Private Ernest Beal

Surname sometimes spelled "Beale" - born on 12 January 1878 in Kent, Ohio - son of George and Francis Beal, Kent, Ohio - brother of Norman Beal, Kent, Ohio - attestation form notes trade as labourer, single, currently a member of the 52nd Regiment, no previous military service, height of 5 feet 8 inches, chest of 36.5 inches, fair complexion, blue eyes, gray hair, Reformer Church - other documents note trade as farmer; Church of England, weight of 120 pounds (January 1919).

Joined the 53rd Battalion, CEF, in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, on 11 February 1915 (number 440657) - sentenced to five days detention on 31 March 1915 - sentenced to two days detention on 21 May 1915 at Camp Sewell for being absent without leave one day - sentenced to nine days detention with hard labour on 21 July 1915 at Camp Sewell for being absent without leave from 21 to 30 July 1915 - sentenced to 10 days detention on 1 October 1915 at Camp Hughes for refusing to obey an order - discharged at Camp Hughes after being absent without leave for fifteen days on 3 November 1915 "as not likely to become an efficient soldier".

Joined the 97th Canadian Infantry Battalion in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on 9 December 1915 (number 700287) - promoted to Corporal on 4 July 1916 - reduced to Private on 15 August 1916 as "inefficient" and sentenced to four days detention - sentenced to further punishment on 15 September 1916 for "refusing to obey an N.C.O." - embarked at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on SS Olympic for overseas on 18 September 1916 - disembarked at Liverpool, England, on 25 September 1916 - transferred to the 7th Reserve Battalion, CEF, at Seaford, England, on 1 January 1917 - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion in Le Havre, France, on 4 April 1917 - departed Le Havre for the 38th Battalion on 23 April 1917 - joined the 38th Battalion in the field on 27 April 1917 - sent to 11th Canadian Field Ambulance from 3 to 10 September 1917 - sentenced on 9 October 1917 to seven days' Field Punishment No.2 for being absent on the morning of 7 October 1917 - wounded on 8 February 1918 by a shell or gun shot wound to the upper left arm and sent to No.6 Canadian Casualty Station by 12th Canadian Field Ambulance - sent to No.1 Canadian General Hospital in Étaples, France, on 9 February 1918 - invalided to England on 14 February 1918 - sent to No.1 Western General Hospital, Woodgate Park Epsom on 14 February 1918 - posted to Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Seaford on 14 February 1918 - transferred to Military (Convalescent) Hospital in Epsom on 27 April 1918 - discharged from hospital and placed on command of 3rd Canadian Command Depot in Seaford on 1 July 1918 - taken on strength of the 6th Reserve Battalion, CEF, in Seaford, England, on 3 October 1918 - sent to No.14 Canadian General Hospital in Eastbourne on 15 October 1918 - sent to No.14 Canadian General Hospital with influenza on 15 October 1918 - discharged from hospital on 21 October 1918 - taken on strength of No.1 District Depot in London, Ontario, on 21 December 1918 - arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on board SS Carmania on 30 December 1918 - discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in London, Ontario, on 1 February 1919.

Mentioned-in-Despatches (London Gazette No.30448, 28 December 1917) - no citation - unit recommendation 5 October 1917: "For particularly efficient services rendered during previous months." - personnel record notes "for valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in the Field."

(Many thanks to Jim Busby for sending me a copy of Private Beal's personnel file).

(sources: Library and Archives Canada (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca), online attestation papers; Library and Archives Canada, personnel file (thanks to Jim Busby); Canadian War Museum, 19740281-001, Manu 58F 2 3, 207th Canadian Infantry Battalion and 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Nominal Roll; The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Regimental Museum, A400-0007, Master Personnel List for the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force; Canadian War Museum, 19680229-001, Manu 58C 1 2.18, Honours and Awards, 38th Battalion (Records of recommendations for honours and awards and mentioned in dispatches 19161121 19190117))