MILITARY HISTORY
Gunner John Nelson Huddleston — 304147 — ACTIVE SERVICE (World War I)
John Nelson Huddleston was 16 years and 13 days old when, as a single man, he filled out the Attestation Paper in Belleville, Ontario for the Canadian Army (CA), Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) and was enlisted on November 23, 1915 with the 33rd Battery (Batt), 9th Brigade CEF for the duration of the War. John Nelson was born in Belleville, Ontario on November 10, 1899 and was living at 44 Great St. James St., Belleville. He was 5′ 6″ tall, weighed 135 pounds, dark complexion, brown eyes, dark-brown hair and had a 37″ chest (expanded). John Nelson gave his occupation as a Caller on the Grand Trunk Railroad* and his next-of-kin was his father, Mr. Myles Huddleston, living at 44 Great St. James St., Belleville. He indicated that he had no Active Militia nor previous Military experience. John Nelson’s Medical Examination was done in Belleville on November 23, 1915, he appeared to be 17 years old and was found fit for duty. On November 23, 1915 he was assigned the Rank of Gunner (Gnr); given Regimental Number 304147 and taken-on-strength to the 33rd Batt, Canadian Field Artillery (CFA) CEF.
*A Callers is a clerical employee who notifies engine, train and yard employees when to report for work.
On January 1, 1916 Gnr Huddleston was transferred from the 33rd Batt to the No 1 Section, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC) at Kingston, Ontario.
On January 6, 1916 Gnr Huddleston was struck-off-strength from the 33rd Batt, CFA CEF and taken-on-strength to the 1st Section, 3rd DAC. A Medical Board done on January 8, 1916 for the 3rd Divisional Area indicated that on Pte Huddleston’s last birthday he was 17 years old (November 15, 1915). The document stated that Pte Huddleston was underage at 17 years, 2 months old. January 8, 1916 an Opinion of a Medical Board, done in Kingston provided the following:
“The Board having assembled pursuant to order proceed to examine and report on the present physical condition of Gunner J. Huddleston, 3rd DAC, concur fully with the above report.
Find man unfit for services due to not being up to the standard, — underage — 17 years 2 months —
Recommend his discharge from the Service at once.
The Board recommended that Gunner Huddleston be retained in the Service.
January 18, 1916 Gunner Nelson Huddleston was discharged from the Canadian Army (Active) due to being underage.
MILITARY HISTORY
Private John Nelson Huddleston — 636443 — ACTIVE SERVICE (World War I)
John Nelson Huddleston was enlisted for a second time on January 24, 1916 John Nelson Huddleston was 17 years and 2 months old when, as a single man, he filled out the Attested Paper in Belleville, Ontario for the Canadian Army (CA), Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) and was enlisted on January 24, 1916 with the 155th Battalion (Bn) CEF for the duration of the War. On January 24, 1916 he was assigned the Rank of Private (Pte); given Regimental Number 636443 and taken-on-strength to the 155th Bn CEF.
There is a gap in Pte Huddleston’s File from January 24, 1916 to about October 12, 1916. This period of time would have been utilized to do training from the Basic Level to an Advanced Level with the 1st Section, 3rd DAC. On October 18, 1916 Pte Huddleston embarked the SS Northland at Halifax, Nova Scotia (NS) bound for England. On October 28, 1916 he disembarked the SS Northland at Liverpool, England. November 1, 1916 he made a $20.00 monthly Pay Assignment to his mother Mrs. Grace Huddleston at 26 Cannifton Road, Belleville.
December 8, 1916 Pte Huddleston was struck-off-strength from the 155th Bn on transfer to the 154th Bn at Bramshott, England and was taken-on-strength December 9, 1916. January 28, 1917 he was struck-off-strength from the 154th Bn on transfer to the 156th Bn at Witley, England and was taken-on-strength the same day. On May 31, 1917 Pte Huddleston was admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital (CMH) at Bramshott while with the 154th Bn. September 25, 1917 he was discharged from the CMH and transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regiment (EOR) then on October 2, 1917 he was re-admitted to the CMH at Bramshott. October 17, 1917, still with the EOR, Pte Huddleston was transferred to the Canadian Special Hospital (CSH) at Witley Camp, Surrey, England. On November 19, 1917 he was discharged from the CSH and returned to the EOR.
