George Thomson (signature)
Cecil M. Thomson
12th Trench Mortar Battery
4th Canadian Division
George Thomson (signature)
The “George Thomson” signatures appear to be Pop's father's. Pop probably wanted copies of his father's signatures to verify signatures on legal documents which he might receive from him. The two signatures are a little different. Thomson has a script 'T' and 's' in one version and a print 'T' and 's' in the other version. One signature may have been Pop's father's legal signature and the other his everyday signature.
1915
June 18
Joined 8th Royal Rifles and went to Levis Camp.
September 6
Went to Halifax to take Sub. (subaltern's) course.
October
Joined Canadian Grenadier Guards
1916
April 21
Good Friday. Left St John's Barrack for Halifax to embark.
April 23
Easter Sunday. Arrived in Halifax and embarked.
April 26
Sailed from Halifax. Carnarvan escort. Over 4000 in Empress of Britain.
May 4
Arrived at Liverpool evening before. Disembarked this morning and entrained for Bramshott 3:00 p.m. arrived about 2:00 a.m. next morning.
Bramshott was the training center for the Canadian Army in England.
May 10
Big day at Folkestone and fine day in London. Married K.T.
K.T. was Katherine (Katie) Christie. Katie was a nurse. According to Phoebe Fritz, a family friend, Katie spoke up in the nurse's residence one night and said, “Every woman has the right to have a baby, married or not.”
May 21
Went to Aldershot on range finding course.
June (?)
Pirbright.
June (?)
Draft of 300 men left for France.
July 1
King's review on Hankley Common.
July 3
Joined 12th Brigade Trench Mortars, about one week later attached to 38th Battalion still remaining in Trench Mortars, 87th Battalion having been transferred to 11th Brigade.
Pop originally joined the 87th Battalion as did his friends from Quebec City, including his best friend, Jim Williams.
A battalion consisted of 300-1000 men commanded by a colonel. A brigade consisted of three battalions commanded by a brigadier general.
July 22
Portsmouth for weekend.
August 2
All day march and field manoeuvres.
August 3
March in full kit, 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
August 6
London for weekend.
August 7
Review by Sir Sam Hughes on Hankley Common. Lloyd George present and addressed officers.
Sir Sam Hughes was the Canadian Minister of Defence and Lloyd George was the British Prime Minister at that time.
August 10
Division started move to France - 10th Brigade going first.
August 11
87th Battalion Canadian Grenadier Guards moved out this morning.
August 13
We moved out this morning at 4:30 a.m. from camp. Reached the railway station at 5:30. Left the station at 6:45. Arrived Southampton at 8:30 a.m. and embarked almost at once. Remained at dock all day. Poker in the evening.
August 14
Remained at dock all night and still here. A submarine scare is holding up the shipping. Did not move out today and got a pass till 10:00 p.m. Went up to see the town. Had dinner in the L.&S.W. hotel.
August 15
Still at dock this a.m. Moved out at 5:00 p.m. Blowing like the devil. Was sick about an hour out but after that was alright.