Wallace, John Andrew Robertson: Service no. 54058

Digitized Service Record

Source: Via David Wallace from the 18th Battalion Facebook Group.

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Article about News Clippings

Summary of Service for this soldier is below photos.

Wallace, John A.: Service no. 54058. Later promoted lieutenant and served with the 58th Battalion.
A photograph of 18th Battalion soldiers training. These soldiers are are members of “C” Company. Sergeant John Wallace stands at the ready with a Ross Rifle and Bayonet with other members of his company. He is standing front row, 3rd from the right. Lance-Sergeant Sifton, VC, is standing to the extreme right with the tip of his bayonet almost touching the frame of the photograph. This rare photograph was definitely taken from between October 1914 to August 30, 1916 (the date the Lee-Enfield SMLE was issued to the Battalion). It was most likely taken in England at West-Sandling May – September 1915. The Ross rifle had a shorter bayonet than the SMLE and there was a gap between the forward part of the barrel and the attachment points of the bayonet and handle. Source: David Wallace via the 18th Battalion Facebook Group.

Summary of Service[i] for Private John Andrew Robertson Wallace, reg. no. 54058

DateEventRemarks
October 9, 1892BornBorn Edinburgh, Scotland.
October 26, 1914EnlistedEnlisted with the 18th Battalion on this date. He was unmarried banker of 22-year of age. He enlisted at St. Thomas, Ontario and had a dark complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair. He stood 5’8” tall. His next-of-kin is Mrs. Margaret Wallace of 35 West Preston Street, Edinburgh, Scotland.
February 2, 1915PromotedPromoted Corporal.
April 1915Separation Allowance/Assigned PaySeparation Allowance instituted for his widowed mother. Interesting note on Separation Allowance record, “Widowhood is verified by Rev. Neil Ross – 30 St. Albans Road.” Approximately $25.00 per month. Assigned Pay of $20.00 month for his mother.
April 18, 1915Embarked and SailedEmbarked and sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia for Avonmouth. England.
April 29, 1915ArrivesArrives Avonmouth.
May 3, 1915PromotedPromoted Sergeant.
July 1, 1915Promotion Confirmed 
September 15, 1915Disembarked in FranceDisembarks in France with 18th Battalion on way to Ypres, Belgium for active service as part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Division. CEF.
September 17, 1916SOSSOS 18th Battalion and appointed a lieutenancy in the 18th Battalion. Transferred to Canadian Training Division, Shorncliffe.
September 20, 1916PromotedPromoted Temporary Lieutenant.
January 17, 1916Granted LeaveGranted 8-day’s leave.
January 27, 1916Returns from Leave 
October 5, 1916News ClippingSt. Thomas Soldier Assumes Command When Officers Fall Pte. John A. Wallace Bravery Wins Him Commission. (Special to The Advertiser.) ST. THOMAS, Oct. 5.—Word was received in the city today that Pte. John A. Wallace, formerly accountant in the local branch of the Dominion Bank, who went overseas with the 34th [18th] Battalion, had been given a field commission for bravery in the field. The letter, which was to a friend, stated that Pte. Wallace took the command of a company of men during a fierce engagement after all the officers had fallen. Pte. Wallace, prior to enlisting, was a member of the 25th Elgin Regiment. It also stated that he will likely receive a military honor. London Advertiser. October 5, 1916. Page unknown.  
November 20, 1916Temporary LieutenantPosted temporary lieutenant and attached to 39th Battalion.
November 30, 1916Proceeded OverseasProceeded overseas to the 58th Battalion.
December 1, 1916TOSTOS in the field with the 58th Battalion.
December 7, 1916ArrivesArrives at 58th Battalion.
January 25, 1917AdmittedAdmitted to No. 12 Stationary Hospital, Rouen, France for eczema.
February 2, 1917AdmittedAdmitted to No. 3 General Hospital Le Treport, France, dermatitis.
March 19, 1917DischargedDischarged to Base Depot.
March 23, 1917AdmittedAdmitted to No. 2 General Hospital, Harve, France for scabies.
March 31, 1917DischargedDischarged for duty.
May 12, 1917AdmittedAdmitted to No. 18 CFA for dermatitis.
May 12, 1917TransferredTransferred to No. 12 CFA.
June 27, 1917WoundedGSW to his thighs, severe.
June 29, 1917AdmittedAdmitted to No. 20 General Hospital Dammes Camier, France.
July 2, 1917TOSInvalided to England and TOS at 1st London General Hospital.
October 5, 1917Granted Furlough 
November 8, 1917Ceases Furlough 
November 6, 1917, to February 6, 1918Sick LeaveSick leave to Canada (rare).
November 19, 1917DetachedDetached from Depot Company to 1st CCD.
December 5, 1917Ceases AttachmentCeases attachment above and proceeds to GHQ, Argyle House, London pending proceeding overseas to Canada on leave.
December 27, 1917Medical BoardShows his address as 35 West Ruston Street, Edinburgh.
February 12, 1918Medical BoardTemporary unfit categories “D” and “E”.
April 18, 1918Medical BoardPlaced as category “A”.
April 18, 1918TOSTOS MD 1, London, Ontario to LHAC.
July 11, 1918EntitledEntitled to wear 3 blue chevrons.
November 30, 1918SOS and DemobilizedSOS MD 1 and demobilized.
March 20, 1919MarriesMarries Frances Muriel Cameron at St. Thomas, Ontario.
January 13, 1922Change of AddressAddress changed from C/O Dominion Bank, St. Thomas, Ontario to 33 St. George Street, St. Thomas, Ontario.
Circa 1930sMovesMoves to Orillia to manage a Dominion Bank branch. Residence is probably 143 Peter Street, North, Orillia, Ontario per his Veteran’s Death Card.
August 11, 1937DeceasedHe dies at Toronto General Hospital due to edema of glottis with a secondary cause listed as cancer of the larynx. He was 44-years old. He is interred at Elmdale Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Thomas, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada.   Death Notice WALLACE—Suddenly, at Toronto General Hospital, on Wednesday August 11, 1937, John Andrew Robertson Wallace, manager of Orillia Branch of Dominion Banks, Aged 45 [44] years. Interment in St. Thomas Saturday morning, August 14. Barrie Examiner August 1937. Page 11.

