Private Charles Wathen

Survivor of WW1

Biography General Links Ranks Chronology Print

Service Biography

Charles Wathen was born at Huntingdon, Quebec, on 24 March 1889. A single Church of England painter living in Toronto, he entered the Canadian Expeditionary Force under the Military Service Act in January 1918 as Private 3231307. He embarked from Montreal in June 1918 and served in Great Britain, including with the 12th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Witley. He returned to Canada in September 1919 and was discharged on demobilization at Toronto on 17 September 1919.

General Information

Conflict:

WW1

Regimental No.:

3231307

Cause of Death (in war):

Survived

Branch:

Canadian Expeditionary Force

Regiment:

1st Central Ontario Regiment

Battalion:

2nd Depot Battalion

Company:

Date of Birth :

Place of Birth:

Huntingdon, Quebec

Date of Enlistment:

Age at Enlistment:

28 years 9 months

Date of Discharge:

Age at Discharge:

30 years 5 months

Date of Death:

Age at Death:

Country Born:

Canada

Trade or Calling:

Painter

Next of Kin:

Charlotte Wathen (sister), 18 Spring Street, Port Chester, New York

Address at Enlistment:

344 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Religion:

Church of England

Place of Enlistment:

Toronto, Ontario

Was a Prisoner of War:

Height:

5 ft 10.5 in / 179 cm

Weight:

154 lbs / 70 kg

Chest:

35.5 in / 90 cm

Expansion:

3.0 in / 8 cm

Marital Status:

Single

Prior Military Experience:

Saw Service in:

Great Britain

Place of Discharge:

Toronto, Ontario

Discharge Type:

Regular/End of Service

Discharge Notes:

Battle Died/Wounded:

Length of Service:

603 days in service

Buried at:

Links

Library and Archives Canada Service Record

Canadian Great War Project

Ranks

Conflict	Rank	Regiment	Branch	Unit
WW1	Private	1st Central Ontario Regiment	Canadian Expeditionary Force	2nd Depot Battalion
Initial Canadian unit.
WW1	Private		Canadian Expeditionary Force	R Wing
Witley return-to-Canada organization; later TOS notation on p.16 retained in chronology.
WW1	Private		Canadian Expeditionary Force	N Wing
Witley demobilization/concentration organization.
WW1	Private		Canadian Expeditionary Force	12th Canadian Reserve Battalion
Overseas reserve battalion at Witley.

Service Chronology

1889-03-24 — Born.
1917-12-03 — Medical examination under the Military Service Act; category A2.
1918-01-22 — Taken on strength; service will executed.
1918-06-05 — Embarked for overseas service.
1918-06-28 — Arrived in England aboard S.S. Pannonia.
1918-07-06 — Taken on strength of the 12th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
1919-04-01 — Taken on strength of N Wing from the 12th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
1919-05-22 — Struck off strength of N Wing to R Wing.
1919-08-07 — Taken on strength at Witley during demobilization/return-to-Canada processing.
1919-09-03 — Struck off strength of OMFC to CEF Canada.
1919-09-06 — Embarked for Canada.
1919-09-17 — Discharged on demobilization.

Notes

Charles Wathen was born at Huntingdon, Quebec, on 24 March 1889. At recruitment he was single, Church of England, a painter, and living at 344 King Street West, Toronto. His sister Charlotte Wathen of Port Chester, New York, was next of kin. The 3 December 1917 Medical History Sheet records height 5 ft 10½ in, weight 154½ lb, chest 32½–35½ in, medium complexion, brown eyes, black hair, childhood otitis media, right septum deviation and category A2. The 22 January 1918 recruit form records fully expanded chest 35 in with 2½ in expansion. He reported no previous military or naval service.

Additional Service Notes

Drafted under the Military Service Act and taken on strength at Toronto on 22 January 1918 as Private 3231307 with the 2nd Depot Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment. He embarked from Montreal on 5 June 1918 and arrived in England on 28 June 1918 aboard S.S. Pannonia. He was taken on strength of the 12th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Witley on 6 July 1918. During 1919 he passed through N Wing and R Wing at Witley as part of the return-to-Canada/demobilization process. He was struck off strength of the Overseas Military Forces of Canada to the CEF in Canada on 3 September 1919, embarked at Tilbury on 6 September 1919, returned to Canada, and was discharged at Toronto on 17 September 1919 for demobilization.

Additional Next of Kin Notes

Sister Charlotte Wathen, 18 Spring Street, Port Chester, New York, United States, was next of kin. A service will dated 22 January 1918 left his personal effects to his sister Mrs. Ralph Taylor, 219 Grove Street, Port Chester, New York.

Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-19 18:36:38 by: marc