A First War Group To Captain Tabernacle; Ppcli & Rfc; No. 1 Squadron

1914-15 Star (1703 Pte P.R. TABERNACLE. P.P.C.L.I.); British War Medal (CAPT. P.B. TABERNACLE. R.A.F.); and Victory Medal CAPT. P.B. TABERNACLE. R.A.F.). Naming is officially impressed. Court-mounted, replacement ribbons, spotting on the Star, contact marks, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records, Medical Records, Pay Records and Statement of Service in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Footnote: Percy Bernard Tabernacle was born on August 25, 1881 in Muswell Hill, London, England, the son of Ernest Tabernacle. He later immigrated to Canada and settled in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He enlisted in Saskatoon, later signing his Attestation Paper as a Private (1703) with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, on August 25, 1914 in Ottawa, Ontario, at the age of 33 (although he is acknowledged as being 32 years, 11 months on the paper, as he had had his medical examination done four days prior), naming his next-of-kin as his father, Ernest Tabernacle of London, stating that he had fourteen months previous service with Paget's Horse (Imperial Yeomanry) during the South African War, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Mechanical Engineer. He was posted to No. 4 Company and arrived at Levis Camp on August 30th, going overseas with the First Contingent, sailing from Quebec City, Quebec, on October 3, 1914 aboard the RMS Royal George on September 27th, arriving in Plymouth, England on the 14th. He was posted to Bustard Camp on October 18th, followed two days later by a transfer to the Machine Gun Section on October 20th. Four weeks later, he arrived at Morn Hill Camp on November 16th, in preparation for overseas service in the French theatre. He embarked Southampton, England aboard HMS Cardinganshire on December 20, 1914, arriving in Le Havre, France the following day. Private Tabernacle was a survivor of the Battle of Frezenberg on May 8, 1915, considered to be the most celebrated of all the battle honours borne on the Patricia's Regimental Colour. He was promoted to Acting Sergeant on May 12th and was subsequently transferred to Headquarters Company. He was appointed Acting Sergeant on May 29, 1915 and was granted a commission as a Temporary Lieutenant two days later, followed by an appointment to Temporary Lieutenant on June 5th. Three weeks after his appointment, he was posted to No. 3 Company on June 23, 1915. In the Fall of 1915, Lieutenant Tabernacle was appointed Bombing Officer on October 2nd and although he was struck in the side on October 4th, his jack knife saved him from injury. Eight and a half weeks after his appointment to Bombing Officer, he was named Divisional Bombing Officer on November 30th. Lieutenant Tabernacle was wounded in the face with shell fragments near Kemmel in Flanders on December 5, 1915. According to his medical records, he sustained wounds to his right cheek, caused by fragments from an "H.E." (high explosive) shell. He was admitted to No. 1 British Red Cross Hospital at Le Touquet and was invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen. Upon arrival in England, he was posted to the 11th Reserve Battalion and admitted to Princess Christian Hospital, Grosvenor Place, London W. on December 12th. The operation wound was two and a half inches long at the site of the shell wound, running across just below the infra orbital ridge and curving down for a short distance on the side of the nose. While in hospital, he was struck off strength of the PPCLI on December 19th, however, the wound became septic and the operated area was opened up again on December 31st. At this point, fragments of bone from the posterior wall of the antrum of Highmore were removed. A later X-Ray showed a piece of metal anterior to the vertical column but this was not removed. He developed complications, including pharyngeal haemorrhage and subconjunctival haemorrhage. Although it was a severe injury, it would not be a permanent one. He was discharged from hospital on January 18, 1916. Upon his release from hospital, he took a one month leave but upon his return to duty, he was declared unfit for service for three weeks on February 17, 1916. He was finally declared fit on March 7th and reported for duty with the 11th Infantry Battalion on March 13th. In a Proceedings of a Medical Board Report, dated March 9, 1916, an examination was performed in London, the doctor noting that Tabernacle's "whole condition had improved, with the exception that he has some difficulty in breathing through his right nostril". He was posted to the General List on April 1, 1916 and was taken on strength of the 7th Reserve Battalion on May 5th, where he qualified "distinguished" on a 3rd Lewis Gun course on May 12th. Tabernacle soon received his sought after transfer, as he was placed on command to the Royal Flying Corps on June 5, 1916, earning his Flying Certificate No. 3292 from the Royal Aero Club, on July 31st. He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps and appointed to Flying Officer, effective September 6, 1916, the announcement appearing in the London Gazette 29764 of Tuesday, September 26, 1916, page 9348. He was promoted to Temporary Captain in the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry on July 12, 1916. Temporary Captain Percy B. Tabernacle, Eastern Ontario Regiment was seconded for duty with the Royal Flying Corps on September 6, 1916, the announcement appearing in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 30371 of Tuesday, November 6, 1917, on Thursday, November 8, 1917, page 11557. He returned to the 7th Reserve Battalion on February 2, 1917 and was placed on command to the Royal Flying Corps at Reading on March 10th. Lieutenant Percy B. Tabernacle, Canadian Local Forces was established in the rank of Temporary Captain, while so employed, the announcement appearing in the Fourth Supplement to the London Gazette 30277 of Friday, September 7, 1917, on Monday, September 10, 1917, page 9354. He was attached to the Royal Flying Corps on June 5, 1917 and was promoted to Captain on August 27th. The following Spring, the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service merged to form the Royal Air Force on April 1, 1918. Captain Tabernacle was taken on strength upon arrival in France for duty with the Royal Air Force on August 3, 1918, where he saw service with No. 1 Squadron, from August 15 to August 25, 1918. Shortly thereafter, he was on leave to England and returned to France on October 18, 1918, where he flew with No. 85 Squadron. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, he returned to England on March 7, 1919. Captain Tabernacle (Eastern Ontario Regiment) relinquished his commission with the Royal Air Force upon ceasing to be employed, effective May 7, 1919, the announcement appearing in the London Gazette 31433 of Friday, July 4, 1919, page 8392 and was officially discharged from the Royal Air Force on May 28, 1919. In his Medical History of Invalid, dated June 2, 1919 at London, he was documented as residing at the Royal Castle Hotel in Dartmouth, the same address as his father. His age was stated as 33 and his birth date as 1886 (versus the original stated year of 1881). The doctor noted that Tabernacle was suffering from a case of "Neurasthenia" (mechanical weakness of the actual nerves), that originated on November 26, 1918 in England, due to a "collision in (the) air". Captain Percy B. Tabernacle, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Royal Air Force was discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Force upon demobilization, on June 9, 1919, retiring to the British Isles and credited with having served in Canada, England and France. For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.