MILITARY HISTORY

Private Charles Willan Casement — 883594 — ACTIVE SERVICE (World War I)

Charles Willan Casement was 29 years and 1 months old when, as a single man, he was Attested in the Canadian Army (CA), Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in Calgary, Alberta. He enlisted in Calgary on June 25, 1916 with the Signals Training Depot (STD) CEF for the duration of the War. Charles Willan was born in Madoc, Ontario on May 25, 1887. He was 5′ 7″ tall, fair complexion, dark brown eyes, brown hair and had a 35½” chest (expanded); he weighed 156 pounds. His present address is Bank of Montréal, Calgary. Charles Willan gave his occupation as a Bank Clerk and a Telegrapher at his enlistment; His next-of-kin was his mother, Mrs. Emma Casement living at Madoc, Ontario. He indicated that he had no previous Active Militia Force nor Military Force experience. Charles Willan’s Medical Examination was done in Calgary on June 21, 1916, he was found fit for duty. On July 1, 1917 Charles Willan initiated a Separation Allowance Payment of $15.00 monthly to his mother living in Madoc. On June 25, 1916 he was assigned the Rank of Private (Pte); given Regimental Number 883594 and taken-on-strength to the 25th Draft Canadian Engineers and then transferred to the Canadian Engineer Training Depot (CETD) Battalion (Bn). On transfer he would have been assigned the Rank of Sapper (Spr). The Certificate Of Officer Commanding Unit was signed on June 27, 1916.

July 17, 1916 Spr Casement was taken-on-strength with the 187th Infantry Battalion (Inf Bn) CEF, from the CETD Bn. October 23, 1916 Pte Casement was transferred to the Signals Training Depot. October 23, 1916 he was transferred from the 187th Inf Bn to the 4th Divisional Company, Signals Training Depot. About October 24, 1916 Spr Casement was promoted to the Rank of Lance Corporal (L/Cpl).

There is a 1-year gap in information due to nothing in L/Cpl Casements’ Military File; he would have been on training and doing assigned duties. There are other gaps but none as long as this gap in information. April 27, 1917 L/Cpl Casement was admitted to the Military Hospital in Halifax with Influenza and Tonsils. On May 3, 1917 L/Cpl Casement embarked the SS Justicia at Halifax, Nova Scotia for England.

April 16, 1917 L/Cpl Casement is promoted to the Rank of Corporal (Cpl). Cpl Casement disembarked at England May 14, 1917; was struck-off-strength from Canada and taken-on-strength of the CETD at Crowborough, England. September 15, 1917 Cpl Casement was struck-off-strength from the CETD on proceeding to the Canadian Signals Pool (CSP) at Shoreham, England in preparation for the CSP going to France. September 20, 1917 Cpl Casement arrived at the Canadian Signals Pool. October 24, 1917 Cpl Casement was struck-off-strength from the CSP to the Signals Troop (Sigs Tp), Canadian Calvary Brigade (Can Cav Bde) in the Field. October 25, 1917 Cpl Casement is taken-on-strength with the Sigs Tp, Can Cav Bde, in the Field from the Sigs Pool. October 30, 1917 he reported for duty. December 21, 1917 he was with the Air Armament School (AAS).

January 21, 1918 Cpl Casement is taken-on-strength with the Canadian Engineer Reinforcement Depot (CERD) from the CC Sigs. CERD is a centre from which reinforcements were allocated to existing Engineering Units.

April 22, 1918 Cpl Casement had an Appendicitis and was taken-on-strength with the No 7 Canadian Field Ambulance* (CFA). April 23, 1918 he was admitted to the No 4 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station (CCCS)**. April 27, 1918 …. can’t read … . April 28, 1918 Cpl Casement was discharged to duty. *CFA is a Unit responsible for evacuating the wounded from the Front-Lines to medical centres. **CCCS is the first Medical Unit (after the Aid Post) for wounded soldiers evacuated from the Front-Lines.

November 7, 1918 Cpl Casement was at the No 7 CFA with an Appendicitis (acute) and moved to the No 4 CCCS authority from the Signals Troop to the Can Cav Bde. November 14, 1918 Cpl Casement is moved, with Appendicitis from the No 4 CCCS to the No 26 General Hospital (GH) in Étaples, France. November 20, 1918 he is Invalided to England and posted to the CERD at Seaford. December 3, 1918 he is changed from the 3rd Canadian Convalescent Depot (CCD)# to the CETC Battalion (Bn) at Seaford. #A CCD is a facility where soldiers could recover from wounds and rebuild their strength.

