Private Wilbert Croft

Private (Army).

Pte. Wilbert Croft was the son of Rosetta May Byam and John Croft. Rosetta May Byam was a descendant of the Byam family which can be traced back to about 1635 in the United States. He was a direct descendant of a soldier who fought in the American Revolution. This branch of the Byam family later moved to Canada. His father, John Croft, was an immigrant from Worlaby, Lincolnshire, England. He arrived in Canada in 1885 on the immigrant ship Hanoverian.

The Crofts had four children: Wilbert, Charles Lorne (known as Lorne), Olive Leona and Cecil. Both Wilbert and Lorne enlisted in the 136th Battalion C.E.F. in Port Hope. Their sister Olive married Gnr. Russell Fraser Pirie (41st Battery CFA) of Dundas, Ontario, in 1922. They lived in Toronto and lastly in Dundas, Ontario.

The Croft children had a difficult childhood after their mother died of tuberculosis in 1913, and their father remarried and started a second family. They were raised with the help of aunts and uncles. Cecil Croft was afflicted with polio and was disabled. Aunt Rose Croft was one of the key individuals who helped hold the family together.

Pte. Wilbert Croft died of tuberculosis in Kingston, Ontario, while under the responsibility of the Invalided Soldiers' Commission (ISC). He was buried in Welcome United Church cemetery in Port Hope next to the grave of his parents and his father's second wife.

At the present a photo cannot be located showing Pte. Wilbert Croft. Photos exist of his sister as well as members of the Byam and Croft family. Olive L. Croft worked at a local newspaper in Port Hope, and it is possible that his photo may have been placed in this paper at the time of his death. A check of the microfilm of the Port Hope Evening Guide held at the Port Hope Public Library may hold some group photographs of local soldiers published through the war years.

Pte. Croft's obituary appeared in the Port Hope Evening Guide on October 29th, 1918 (Pg. 4 / Col. 2). This noted that Croft was the eldest son of John Croft, and that the funeral would be held from his Hope Street residence with burial at Welcome Cemetery. (I will be acquiring a copy of the original notice).

Pte. Wilbert Croft's Military Service

Pte. Croft enlisted in the 136th Battalion in Port Hope on March 15th, 1916. His service number was 805556. He was discharged from his military service on June 30th, 1916 at Barriefield military training camp as physically unfit, having complained of illness. He was hospitalized for two weeks in Port Hope in June 1916 with tuberculosis. In late May 1918 the Dept. of Militia and Defence decided to discharge Canadian soldiers suffering from tuberculosis and hand them over to the charge of the Invalided Soldiers' Commision (ISC). On July 30th, 1918, a report was made recommending that Pte. Croft be discharged and transferred over to the responsibility of the ISC. It was also recommended that he be placed for further treatment in a Sanitorium. He died at the Mowat Sanitorium, Portsmouth, on October 28th, 1918.

His orginal March 15, 1916 attestation was signed by Sgt. John Douglas Fitzgerald, 136th Battalion. Sgt. Fitzgerald was born in 1897 in England, and was living in Millbrook, Ontario, at the time of his enlistment in Port Hope on January 5th, 1916. Attestation. It was also signed by Lt. Col. R. W. Smart.

Pte. Croft's military file at the National Archives of Canada consists of a large envelope pre-printed on the front with the heading "Discharge Documents" and a list of items contained within the envelope is noted on the front left of the envelope. These are, with number of pages, as follows: Attestation papers (2), Regimental Conduct Sheet (1), Casualty Forms (1), Proceedings on Discharge (1), Medical History Sheet (2), and Company Conduct Sheet (1).

An index card that lists "Promotions, Transfers, Discharges, etc." states that Pte. Croft served from March 15, 1916 and was dischaged on June 30th, 1916. He was paid from March 15th up to and including July. This form is stamped that the unit (136th) sailed to England on September 25th, 1916. Military District No. 3 is noted in the corner.

Another index card asks for enlistment place (Port Hope, Ont.), discharge place (Barriefield) and reason (Physically Unfit). Address on discharge is Port Hope.

"Casualty Form - Active Service" is filled out across the top for Pte. Croft, but nothing is listed.

1916 Documents

The "Proceedings on Discharge" (Form B. 218) pages include a number of form questions. Pte. Croft's details are listed on the top with his unit, and the date of discharge is marked as June 30th, 1916 at Barriefield (camp).

Question # 1 is a description at time of discharge. He is described as 19 years and 5 months, 5 foot 8 inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, horse shoe shaped scar on outer surface right leg. His intended place of residence is Port Hope, and his trade is express driver.

Question # 2 asks the question "The above-named man is discharged on consequence of ...." This is marked "Physically unfit".

