Regimental number: 502614 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1910 – 40, Item: 112334, PDF:- B1910-SO40.  Date of Birth 19/09/1895 at Plymouth, England. Son of Mrs. S. Connell of 70 Barthe St., Chatham, ON. Would move to 30 Barthe St. Chatham.  A single “handyman”. Living at his mother’s home. Vaccination – Yes. No previous Military training. Attestation: 24/01/1916 at London, ON. to CE, transferred to CSEF.

Apparent Age:- 20 yrs. 4 mths., Height: 5’ 7”, Girth: 34 ½”, Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Brown, Hair: Brown,  “one left”. “Fit” – 24/01/16 at London, ON. – 24/01/1916 – to Engineers – London ON. Served in Canada , England and Siberia (with the Canadian Army – Medical Corps – “O. C. – Discharge Section No. 1 D.D. 11/06/1919 – 1DD 10-C- 698. Appendices scar – Varicocle – Left Sight – Right Eye D: 20/100 Right 20/200 left eye – at London, ON. 12/04/18 – Defective vision Cat. C1 – London, ON. 27/08/18 – Examined by S. M. Bcarl at London, ON. 24/09/1.

Father: – Peter Connell – 70 Barthe St. Chatham, ON. – Mother: Susannah 2/05/15 I.D.M. – 11/06/19.  A single handyman living at his mothers home. Attestation: 24/01/1916 at London, ON. to CE, transferred to CSEF.

Sapper Francis James Connell trained in Ottawa with the Engineers, going overseas in May 1916. He was stationed at Shoreham and Bramshott where he was admitted to hospital and underwent an operation for appendicitis. He succeeded in getting to France where he remained but a month when he was sent back to England being medically unfit from the effects of the operation and having defective eyes. Here he served at batman and did hospital work until returning to Canada in March 1918.

ARV. – England 29/05/18 aboard the S.S. Baltic – 15/01/17 – TOS – HASTINGS – 4/06/17 To Hospital:- 4/06/17 at Wood – Epson 27/06/17 – Discharged from hospital SOS 26/07/17.    

3/10/18 – 3/10/18 to 10/10/18 – Influenza (8 days) 133#. Appendicitis – to Woodcote Park – Epson 9/05/17 to 30/05/17, Also – for Influenza:- 3/10/18 to 10/10/1918.    

Frances returned to Canada pending his return to Canada -: 18/03/18 S.O.S to Canada – Date of Service CE, 29/05/16 

Francis would volunteer for service in Siberia MD-1 11/06/19 from Plymouth, England – Embarked for O/S aboard the OROTESILAUS – from Vancouver 2/12/18 – Enlisted to Canada – S.S. Russia – SOS 19/05/19 – SOS – Discharged 11/06/19. Embarked from Siberia aboard the S. S. Empress of Russia 19/05/19 – Embarked at Vancouver. 26/12/18. (Arv. at Siberia – 15/01/1919 to 19/05/1919 .

Francis was discharged 11/06/1919 – TOS – NO. 1.D.D. – 8/06/19 – Posted to Cas. Coy:  11/06/1919 from HMS ON DEMOB (P.D.P) – Defective Vision – prior to his enlistment  – 11/06/1919 at London, ON.

Reported returned from O/S duty in Siberia. CDP 12/06/19.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

IODE, Chatham Daily Planet (21-03-1918), Chatham Daily Planet (20-04-1919), Chatham Daily Planet (06-06-1919), Chatham Daily Planet (12-06-1919), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1910 - 40

Height	5' 7''
Eye Colour	Brown
Age	20 yrs. 4 mths.
Complexion	Fair
Hair	Brown
Race	White
Birthplace	19/09/1895 at Plymouth, England
Religion	Presbyterian
Last Place of Employment	Spencer Strone, Ltd, Chatham, Ontario.
Average Earnings	$8.00 per week
Marital Status	Single
When Enlisted	January 6th, 1916
Where Enlisted	Chatham, Ontario
Next of Kin	Father- Peter Connell ,122nd, C.F.C. Mother- Mrs. Susanna Connell, Chatham, Ontario. Brother- Frederick S. Connell, 70th. Bn, Charles J. Connell. Sister- Winnifred L. Connell, Victoria A. Connell.

---

Notice something wrong with this record? Or, do you have something to add? Report it using our online form.