Acronyms

AWLAbsent Without Leave: Generally, a soldier would be deducted 1-days pay for every day absent. In some cases, the soldier would be confined to barracks. Sometimes it was a combination of both.
A ClassificationMedical Board Classification that determined your fitness for duty. A1, A2, A3 and A4 were assigned to different units with the expectation that these men would be able to serve with active combat units. See this link for more information.
B ClassificationMedical Board Classification that determined your fitness for duty. B1, B2, and B3 were assigned to different service units such as railway and forestry corps. See this link for more information.
D ClassificationSee this link for more information.
CAMCCanadian Army Medical Corp
CBConfined to Barracks: a punishment for minor infractions.
CCDCasualty Convalescent Depot: a depot at a base where men, in their final stages of convalescing, would be prepared for duty depending on their rating.
CCHCasualty Clearing Hospital
CCRCCanadian Corps Reserve Camp
CCSCasualty Clearing Station: this facility was attached to rail transportation from the front to hospitals on the coast of France
CDCCanadian Dispatch Camp
CFACanadian Field Ambulance/Canadian Field Artillery. Most common usage would be Canadian Field Ambulance.
DAHDisorderly Action of the Heart
DRSDivisional Rest Station
GSWGun Shot Wound – this was a generic term for all projectile penetrating wounds.
In the FieldThis term relates to a soldier arriving at an active-duty unit after transporting from England, to France, and then to his duty assignment. The routing varied from soldier to soldier and could take 2-3 days to several months.
MDMilitary District
PUOPyrexia of Unknown Origin: This was a term used for any illness that could not clearly be identified and typically was related to influenza symptoms.
SOSStruck Off Strength
TOSTaken On Strength
CAMCCanadian Army Medical Corp
CCHCasualty Clearing Hospital
CFACanadian Field Ambulance
DRSDivisional Rest Station
GSWGun Shot Wound – this was a generic term for all projectile penetrating wounds.
MDMilitary District
PUOPyrexia of Unknown Origin
SOSStruck Off Strength
TOSTaken On Strength
WORDWestern Ontario Regimental Depot

[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.

St Thomas Soldier Assumes Command When Officers Fall London Advertiser October 5 1916 Page Unknown
Source: London Advertiser. October 5, 1916. Page unknown.

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