Question # 5 asks if the soldier is in possession of G.C. Badges - this is marked as "nil". Question #6 asks about Medals and Decorations. This is also marked "nil".

Question # 7 asks if his account is correctly balanced. This is signed on June 30th, 1916 by Lt. Col. R. W. Smart, O.C. 136th Overseas Battalion, C.E.F.

Question # 8 is a "Certificate to be signed by Soldier on Discharge". Pte. Croft did not sign this statement where he would acknowledge that his pay and other allowances are up to date. There is a note that if the soldier is unable to sign because of illness, that a copy of this could be sent to him, and then it could be returned and attached to this original. It is witnessed and signed by Lt. W. F. Welch* on June 30th, 1916 at Valcartier Camp (military training), Quebec.

Question #11 "Confirmation of Discharge" is also signed at Valcartier on June 30th, 1916 by Lt. Col. R. W. Smart, O.C. 136th Overseas Battalion, C.E.F.**

Notes:
* Lt. William Frederick Welch, 136th Battalion, was born in London, England on Sept. 23, 1884. His wife lived in St. Lambert, Quebec. He worked as an auditor. He had previously fought in the South African war. He signed up for military service at Port Hope on March 19th, 1916. Attestation.

**Lt. Col. Robert Wallace Smart survived the war. Smart was born in Port Hope on December 3rd, 1864. He had been a Bursar. Smart had prior military experience with the 46th Durham Regiment since 1883. Attestation.

1918 Documents

"Medical History of an Invalid" - this report was completed in Kingston, Ontario, on July 30th, 1918. This includes the - "Opinion of the Medical Board".

Items No 1 to 4 - Pte. Croft was described as 21 years old, born on Oct. 14th, 1896, and enlisted at Port Hope on March 15th, 1916. Unit = 136th Battalion and Regimental No. = 805556. His personal description was 5 feet 8 inches tall, 111 pounds, pale complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes, and "scar outer surface right calf". (*Note that another report says blue eyes).

Item No. 5 - His address after discharge was to be Hope St., Port Hope, Ont.

Item No. 6 - Former trade - purser.

Item No. 7 - His service period was stated as from March 15th, 1916 to June 30th, 1916. It is noted that he has not been overseas. "Original disease or disability" and "Present disease..." were marked as Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Date of origin of medical condition is "Likely previous to enlistment", and cause is "Unknown".

Item No. 9 was "Present condition" (of the soldier) which has the following description:

"Subjective. Man complains of marked general weakness. He has free night sweats, constant cough with quite profuse expectoration, particularly night and morning. Man is markedly short of breath on moderate exertion. Objective. Man pale and markedly emaciated. Respiration 26 per min. Resp. pulse rate 140 per min. Infra Clavicular fossae prominent particularly the left. Chest flattened on both sides. Crepitant rales well marked on auscultation over both upper loves [sic]. Amphoric breathing noted over an area just internal to inner angle."

Item No. 10 asks for the history of the medical condition: "Man first noticed trouble early in 1916 shortly after going to Camp."

Item No. 11 asks if the disabling condition, even if originating before enlistment, was aggravated on military service. Answer - Yes.

Item No. 12 asks "Was the disability caused or aggravated by negligence, by vice or by misconduct, or by unreasonable refusal to accept treatment?" Answer - No.

Item No.13 asks about the probably duration of the medical condition. Answer - Permanent.

Item No. 14 asks about treatment. Answer - "Was in Hospital, Port Hope, Ont., for two weeks in June 1916.

Item No. 15 asks if further treatment in a hospital or convalescent home would be of "material benefit". Answer - "Yes. Sanitorium Treatment".

Item No. 17 recommends "That man be placed in Category E? (blurred - or D?) for further treatment in Sanitorium under the I.S.C." Under this there is a signature by a Captain of the A.M.C. who was the Medical Officer by whom the case was brought forward. The signature is difficult to read.

Finally, just below this there is a "Statement of the Soldier" indicating that the soldier has has sections 8, 9 & 10 read to him and is satisfied with the description of his disability or not satisfied. The words satisfied or not satisfied were supposed to be struck out leaving the correct phrase visible. This was not done. Below this is Pte. Croft's signature - W. C. Croft.

Below his signature is the heading "Opinion of the Medical Board". Item No. 18 asks if the Board concurs with the preceding report. Answer - Yes.

No. 19 indicates that he is "Temporarily unfit" in Category D.

No. 20 says the soldier "Should not pass under his own control".

No. 21 (page 4) on this report was headed: "It is recommended that the soldier be discharged." The recommendation was: "That man be placed in Category E for disposal of the Board of Pension Commissioners and transferred to the I.S.C."

