Deseronto Archives

On this day in 1918 William Robinson Allen, a liveryman, was conscripted at Camp Barriefield in Kingston. He was born on November 15th, 1886 in Ameliasburgh, Prince Edward County, the son of Samuel Allen and Phoebe (née Allison). By 1901 the family had moved to Deseronto and William attended the High School there.

Allen joined the 1st Depot Battalion of the Eastern Ontario Regiment with the regimental number 3060480. He was five feet five and a half inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His service record shows that he left Canada on the SS Tunisian on July 6th, arriving in England on July 22nd.

In England, Allen served with the 6th Reserve Battalion and the Central Ontario Reinforcement Depot. On August 3rd he was examined by a medical board for a problem with his feet:

Disability: overseas
CONTRACTED FEET
PRESENT CONDITION
Has not been in France. Had Articular Rheumatism as a child and feet have been contracted since & always been lame.
Complt [Complaint] – Crippled feet
Exam – No organic disease detected. Looks older than age given. Feet contracted, boots also turned up at toes showing shape of feet. Should not have been enlisted for overseas service.

Allen was struck off the strength of his unit on November 22nd and arrived back in Halifax on the RMS Aquitania on November 28th. He was demobilized in Kingston on December 26th, 1918.