Canada, CEF. A Canadian Army Dental Corps Dentist's Field Kit Box, Named to Sergeant John Wesley Bartholomew

This box is constructed out of multiple pieces of nicely finished wood and incorporates seven drawers, six of which have brass knobs as handles. The bottom five drawers are hidden behind a drop-down panel on the front, the panel dual-hinged in brass at the base, each hinge secured via three screws, with a lock placed on the front panel of the fold-up panel that has been disabled, its key having been lost to time. The brass lock plate exhibits multiple scratches and is stamped "2F6" on its reverse, with three of the four screws securing it in place intact.

Upon opening, the upper portion of the box has three trays on an accordion-like hinged presentation, each tray with four multiple grooved plates inserted, with a full-width recessed area in the front portion of each, the front of the first and third trays with brass knobs. The drop-down front panel exposes not only the third tray but also a shallow tray with three divided compartments, along with three deep box-like trays along the bottom row, with a large one in the centre flanked by small ones on either side, with all four of these trays with brass knobs.

The front panel on the lid has an oval metal identification plate affixed via two large pins, the plate inscribed "SERGt J.W. BARTHOLOMEW / 565. / C.A.D.C. / 58. FAIRVIEW BLVD. / TORONTO.", the top of the lift-up lid with a brass handle secured in place by four screws, with swing hooks placed on both sides of the box, in order to secure the lid to the majority of the box via the protruding pins. Also included are five period metal dental implements. The box weighs approximately 15 pounds (7 kilograms) and measures 355 mm in width x 225 mm in depth x 210 mm in height, with aging evident, however, other than a wear spot above the lock, it is generally free of chipping and spintering overall. Near extremely fine.

Footnote: John Wesley Bartholomew was born on January 17, 1897 in Stouffville, Ontario, the son of Lewis Ellsworth Bartholomew (1858-1926) and Florence Augusta Bartholomew (nee Flint, 1874-1920). His early education was in Newmarket, before the family moved to Toronto, where the young Bartholomew did his matriculation at Riverdale Collegiate. Both he and his parents resided at 58 Fairview Boulevard in Toronto, Ontario.

Bartholomew signed his first Attestation Paper with the Canadian Army Dental Corps, at Military District No. 2 in Toronto, on February 8, 1917, at the age of 19 years and 11 months, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Florence, stating that he was with a military force, the C.O.T.C. (Canadian Officers' Training Corps), that he was not married, that his religion was Methodist and that his trade was that of Student (later to be determined as a Dental Student). He was designated a Private (later to be Sergeant) with the service number "565".

He embarked Canada for overseas service aboard the S.S. Justica from Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 3, 1917, disembarking in Liverpool, England on the 14th. He was taken on strength of the Canadian Army Dental Corps at the Shorncliffe Area and was attached to the Segregation Camp Otterpool upon arrival. A little over two weeks later, he was detailed to Moore Barracks Clinic for Dental Services on May 31st. He was struck off strength of the Canadian Army Dental Corps on posting to the General Depot for disposal of A.G. Ottawa on September 12, 1917, then placed on command at Buxton on September 13, 1917, where he was taken on strength on the 22nd.

However, after six months in England, Bartholomew embarked for Canada from Liverpool on October 18, 1917, being struck off strength on proceeding to Canada. Once in Canada, Sergeant Barthlolomew was issued his first Discharge Certificate, stating that he was discharged from active service on November 22, 1917, at Military District No. 2 in Toronto, at the age of 20 years and 10 months, in order "To complete Dental Studies". He would later sign a second Attestation Paper with the Canadian Army Dental Corps, at Military District No. 2 in Toronto, on May 13, 1919, at the age of 22 years and 4 months but did not return overseas. His second Discharge Certificate stated he was discharged from active service upon demobilization on September 30, 1919, at Military District No. 2 in Toronto.

Bartholomew would eventually graduate from the Dentistry School at the University of Toronto, where he was known as "Bart". He also played rugby and ice hockey and was a member of the championship Jennings Cup ice hockey team at the University of Toronto since his registration. During hid dental career he would go on to practise dentistry in Newmarket, Ontario for some forty years and was a member of Tuscan Lodge No. 99 A.F. and A.M. (Ancient, Free, & Accepted Masonry) and was active in the lawn bowling community.

He married Reita Aldean Williamson (1904-1982) on July 22, 1925 and they had one daughter together, Dawna Joan Bartholomew (1929-1997). Reita and "Bart" divorced in 1934, with the latter later marrying Elsa Irene Brådd circa 1955 in Newmarket. John Wesley Bartholomew D.D.S. died on July 25, 1966, in Newmarket, at the age of 69, his funeral conducted as a Masonic service. He is buried in St. John's Norway Cemetery, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Section 8, Range 10, Lot 4.