, 1916 aboard the SS Lapland. After arriving in England the unit was posted to Witley and in February 1918 he was transferred to the 18th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry, Western Ontario Regiment and served in France until the end of the war. Lance Corporal Stokes was discharged on May 27, 1919 and returned to Goderich where he married his wife, Mary Myrtle.

Source: http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?ID=74724

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