Canada. A British War Medal, To Sapper William Webb, 162Nd Infantry Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops

(657550 SPR. W. WEBB. C.R.T.). Naming is officially impressed. Edge nicks, light contact, replacement ribbon, better than very fine.

Footnote: William Webb was born on November 13, 1880 in Petrolia, Ontario, his birth year later documented as 1876. He was a resident of Sundridge, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (657550) with the 162nd Infantry Battalion "Parry Sound Battalion", on February 11, 1916 in Burk's Falls, Ontario, at the age of 35 (39), naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Maud Webb, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Labourer (Farmer). The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Parry Sound, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 151, December 2, 1915. The Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, on November 1, 1916 aboard the S.S. Caronia, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J. Arthurs with a strength of 37 officers and 776 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 11th. After four weeks in England, Private Webb was transferred to the 36th Infantry Battalion at Hastings on December 5, 1916, then transferred to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre, attached to the 3rd Reserve Battalion, on December 13th. Private Webb was transferred to the Railway Construction Troops on February 5, 1917, becoming a Sapper. He was taken on strength of the Canadian Railway Troops on the 6th and transferred to the 5th Construction Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops on the 7th. The following month, he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops on March 12th, for service in the French theatre, arriving at the Base Depot in Le Havre, France on March 13th. He proceeded to the 1st Army Rest Camp on October 4, 1917 and was awarded one Good Conduct Badge on February 11, 1918.

Upon the ceasing of hostilities, having served in the French theatre for twenty-one and half months, Sapper Webb returned to England and was posted to the Canadian Railway Troops Depot at Witley, on January 6, 1919. Twelve days later, his actual birth year was discovered to be 1876, as stated in his medical examination report conducted at Bordon, on January 18, 1919. He was struck off strength and placed on command at No.2 Military District Wing at the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park, Rhyl, North Wales, on January 19, 1919, pending return to Canada. He disembarked for home on February 17th aboard the Empress of Britain, arriving in Canada on February 25, 1919. Upon arrival, he was posted to the Casualty Company at Exhibition Camp, No. 2 Military District, in Toronto, Ontario. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated March 17, 1919 at Toronto, his "Flat Feet" was documented. It was noted that he had it from childhood, that is was a "congenital weakness" and that he was experiencing "partial loss of function of (the) feet". The attending physician stated the condition of Webb's feet: "Longitudinal arches both feet slightly low and flat, but non rigid. Patient can invert feet, raise heels 3" from floor. He cannot hop on toes of either foot on account of weakness of (the) arches. There is no aversion of foot and astragalus is not prominent. Feet are slightly tender to deep pressure." he went on to explain that "After walking 2 miles at his own pace, feet ache in region of (the) instep and ankles feel weak. The pain is relieved by resting half an hour, the condition is not affected by weather" and that Webb's "Feet were slightly flat at (the) time of enlistment but (the) condition has gradually gotten worse." He concluded that the condition has been aggravated by service: "Yes, at (the) time of enlistment, feet did not trouble him and he could walk 5 miles. Now he cannot walk 2 miles without pain." It was recommended that he be returned to duty and designated Category "C-3" (for Home Service in Canada only). Sapper William Webb, Canadian Railway Troops was struck off strength and discharged as being "Medically Unfit" at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on March 20, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 274499 and entitled to a War Service Gratuity of $183.00. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He died on January 27, 1936, at the age of 55 (59).