Sergeant John Clifford McCaig

John Clifford McCaig was born at Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec, on 6 October 1917. His father, Archie Neil McCaig, was a farmer. He completed Grade 8 at a rural Quebec school, worked on his father's farms and as a truck driver, and enjoyed riding, swimming, boating, hunting and fishing. He played the violin and spoke English and some French. He enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force at Vernon, British Columbia, on 4 July 1940, service number K47746, joining The Westminster Regiment (M.G.). He trained at Dundurn Camp, Vancouver and Camp Borden, qualified as a signaller, and attended a technical course in Toronto. He sailed from Halifax in November 1941 and served in Britain with the Westminster Regiment as a signaller and Driver Operator, Group C. He was appointed acting lance corporal on 20 July 1943 and reverted to Private when transferred to a reinforcement unit in August. McCaig left Britain for the Mediterranean in October 1943. By April 1944 he was serving with the 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion, the Canadian component of the First Special Service Force. On 23 May 1944 he was wounded by shell fragments near the Mussolini Canal on the Anzio beachhead. His shoulder, forearm and left buttock were injured, and he underwent surgery involving the ulnar artery. He was treated at the 11th U.S. Evacuation Hospital, 36th U.S. General Hospital and 32nd U.S. Station Hospital, returning to duty on 28 June. He became an acting sergeant in August 1944 and moved from Italy to France that month. He returned to Italy in December, when his rank was confirmed as Sergeant, and subsequently served with Canadian infantry base and reinforcement units. He moved to France in March 1945, served in North-West Europe, and joined the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in July. He returned to Britain on 7 September and then to Canada for demobilization. He was discharged as a Sergeant at Montreal South on 20 November 1945 and received War Service Badge 577479. His certified wartime awards included the 1939–45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and War Medal 1939–45. At release he considered training in wireless work or carpentry; in June 1946, while living at Val-Barrette, he applied for an out-of-work allowance and expressed interest in electrician training. A later Veterans' Land Act review recorded a benefit of $2,320. He died at Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague on 12 November 1982, aged 65.

1917-10-06 — Born at Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec
1930 — Completed Grade 8 at a rural Quebec school, according to release counselling
1930 to 1940 — Worked on his father's farms near Montreal; later also worked as a truck driver; Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec.
1931 — Underwent appendectomy at Valleyfield; another hospital history gives 1932; Valleyfield, Quebec.
1940 — A recruit medical declaration records compensation associated with a Colles fracture; Quebec.
1940-07-03 — Recruit examination found him fit for category A; height 5 feet 6½ inches, weight 135 pounds, chest full 36 inches with 3-inch expansion; Vernon, British Columbia.
1940-07-04 — Enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force, K47746, as a Private with The Westminster Regiment (M.G.); Vernon, British Columbia.
1940-07-04 — Taken on strength of Westminster recruit depot and attached to the B.C. Regiment, D.C.O.R., for quarters and rations; New Westminster, British Columbia.
1940-07-13 — Declared single, without children; named father Archie Neil McCaig and mother Ephemia Jane McCaig of Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague; executed will; Vernon, British Columbia.
1940-07-23 — Posted to The Westminster Regiment (M.G.); ceased B.C. Regiment attachment; British Columbia.
1940-07-24 — Taken on strength of The Westminster Regiment at Dundurn Camp; another arrival entry gives 26 July; Dundurn Camp, Saskatchewan.
1940-08-25 to 1940-08-30 — Admitted to No. 12 District Military Hospital with influenza; recovered and discharged; Dundurn Camp, Saskatchewan.
1940-08-31 — Directed to unit sick parade after hospital discharge and excused duty for 48 hours; Dundurn Camp, Saskatchewan.
1940-10-03 — Changed station to Vancouver Barracks; Vancouver, British Columbia.
1940-11-25 — Unit designation changed to Westminster Regiment (Motor); Vancouver, British Columbia.
1941-01-05 to 1941-01-18 — Granted furlough; Westminster Regiment.
1941-02-10 — Received restorative dental treatment, followed by further treatment on 13 February and 19 March; Canadian Army.
1941-04-29 — Personnel testing recorded score 134 on Revised Examination M; education entry gave Grade 9; Westminster Regiment.
1941-05-15 — Occupational history recorded farm and truck-driving work, English and some French, and interest in telegraphy and college; Westminster Regiment.
