Canada. A First War 1914-15 Star, To Private Royal Dana Tracy, 5Th Infantry Battalion, Canadian Field Artillery, Gassed Three Times At Ypres In April 1915

(13559 Pte R.D. TRACY. 5/CAN:INF:). Naming is officially impressed. Contact marks, gilt wear, replacement ribbon, fine.

Footnote: Royal Dana Tracy was born on July 25, 1880 in Dindigul, Madras Presidency, South India. He was educated at Brooklyn Polytechnic in Brooklyn, New York and at Columbia University in New York City. Tracy signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (13559) with the 5th Infantry Battalion "Western Canadian Cavalry", on September 23, 1914, at Valcartier Camp, Quebec, at the age of 34, naming his next-of-kin as his son, Franklin J. Tracy of Scranton, Pennsylvania, stating that he belonged to an Active Militia, that he was a Widower, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Clerk (also acknowledged in his records as Newspaper Man). The Battalion was raised in Western Canada with mobilization headquarters at Camp Valcartier, Quebec under the authority of P.C.O. 2067, August 6, 1914. The Battalion sailed October 3, 1914 from Quebec City, Quebec aboard the S.S. Lapland, as part of the 2nd Contingent, with a strength of 45 officers and 1,095 other ranks under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel G.S. Tuxford, arriving in England a week later. Four months after arriving in England, Private Tracy proceeded to France with "G" Company, 5th Infantry Battalion on February 9, 1915. Private Tracy was on duty with the 5th Infantry Battalion near Ypres in the later part of April 1915, when he suffered three gas attacks. The first one on April 22nd, where he suffered a "slight gas poisoning", followed by a second one on April 24th with gassing during the night. On April 25th at 9:00 a.m., the third gas attack took place. A gas shell explosion forced him back into the trench, where he hit his head, suffering a concussion, along with receiving shrapnel wounds to his left foot. The fall into the trench also injured his back and left leg, while his right eye became "blurred" from hitting a sandbag in the trench following the explosion. He was admitted to No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station suffering from "gas fumes" poisoning, the blurred vision and "Myalgia" (muscle pain, a symptom of many diseases and disorders). He was invalided to England aboard His Majesty's Hospital Ship Carisbrook Castle. Upon arrival in England he was admitted "sick" to No. 1 Reading War Hospital on May 5, 1915, where he would be assessed and treated for the effects of the "gas poisoning" and "defective eyes". In his Medical Report of an Invalid, dated June 21, 1915 at Reading War Hospital, the attending physician noted that Tracy "Still has dyspnoea (shortness of breath) on walking up stairs", along with eye issues and it was recommended that he be "discharged as permanently unfit for any military service". The following day, a Medical Board met at Shorncliffe on June 22nd, in regards to the gas poisoning and concussion to the retina of his eye. He was declared to have "Emphysema and Impaired Vision", and again he was recommended for discharge in England, the approval coming at Shorncliffe on June 25th.

After ten weeks treatment at Reading War Hospital, Private Tracy was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Monks Horton, Kent on July 17, 1915, continuing to be treated for the "gas poisoning". While at Monks Horton, he was officially transferred to the 32nd Reserve Battalion, Canadian Field Artillery on July 20th and after being hospitalized at Monks Horton for twenty-four days, he was discharged on August 13th. 13559 Private Tracy, 5th Infantry Battalion, 32nd Reserve Battalion was "discharged in consequence of being declared medically unfit by a Medical Board" at Shorncliffe on August 17, 1915, his character noted as "Very Good". For his first tour of duty during the First World War, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, credited with having served 326 days in Canada, England and France. Tracy was a resident of Montreal, Quebec when he re-enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, signing his second Attestation Paper as a Gunner (347546) with the 1st Reinforcement, 1st Siege Battery, at Montreal, at the age of 35, naming his next-of-kin as his son, Franklin J. Tracy of Scranton, Pennsylvania, stating that he did not belong to an Active Militia, that he had 326 days' previous service with the 5th Infantry Battalion CEF, that he was Married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Author (also acknowledged in his records as Actor and Producer). He arrived in England aboard the S.S. Missanabie on March 13, 1916 and was taken on strength at Shorncliffe. He was a Gunner with the 97th Battery, Siege Artillery Reinforcements, 3rd Overseas Battery, Siege Artillery (1st Reinforcements). Tracy was appointed Acting Bombardier on May 12, 1916 and reverted to the rank of Gunner at his own request on August 17th. One month later, he was struck off strength to the 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column for service in the French theatre, September 20, 1916, taken on strength upon arrival in France on the 21st and posted to the 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column on October 2nd. He was admitted to No. 10 Canadian Field Ambulance on January 4, 1917 with "Myalgia", then transferred and admitted to No. 3 Divisional Rest Station on January 5th, where he would remain for two days, before being discharged on the 7th. He attended a Trench Mortar Course for Instruction, from January 31 to February 15, 1917. Later that Fall, he was admitted to No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance on September 5, 1917, diagnosed with "I.C.T." (inflammation of the connecting tissue) to his left hand and after twelve days treatment, was discharged on the 17th. However, he was re-hospitalized the same day, admitted to No. 42 Casualty Clearing Station on September 17th with "P.U.O." (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin = fever). Five days later, he was transferred and admitted to No. 59 Casualty Clearing Station on September 22nd, where he would be treated for the next five weeks, before being transferred to No. 5 Convalescent Depot at Cayeux on October 25th. One week after arriving at Cayeux, he was discharged from hospitalization on November 1st and posted to Base Details at Etaples. He was awarded one Good Conduct Badge on January 5, 1918. Gunner Tracy was admitted to hospital again, this time to No. 11 Canadian Field Ambulance on April 20, 1918, suffering once again from "Myalgia". After six days' treatment, he was discharged on the 26th.

However, his time away from hospital would last a little over two weeks, as he was placed in Military Isolation at Aldershot on May 12, 1918, diagnosed with a case of "Rubella" (also known as German measles or three-day measles, is an infection caused by the rubella virus). After twelve days at Aldershot and having recovered from the German measles, he was discharged on May 24th. In May 1918, he was assessed as having Musketry Qualification, with a Score of 92, that he had taken courses at the School of Gunnery and School of Signalling at Shorncliffe, Kent and the he had taken the Trench Mortar course at the 1st Army School in France. He was with the 1st Section, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, when his transfer request was granted, in order to become a Gunner with the 31st Battery, 9th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery on May 29, 1918. Gunner Tracy proceeded to England, posted to the 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery and attached to the Quebec Regimental Depot. A decision was made by the Army on February 6, 1919, that all his records from both tours of duty should be filed under the same service number. He first served as a Private (13559), then as a Gunner (347546): the Army stating that Tracy "has now been allocated Regimental Number 13559. All documents will be changed accordingly." He was taken on strength from the 31st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery and posted to "H" Wing, Canadian Concentration Camp at Bramshott on March 24th for return to Canada. He embarked Southampton, England on July 2, 1919, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 9th and was taken on strength at Dispersal Station "F", Military District No. 4 in Montreal. 347546 (13559) Gunner Royal Dana Tracy, Canadian Field Artillery was discharged upon demobilization at Dispersal Station "F", Military District No. 4 in Montreal, on July 11, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 296063. For his second tour of duty in the First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, complementing his previously awarded 1914-15 Star of 1915. His pay had been assigned to his wife, Mrs. Virginia Newbold Tracy of Chicago, Illinois. In addition, a War Service Gratuity in the amount of $698.83 was paid to his son's guardian, R. Leo Huber of Scranton, Pennsylvania.