January 18, 1918 Pte Huddleston proceeded for Service with the PPCLI Bn at Witley. January 19, 1918 he arrived and was taken-on-strength to the PPCLI in the Field (France). January 21, 1918 Pte Huddleston was struck-off-strength from the PPCLI and left for the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp (CCRC), a centre in France where troops were held before being sent to reinforce existing units, and was taken-on-strength. January 28, 1918 he left the CCRC for the PPCLI in the Field and was taken-on-strength the same day. March 19, 1918 Pte Huddleston was admitted to the No 10 Canadian Field Ambulance (CFA) with Pyrexia (PUO) an unknown origin fever of an undetermined cause. March 24, 1918 he was transferred to the No 6 Casualty Clearing Station (CCStn) and admitted with PUO. A CCStn is the first medical unit (after the Aid Post) for wounded soldiers evacuated from the Front-Lines. March 27 Pte Huddleston was evacuated sick, no information stated. March 28, 1918 he was struck-off-strength from the No 6 CCStn, to the No 42 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No 83 General Hospital (GH) at Boulogne, France with PUO. April 13, 1918 Pte Huddleston was discharged from the No 83 GH to the No 10 Convalescent Camp Detachment (CCD) at Écault, France. April 18, 1918 he was transferred from the No 10 CCD and admitted to the No 5 Rest Camp with PUO. April 21, 1918 Pte Huddleston is taken-on-strength with the No 3 Canadian Base Depot (CBD) from Boulogne “A”. April 23, 1918 he was transferred from the No 3 CBD and left for the CCRC. April 26, 1918 Pte Huddleston was transferred from the No 5 Rest Camp Classed “A” to the Canadian Infantry Reinforcement (CIR) Depot.
July 18, 1918 Pte Huddleston was struck-off-strength from the 156th Bn and was posted to the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and was taken-on-strength the same day. August 6, 1918 he departed from the CCRC for the PPCLI in the Field; August 11, 1918 Pte Huddleston joined his Unit in the Field. On September 29, 1918 he was wounded in action in the Field. On September 30, 1918 Pte Huddleston was admitted to the No 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station (CCCStn) with a gunshot wound (GSW) to his right arm (fracture) and left knee (flesh wound). October 10, 1918 he was struck-off-strength from the No 1 CCCStn and admitted to the No 17 Ambulance Train with a GSW to his right arm (fracture) and left knee. On October 11, 1918 he left the No 17 Ambulance Train and was admitted to the No 54 General Hospital at Aubagne, France with a GSW to his right arm (fractured) and left knee. October 16, 1918 Pte Huddleston was admitted to the 2nd Eastern General Hospital and transferred to Brighton, England, Invalided through 4/S St. David; posted from the PPCLI to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot (EORD) at Seaford and taken-on-strength with the EORD. The EORD is a facility in England used to assemble men and to store and administer equipment and materials.
January 1, 1919 Pte Huddleston was admitted to the Brant Military Hospital, Burlington, Ontario. January 9, 1919 Pte Huddleston was admitted to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital (CSH) at Buxton, England with a GSW to his right arm (fractured) and left knee. April 4, 1919 he is discharged from the CSH and admitted to the No 5 Canadian General Hospital (CGH) at Kirkdale, Ontario. April 5, 1919 Pte Huddleson, Invalided, transferred to the No 5 CGH at Liverpool to Canada, Military District (MD) 3. May 5, 1919 Pte Huddleson was taken-on-strength to the No 2 District Depot (DD) and Invalided to Canada from Kirkdale MD 3 and was struck-off-strength to Canada MD 3; Pte Huddleston embarked the Hospital Ship, HMHS Essequibo at Liverpool bound for Halifax, NS and disembarked at Halifax, NS May 15, 1919.
May 17, 1919 Pte Huddleston was granted Leave with allowances from May 19 to June 2, 1919. June 2, 1919 Pte Huddleston cleared the MD 3 to the Brantford Military Hospital and was admitted to the Brant Military Hospital at Burlington, Ontario. Pte Huddleston was discharged from the Brant Military Hospital to the Dominion Orthopaedic Hospital (DOH) [Toronto] to the PPCLI on October 8, 1919. On June 29, 1920 Pte Huddleston was posted from the Hospital Section to the Casualty Company. June 30, 1920 Pte Huddleston was struck-off-strength from the No 2 DD on transfer to the No 2 Detachment (Det), General List, CEF. On July 1, 1920 he was taken-on-strength to the General List from the No 2 Det CEF on transfer from the No 2 DD. July 3, 1920 Pte Huddleston is discharged as Medically Unfit with effect from July 6, 1920 and was entitled to the War Service Gratuity for 183 days. July 5, 1920 Pte Huddleston is struck-off-strength from the No 2 Det CEF with effect on July 6, 1920; on discharge from the Canadian Army at the No 2 DD, Toronto Ontario due to being Medically Unfit and returned to civil life.