1941-05-17 — Qualified as a signaller, entitled to wear crossed flags; Westminster Regiment.
1941-05-24 — Rehabilitation history completed; Canadian Army.
1941-05-31 — Changed station to Camp Borden; Camp Borden, Ontario.
1941-08-30 to 1941-09-09 — Granted special leave, with instructions to report to Vocational Training Wing at Toronto on expiry; Toronto, Ontario.
1941-09-09 to 1941-09-25 — Attended technical-school Driver Operator course; qualification card gives approximate start 8 September; Toronto, Ontario.
1941-09-25 — Ceased attachment to Vocational Training Wing, Military District No. 2; Toronto, Ontario.
1941-11-10 — Embarked for overseas at Halifax; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1941-11-11 — Overseas strength and credited overseas-service period began; Canadian Army Overseas.
1941-11-24 — A detailed movement card records disembarkation at Liverpool; other copied cards give 15 or 21 November; Liverpool, United Kingdom.
1941-12-29 to 1942-01-03 — Granted landing leave; another copied entry begins 28 December; United Kingdom.
1942-01 to 1942-02 — Attended a five-week regimental Driver Operator course; United Kingdom.
1942-02-04 — Personnel interview recorded preference for Signals, cooperative conduct and sense of duty; a separate card dates wireless-operator qualification the same day; United Kingdom.
1942-02-07 — Qualified Driver Operator, Group C; United Kingdom.
1942-02-19 to 1942-02-26 — Granted privilege leave with free travel warrant; another card gives four days; United Kingdom.
1942-03-02 to 1942-03-31 — Treated for Vincent's angina with repeated dental visits; United Kingdom.
1942-09-10 to 1942-09-17 — Granted privilege leave; United Kingdom.
1942-09-21 to 1942-09-25 — Treated for a further episode of Vincent's angina and periodontal disease; United Kingdom.
1942-10-26 — Driver Operator Group C trade pay commenced; United Kingdom.
1942-11-04 — Detailed card records one Good Conduct Badge; another card gives 16 July 1942; United Kingdom.
1942-12-01 to 1942-12-10 — Granted privilege leave with additional 48-hour allowance noted; United Kingdom.
1942-12-10 — Upper central and lateral incisors extracted; United Kingdom.
1943-01-01 — Driver Operator Group C pay increment became effective; United Kingdom.
1943-01-18 — Partial upper denture inserted while serving in D Company, Westminster Regiment; United Kingdom.
1943-02-12 — Granted seven days' privilege leave; United Kingdom.
1943-05-21 — Granted seven days' privilege leave; United Kingdom.
1943-07-20 — Appointed acting lance corporal, Westminster Regiment; United Kingdom.
1943-08-25 — Reverted to Private on transfer from Westminster Regiment to 1 Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit following hospital admission; United Kingdom.
1943-08-25 to 1943-09-02 — Admitted through a field ambulance and No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station to No. 18 Canadian General Hospital for urethritis/gonorrhoea; discharged to duty; Bramshott, United Kingdom.
1943-08-26 — Taken on strength of 1 Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit while in hospital; United Kingdom.
1943-10-11 — Struck off Signals Reinforcement Unit for 2 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit; United Kingdom.
1943-10-12 — Taken on strength of 2 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit; United Kingdom.
1943-10-23 — Struck off strength to a draft whose designation is unclear; United Kingdom.
1943-10-27 — Embarked from the United Kingdom for the Mediterranean
1943-10-28 — Taken on Mediterranean strength, X-4 List, Canadian Division Support Base; location recorded N.A.; North Africa.
1943-11-07 — Disembarked in the Mediterranean theatre; exact destination not stated
1943-12-03 — Test-of-cure entry recorded for the August infection; Mediterranean theatre.
1943-12-14 — Records at Acton reported he was at 2 CBRD; United Kingdom.
1944-01-05 — Posted to X-4 List, 3 Battalion; Mediterranean theatre.
1944-01-10 — Service medal and clasp entry recorded, apparently Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; Mediterranean theatre.
1944-01-12 — Posted to X-4 List, 4 Battalion; Mediterranean theatre.
1944-01-26 — Posted to X-4 List, 3 Battalion; Mediterranean theatre.