November 21, 1918 Cpl Casement is admitted to the No 2 West General Hospital at Manchester, England with Appendicitis. On December 17, 1918 he was released after 27 days in the Hospital. December 17, 1918 Cpl Casement is in the Malton Convalescent Hospital (MCH), with Appendicitis, at Woodcote Park Hospital at Epsom, England and released after 28 days in the Hospital. December 18, 1918 Cpl Casement was in the Military Low Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom; his surgery was done here. January 13, 1919 he is discharged from the Military Low Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom and is On-Command with the 3rd Can Cav Bde.

February 1, 1919 Cpl Casement ceases to be On-Command with 3rd Can Cav Bde and is taken-on-strength to 3rd Canadian Engineer Reinforcement Battalion (CER Bn). February 4, 1919 Cpl Casement is transferred to the 3rd Canadian Command Depot CCD). March 1, 1919 Cpl Casement was struck-off-strength from the 3rd CER Bn to MD Wing No 3, Kimmel Park Camp at Seaford. March 22, 1919 he is taken-on-strength to No 3 District Depot (DD) and discharged April 2, 1919 at Ottawa, Ontario. Signed by the O/C of Dispersal Area Station.

Private Charles Willan Casement was struck-off-strength to Canada, Sailing 42. Sailing No 42 on the SS Regina from Liverpool, England March 22, 1919 from Military Depot (MD) 3A, Dispersal Station “G”. Private Charles Willan Casement is proceeding on discharge on April 2, 1919 due to demobilization.

November 2, 1919 Charles Willan Casement’s War Service Gratuity was calculated and paid in two instalments. He would have also received a Clothing Allowance and a Rehabilitation grant.

There is no mention in Corporal Charles Willan Casement’s File with regards to what Military
Medals he was eligible to receive or was awarded. Based on his Military Service, he was awarded the:

British War Medal; and
Victory Medal.
He would have also received the CEF Class “A” War Service Badge.

His medals were dispatched December 5, 1922.

November 2, 1919 Charles Willan Casement’s War Service Gratuity was calculated and paid in two instalments. He would have also received a Clothing Allowance and a Rehabilitation grant.

Corporal Charles Willan Casement served for: 10 months, 13 days in Canada; 8 months, 3 days in the
United Kingdom; 1 year, 2 months and 28 days in France and 20 days Travel Time for a total time of 2
years, 9 months and 9 days.

Note: Corporal Charles Willan Casement served in the following Ranks: Private; Sapper; Lance
Corporal and Corporal. He also served with a number of Units. His Discharge Certificate states
“Private” and used his Enlisted Unit “187th Canadian Infantry Bn (Alberta Regiment)”.

An excerpt from an article in McLean’s magazine by Barbara Amiel, September 1996:

The military is the single calling in the world with job specifications that include a commitment to die for your nation. What could be more honorable?

PERSONAL HISTORY

CHARLES WILLAN CASEMENT

Charles Willan Casement was born in Madoc, Ontario on May 25, 1887, son of Robert Russell Casement and Emma Willan. He attended school in Madoc and helped in his Dad’s hardware store in the village. It is believed that Charles may have come to Lakefield around 1900 to work for William Casement of Lakefield and help out in his hardware store. While living in Lakefield Charles attended Knox Presbyterian Church along with William Casement.

By 1916 Charles had gone west and was rooming in a boarding house with eleven other boarders in Calgary, Alberta. Charles found work as a bank clerk and telegrapher with the Bank of Canada, experience he learned while living in Lakefield. On June 27, 1916 Charles signed up in Calgary to serve his King and Country.

After the War Charles returned to Lakefield listing his discharge address as P.O. Box 511, Lakefield, Ontario. He died in 1946 at the age of 59 years and is buried in the family plot in Lakeview Protestant Cemetery, Madoc, Ontario. 

THE CHARLES WILLAN CASEMENT FAMILY OF LAKEFIELD

Charles Willan Casement’s parents were Robert Russell Casement born in 1858 and Emma Willan born in 1853. They made their home in the village of Madoc, Ontario and Robert owned and operated a hardware store in the village. They had two sons Robert Russell Casement born in 1884 and Charles Willan Casement born in 1887. Emma passed away in 1932, her son Robert Russell died in 1939, Charles Willan Casement died 1946 and Robert Russell Casement Sr. died in 1949. The entire family is buried in the family plot in Lakeview Protestant Cemetery in Madoc, Ontario.

 

Large stone and Plaques on the Casement Family Plot
in the Lakeview Protestant Cemetery, Madoc, Ontario

 

Plaques on the Casement Family Plot
in the Lakeview Protestant Cemetery, Madoc, Ontario

Charles Willan Casement was a member of Knox Presbyterian Church and is included on a Memorial Plaque that hung in Knox Presbyterian Church which remembers with honour their members who served in the Armed Forces during World War I.   This plaque was later moved to the Sanctuary of Lakefield United Church on Regent Street in 1932 after the two churches merged to form Lakefield United Church.