There is no mention in Private John Nelson Huddleston’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 “B” War Service Badge.
John Nelson Huddleston’s Medals were dispatched to him to Lakefield, Ontario on July 7, 1922.
Medical Report:
Dominion Orthopaedic Hospital (Toronto), Huddleston, Pte. J. N. 636443, June 25, 1920.
Condition when finally boarded for discharge.
Wounded September 29, 1918 at Cambria, France resulting in a fracture of the right humerous, flesh wound
of the left knee and injury of the right thorax. Operated (1) Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) on September
29, 1918. The CCS is the first medical unit (after the Aid Post) for wounded soldiers evacuated from the Front-Lines. F.B. was removed from the knee joint and arm is splinted. (2) at the Eastern General Hospital, Brighton, October 1918 F.B. was removed from the left knee joint and F.Bs. were removed from the arm. (3) Burlington, Canada June 1919 bone graft right arm, which was taken from a tibia, wounds all completely healed since July 1919.
Object: (a) Small wound scar right-posterior axillary fold, healed, healthy, no disability. Wound scar exterior
1st aspect, right humerous middle 1/3. Loss of tissue left arm middle 1/3, 10½”, right arm, 7½”. Movement,
extension of forearm not complete. Flexion to range of 1200 almost complete extension of wrist, normal; of
shoulder, all movements 10% of normal. (b) Wound scar interior, lateral surface left knee joint. Wound
scar exterior, lateral surface, healed, healthy.
Subject: (a) Right arm not straight, weakness of arm, soreness of shoulder when lifting weights. (b) Left leg
weak, gets fatigued after a walk of two miles; knee cap loose, bony exostosis right chest. All movements
knee normal, but leg can readily be hyper-extended and patella moves loosely over the joint. X-ray
attached – X-ray of right-chest attached.
Influenza in France 1918, one month in Hospital. Good recovery.
Private John Nelson Huddleston served for about: 1 year, 9 months and 14 days in Canada; 1 year, 9 months and 12 days in the United Kingdom; 8 months and 27 days in France and 20 days Travel Time for a total time of about 4 years, 5 months and 12 days. His Service on his first enlistment was for 1 month and 26 days.
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
JOHN “JACK” NELSON HUDDLESTON
John “Jack” Nelson Huddleston was born in Belleville, Ontario on November 10, 1899, the son of Myles Robson Huddleston and Grace Cornell. Jack received his education in the local school and helped on the family farm. On November 23, 1915, Jack enlisted in Belleville to serve his King and Country and on January 24, 1916, Jack went through the enlistment process again due to being underage and received a different Service Numbers.
After the War, Jack came home to Belleville and found work as a Security Guard in the General Electric Company. On September 13, 1926, Jack Huddleston married Dorothy Florence Moy in the Belleville United Church. Dorothy was born in August 1907, the daughter of Annie Massey and Edward Moy of Ameliasburg, Ontario. They had a family of seven children: Myles Edward; Grace Florence; Shirley Elizabeth; John “Jake”; William “Bill”; Stella and Gordon Huddleston.
Jack enjoyed hunting and fishing, he was well known as a great muskellunge fisherman; he was able to catch one almost every time he went out. Jack also served as a Guide at times.
Jack passed away on March 19, 1960 and Dorothy died on October 29, 1970; both are buried Rosemount Memorial Gardens, Peterborough, Ontario.
THE JOHN NELSON HUDDLESTON FAMILY OF LAKEFIELD
Jack Huddleston’s paternal grandparents were John Huddleston and Mary Robertson.
Jack Huddleston’s parents were Myles Robson Huddleston born in England on May 7, 1875 and Grace Cornell born September 12, 1879. They were married in Belleville on December 3, 1896. They lived in the Belleville area and Myles was a farmer and in 1904 they were living at 44 St. James Street in Belleville and Myles was working as a stone mason. They had a family of seven children: Mary Dolan; John Nelson; William Robert; Stella May; Philip Robinson; Henry and Helen Patricia Huddleston. Myles and his wife were living on Victoria Avenue in Belleville when he passed away on July 30, 1937 and is buried in the Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, Ontario.
In the early 1940s the Huddleston family lived just outside the Village limits; during the Winter the men from the Village would clear the road of snow when required since the plow didn’t go that far.