This report was signed by the President of the Medical Board at Kingston, Ontario, on July 30th, 1918. This signature appears to be N. MacLeod, Major*. This same page was also approved and signed on August 1st, 1918 by a Captain of the Army Medical Corps, who was Assistant Director of Medical Services for the A.D.M.S. Military District No. 3. This signature appears to be "M. Craig". (Page 4).

*This man may likely be Major Neil MacLeod, a Physician. Attestation.

Transcript of additional doctor's notes regarding Pte. Croft's medical condition:

"...of right scapula. Vocal resonance increased over right upper lobe posteriorly. Man's voice is hoarse being strongly suggestive of Laryngeal Tuberculosis."

The latest index card is the card indicating service medals awarded and whether the Memorial Plaque and a Scroll were sent to the next of kin. NOK was his father John Croft in Port Hope. He received all the awards. Marked as M. & D., P. & S. No memorial cross was sent as Pte. Croft's mother was deceased. The bronze Memorial Plaque was despatched (to the next of kin) on Feb. 11, 1922, the Scroll was despatched on May 5th, 1920 (the zero in 20 is blurred, could be another number). There is also a handwritten notation "Ser. I? 806078" next to the medal names.

Sir Oliver Mowat Memorial Sanitorium, Kingston, Ontario

The Sir Oliver Mowat Memorial Hospital opened in 1912, and was used for soldiers with tuberculosis during the first World War. The control of the sanitorium was transferred to the Kingston Health Association in 1924 and sold in 1925. Source: S. Mcleod, "Kingston wasn't spared from the ravages of The King's Evil", The Kingston Whig Standard, 2010).

An article about the Mowat Sanitorium appeared in the Toronto World on 26 December 1917 (page 11). At that time there were 136 patients under treatment. It was noted that the ISC had arranged for new buildings where vocational training would be available. The training involved carpentry, commercial courses, auto mechanic study, among other courses.

The Kingston City Directory (1919-1920) references Mowat Hospital frequently, and gives information on staff working there, however, no direct reference to the hospital's address is found within, other than a mention of a fire alarm at the hospital. Online edition.

A report on the work of the Invalided Soldiers' Commission was published in May 1918 and is available online. A list of the facilities for treating men with tuberculosis is provided, including the Mowat Sanitorium on page 27. The work of the ISC relating to tuberculosis was covered on pages 25-28.

Ontario Archives - Pamphlet ca 1920 (images of the interior of the Sanitorium)

===============
Death (1918)

Some inconsistencies in relation to the date and year of death:

His CWGC marker has the death as October 28th, 1919, and the same entry is on the CVWM. This must be an error since his Province of Ontario Death Registration is for October 28th, 1918. It was registered for the County of Frontenac, Division of Kingston. Place of death was Mowat Sanitorium, Portsmouth. Cause of death: Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Informant: Invalided Soldiers' Commission. Duration of disease: at least two years. Also, Croft's obituary appeared in the Port Hope Evening Guide on October 29th, 1918 (Pg. 4 / Col. 2).

In addition, Croft's "Veteran's Death Card" submitted to Veterans Affairs, gave the date of death as October 25th, 1918, with a letter sent October 28, 1918. The place was Mowat Sanitorium Kingston.

Stamped over the card: "Death was related to service".

It is clear that the CWGC needs to be replaced with the correct year 1918, although it is still unclear whether the day is October 25th (death card) or 28th. An email has been sent on 26 June 2012 to Veterans Affairs to amend the year on his Canadian Virtual War Memorial entry.

Treatment of tubercular Canadian soldiers:

A Toronto Evening Telegram article dated September 27th, 1917 discussed the issue of the prevention of tuberculosis in its report on the 17th Annual meeting of the Canadian Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis in Ottawa, Ont. Concerns were raised regarding high numbers of soldiers with tuberculosis. One of the resolutions adopted was "That the Dept. of Militia and Defence be urged to have all new recruits carefully examined by chest specialists., etc., before acceptance to the army."

Another TET article from May 27th, 1918 captioned "Care for Discharged Men / Medical Authorities Make Plans for Treatment of Tubercular Soldiers" reported on a private conference of medical officers of the Dept. of Soldiers' Re-establishment. It was held at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto. They discussed plans for the establishment of a system to attend to ex-soldiers suffering from tuberculosis.

A third TET article from May 28th, 1918 said that it was announced at a the conference that all Canadian soldiers suffering from tuberculosis would be discharged by the Dept. of Militia and Defence and handed over to the charge of the Invalided Soldiers' Commision (ISC). They would continue to receive their military pay and allowance as previously received. Therefore, this explains why Pte. Croft was discharged to the ISC on July 30th, 1918.

In loving memory of Pte. Wilbert Croft.
Researched by: M. I. Pirie (great niece)