Richard Pierce
Richard Thomas Pierce #787406
Richard Thomas Pierce #787406 lived in Franktown, ON, married to Mrs. Helena (Wilson) Pierce, known as Lena, on March 11, 1913 in North Grenville, born on April 23, 1876 to Richard Pierce and Maria Garland in Beckwith Township, worked as a farmer and general merchant and had previously served with the 42nd battalion for nine years. He enlisted on March 14, 1916 in Smiths Falls and was assigned to the 130th battalion. Richard was the second of eight children including Mina, Edward, May, John who also served, Violet, Ella, and Myrtle. Neil Stewart and the AH McFarlane family were neighbours.
He was 39 years old, 5’9”, 175 pounds, had a 38” chest, light blue eyes, dark brown hair and Anglican. He also had scars on his right calf and under his left arm when he enlisted. He also had two children, Lloyd who was 22 months and Doris who was 1 month old. His parents were Richard, Sr and Maria. He was described as a healthy man with a powerful physique.
His pay included regimental pay at $1 per day, field pay at .10/day, and separation pay at $25/month, and a clothing allowance. His pay all went to his wife, Lena.
When he enlisted, Richard reported he did have back trouble, which kept him on light duty until Nov. He also had typhoid fever 15 years previous and his father had died of TB. He also had a partial cataract in his right eye but didn’t need glasses. On Sept 13, 1917, he reported having bronchial irritation, a cough, edema, headaches, poor appetite, short of breath, not sleeping well, stomach pains, face and abdomen swollen. It was discovered he had radial artery rolls under his fingers, enlarged heart. He was diagnosed with chronic nephritis and transferred to the medical ward. On Sept. 23, he was at 158 pounds, and had high acid in his urine. On Oct. 15, he still had high acid in his urine and shipped home where he received treatment at Sir Sandford Fleming Hospital in Ottawa. He spent his recovery in Queens Military Hospital in Kingston on Feb. 21and then Ottawa on March 16. On Mar. 20, 1918, the only symptoms left were headaches with all swelling gone. He was finally discharged on April 15, 1918. He did have good teeth and didn’t need dental attention.
Richard sailed to England on the SS Lapland on Oct. 6, 1916 and taken on strength with the 12th reserve battalion. On Feb. 1, 1917, he was attached with the COC till Mar. 1, 1917. On April 4, 1917, he joined the 1st COR Depot for two weeks. Then on Sept 18, 1917, he was admitted to the Adm. Moore Barracks Hospital for chronic nephritis. He then went to the No 5 Canadian General Hospital on Dec 28, 1917, and sent to Canada on Feb. 11, 1918. He was finally discharged on April 15, 1918 as medically unfit. Apparently, there was a problem with his pay, which ended when he was shipped from England.
When he returned home, he did have a boy and girl with Lena, but she died in 1920. Richard remarried Sarah McArton of Almonte on Dec 3, 1921.
Richard Thomas Pierce #787406 lived in Franktown, ON, married to Mrs. Helena (Wilson) Pierce, known as Lena, on March 11, 1913 in North Grenville, born on April 23, 1876 to Richard Pierce and Maria Garland in Beckwith Township, worked as a farmer and general merchant and had previously served with the 42nd battalion for nine years. He enlisted on March 14, 1916 in Smiths Falls and was assigned to the 130th battalion. Richard was the second of eight children including Mina, Edward, May, John who also served, Violet, Ella, and Myrtle. Neil Stewart and the AH McFarlane family were neighbours.
He was 39 years old, 5’9”, 175 pounds, had a 38” chest, light blue eyes, dark brown hair and Anglican. He also had scars on his right calf and under his left arm when he enlisted. He also had two children, Lloyd who was 22 months and Doris who was 1 month old. His parents were Richard, Sr and Maria. He was described as a healthy man with a powerful physique.
His pay included regimental pay at $1 per day, field pay at .10/day, and separation pay at $25/month, and a clothing allowance. His pay all went to his wife, Lena.
When he enlisted, Richard reported he did have back trouble, which kept him on light duty until Nov. He also had typhoid fever 15 years previous and his father had died of TB. He also had a partial cataract in his right eye but didn’t need glasses. On Sept 13, 1917, he reported having bronchial irritation, a cough, edema, headaches, poor appetite, short of breath, not sleeping well, stomach pains, face and abdomen swollen. It was discovered he had radial artery rolls under his fingers, enlarged heart. He was diagnosed with chronic nephritis and transferred to the medical ward. On Sept. 23, he was at 158 pounds, and had high acid in his urine. On Oct. 15, he still had high acid in his urine and shipped home where he received treatment at Sir Sandford Fleming Hospital in Ottawa. He spent his recovery in Queens Military Hospital in Kingston on Feb. 21and then Ottawa on March 16. On Mar. 20, 1918, the only symptoms left were headaches with all swelling gone. He was finally discharged on April 15, 1918. He did have good teeth and didn’t need dental attention.
Richard sailed to England on the SS Lapland on Oct. 6, 1916 and taken on strength with the 12th reserve battalion. On Feb. 1, 1917, he was attached with the COC till Mar. 1, 1917. On April 4, 1917, he joined the 1st COR Depot for two weeks. Then on Sept 18, 1917, he was admitted to the Adm. Moore Barracks Hospital for chronic nephritis. He then went to the No 5 Canadian General Hospital on Dec 28, 1917, and sent to Canada on Feb. 11, 1918. He was finally discharged on April 15, 1918 as medically unfit. Apparently, there was a problem with his pay, which ended when he was shipped from England.
When he returned home, he did have a boy and girl with Lena, but she died in 1920. Richard remarried Sarah McArton of Almonte on Dec 3, 1921.