1944-03-31 — Movement card records transfer from X-4 List toward 1 Canadian Infantry Division Headquarters, apparently C Company; a pay card identifies his unit as 1 Special Service Battalion; Italy.
1944-04-01 — Authorized parachute pay of 75 cents per day with 1 Special Service Battalion; movement card separately records Headquarters strength and establishment increment; Italy.
1944-05-23 — Wounded in action at 0630 near the Mussolini Canal/Anzio beachhead; shrapnel injured shoulder, forearm and left buttock. Admitted to 11th U.S. Evacuation Hospital and underwent debridement and ulnar-artery surgery; Italy.
1944-05-23 — Struck off unit strength to X-3 List because of wounds; Italy.
1944-05-24 — Evacuated from 11th Evacuation Hospital, apparently by ship; taken on strength of X-3 List, 1 Canadian Special Service Battalion; Italy.
1944-05-25 — Transferred to 36th U.S. General Hospital; one movement summary also records 3 Canadian Light Field Ambulance; Italy.
1944-05-30 — Secondary suturing of wounds recorded; 36th U.S. General Hospital.
1944-06-03 — Battle-casualty cable reported him wounded, date then unknown; London, United Kingdom.
1944-06-04 — Father Archie Neil McCaig notified by telegram that his son was wounded in action; Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec.
1944-06-05 — Delivery of casualty telegram confirmed; Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec.
1944-06-07 — Director of Records wrote to his father; wound particulars remained unavailable and he was not on dangerous or serious casualty lists; Ottawa, Ontario.
1944-06-08 — Wounds healing well and sutures removed; 36th U.S. General Hospital.
1944-06-10 — Overseas cable confirmed wound date of 23 May; London, United Kingdom.
1944-06-12 — Director of Records confirmed 23 May wound date to his father; Ottawa, Ontario.
1944-06-13 — Received dental examination and restorative treatment in hospital; 36th U.S. General Hospital.
1944-06-20 — Transferred to 32nd U.S. Station Hospital for convalescence; records describe right-scapular, left-forearm and left-buttock wounds; Italy.
1944-06-28 — Discharged much improved and returned to duty; Italy.
1944-06-30 — Struck off X-3 List for the unit X-4 List; Italy.
1944-07-01 — Taken on strength of 1 Canadian Special Service Battalion from hospital list; Italy.
1944-07-05 — Further casualty telegram to his father described a gunshot wound of the right arm; detailed hospital records record multiple shrapnel wounds; Ottawa, Ontario.
1944-07-06 — Delivery of further casualty message confirmed; Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec.
1944-08-03 — Pay/service card records appointment to acting sergeant; another detailed card gives 5 August; 1 Canadian Special Service Battalion, Italy.
1944-08-11 — Embarked from Italy for France
1944-08-14 — Disembarked in France with 1 Canadian Special Service Battalion
1944-08-31 — Transferred to establishment 2 A while remaining on 1 Canadian Special Service Battalion strength; administrative CMF strength recorded; France.
1944-12-06 — Movement card records embarkation from France for Italy; another card gives 7 December
1944-12-09 — Disembarked in Italy
1944-12-12 — Detailed card records confirmation as Sergeant, posting to X-4 List (2 Battalion) and cessation of parachute pay; other records give confirmation 13 or 15 December; Italy.
1944-12-18 to 1944-12-20 — Admitted to No. 1 Canadian Field Hospital for acne vulgaris; returned fit to duty on 20 December; Italy.
1944-12-18 — Administrative transfer from 1 CSSBn through X-4 List (2 Battalion) to X-3 List recorded; Italy.
1944-12-20 — Returned from X-3 to X-4 List (2 Battalion); Italy.
1945-02-11 — Struck off X-4 List for 2 Canadian Base Infantry Battalion (B); Italy.
1945-02-12 — Taken on strength of 2 Canadian Base Infantry Battalion (B); Italy.
1945-03-14 — Embarked from Mediterranean theatre for France; primary card names Italy while copied card names North Africa
1945-03-17 — Disembarked in France
1945-03-28 to 1945-04-09 — Granted nine days' privilege leave in the United Kingdom and returned on 9 April
1945-05-31 — Struck off Headquarters for 7 Company, 2 Canadian Base Infantry Battalion; another summary describes 4 Canadian Base Reinforcement Group; North-West Europe.
