WEBSTER, PTE THOMAS ALBERT - Regimental #657832
Thomas Albert Webster was born March 10, 1885, the son of Thomas and Henrietta (Page) Webster. He married Mary Etta Jane Green, of Lorimer Lake on October 19, 1910.
At the time of enlistment, Thomas identified his next of kin as his wife Etta at Fairholme. (At the time of the 1911 census, Thomas and Mary E. Webster were identified as living with Mary Etta’s parents, John and Jane Green. At the time he and Etta had a daughter Jessie born December 15, 1911, at Lot 6, Concession 4, Hagerman Twp.).
However, in his enlistment papers, Thomas that he was living at Parry Harbour.
Tom enlisted April 8, 1916 in Parry Sound; sailed Oct 31, 1916
Tom Webster
Thomas arrived in England November 11, 1916 with the 162nd on the SS Carona. and was transferred to 2nd Pioneer Battalion. In December, Thomas contracted influenza but returned to his unit in France on February 2, 1917
On March 26, 1917 he was invalided sick and posted to WORD (Western Ontario Regional Depot.
The medical record states that while on duty near Le Bassir, France, he injured his hand by cutting it on a cable. He was sent to the Clearing Station and then to Etaples. While there his legs and face began to swell and severe headache (which had begun March 15, 1917). He was sent to other hospitals and later in the month was sent to Newcastle where he was treated for nephritis.
According to Proceedings of the Medical Board at the Discharge Depot, Quebec Notes: Thomas spent 4 months in France and was sent back for nephritis March 26, 1917. It was noted that despite his illness, he ‘complains of nothing’. ‘Present condition Pyorrhea’. He was recommended for dental treatment. On August 29, 1917 taken on strength to CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot – the centre where soldiers returning from war were released from service). On Sept. 24, 1917 Thomas sailed from Liverpool for Canada on the SS Metagami. He was discharged Dec.6, 1917