1945-06-01 — Taken on strength of 7 Company from Headquarters, 2 Canadian Base Infantry Battalion; North-West Europe.
1945-07-15 — Struck off 2 Canadian Base Infantry Battalion for Seaforth Highlanders X-4 List; a copied card gives 18 July; North-West Europe.
1945-07-16 — Taken on Seaforth-associated reinforcement strength; North-West Europe.
1945-07-17 to 1945-07-21 — Admitted to No. 2 Canadian General Hospital for acne and a non-specific ulcer; healed and discharged to 13 Canadian Base Reinforcement Battalion; Belgium.
1945-07-24 — Struck off reinforcement list for Seaforth Highlanders of Canada; another summary gives 21 July; North-West Europe.
1945-07-25 — Taken on strength of Seaforth Highlanders of Canada; North-West Europe.
1945-09-07 — Embarked from North-West Europe, disembarked in the United Kingdom, and attached to 11 Repatriation Depot
1945-09-10 to 1945-09-16 — Granted seven days' leave with allowance; another card begins 9 September; United Kingdom.
1945-09-19 — Personnel counsellor recorded undecided postwar plans, wireless qualifications, and need for further guidance in Canada; United Kingdom.
1945-09-24 — Ceased attachment to 11 Repatriation Depot and embarked for Canada; overseas credited service ended; United Kingdom.
1945-09-25 — Copied movement card records Canada strength effective25September. Its Vancouver entry is not accepted as physical arrival, given UK embarkation24September; Canada.
1945-09-26 — Taken on strength of No. 4 District Depot, Montreal South; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-10-08 to 1945-11-14 — Granted leave and ration allowance; Canada.
1945-11-06 — Release examination proceedings initiated; no abnormality detected; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-11-19 — Release examination found him well, with no complaints; retained left-wrist metal and slight left-hand grip weakness noted, with all-one PULHEMS and no treatment recommended; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-11-19 — Dental assessment and vocational counselling completed; carpentry training recommended and referred to NES and DVA; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-11-20 — Discharged as Sergeant under CARO 1029 paragraph 5 on demobilization; received War Service Badge 577479, suit priority certificate, clothing allowance and 30 days' pay; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-11-20 — Issued trade certificate for Driver Operator Group C with civilian equivalent Wireless Operator (Radiotelephone certificate); medals certified; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-11-23 — No. 4 District Depot issued formal discharge communication; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-11-28 — Campaign-medal application forwarded to Ottawa; Montreal, Quebec.
1945-12-14 — Wartime will returned following demobilization; Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec.
1946-01-11 — Service computation certified 1966 qualifying days, including 1414 overseas and 552 Western Hemisphere days; Canadian Army.
1946-01-23 — War-service gratuity calculated as $1027.60, initially payable in one $205.52 payment and eight $102.76 instalments; Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec.
1946-02-04 — Suspension of gratuity requested pending assigned-pay overpayment of $1.67; Ottawa, Ontario.
1946-02-25 — Gratuity statement marked stopped; Canadian Army accounts.
1946-03-04 — Amended gratuity recorded $1027.60 gross, deductions $309.95, and $717.65 remaining in seven stated $102.52 instalments; Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec.
1946-04-01 — Correspondence recorded seven unpaid instalments totalling $719.32, prior to the stated $1.67 adjustment; Canadian Army accounts.
1946-04-18 to 1946-06-05 — Post-service dental treatment included fillings, pyorrhea treatment, crown impressions and a four-part bridge cemented on 5 June; Montreal, Quebec.
1946-06-20 — Applied for out-of-work allowance while living in Val-Barrette, registered at Mont-Laurier; requested electrician training and reported no income or pension; Mont-Laurier, Quebec.
1946-07-01 — Initial voucher recorded allowance payment beginning 1 July; Veterans Affairs.
1946-07-06 — District Rehabilitation Board approved $50 monthly allowance effective 20 June through 11 September; Montreal, Quebec.
1946-11-19 — Dental record apparently documents surgical removal of an impacted tooth after X-ray; year inferred from surrounding record; Montreal, Quebec.
1956-05-02 — Campaign medals forwarded to Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague; Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec.
1958-12-16 — Veterans' Land Act review approved total benefit of $2320; re-establishment credit $841 and no unpaid interest, loss or training benefits; Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec.
1982-11-12 — Died at Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, aged 65; Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec.