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Pte. Fred Babb, Reg. No. 922501, enlisted with the 200th Battalion at Winnipeg. He was living near Minnedosa at the time, presumably with his Uncle Alfred Babb, who was a farmer there. On the other hand, he may have been working for the Beaumonts on their farm in Lorndale School District southeast of Minnedosa. Certainly he had strong ties with this family. He enlisted on the same day as Jack Beaumont, and he transferred part of his pay to Alice Beaumont for much of his war service in Europe. At one point, he listed Mrs. Sarah Beaumont, 87 Oak Avenue, Norwood, Manitoba, as his “Step Mother” and next-of-kin. Jack mentioned him several times in his war diary, met him at Ypres, and corresponded regularly with him.
Fred Babb served as an infantryman on the front lines with the 27th Battalion during World War I. He survived the Battle of Passchendaele, only to have his left leg accidentally injured by a fall into a trench in November 1917. Because of complications that arose after this injury, he was invalided to Canada in June 1918 and spent several months in hospital at Winnipeg before his discharge in January 1919. It is unknown how this injury affected his ability to find work after he returned to civilian life. His personnel records indicate that he died in 1975, but no further details are known about him.
Chronological Record of Fred Babb’s War Service
3 June 1916: Attestation Paper. Fred Babb, Minnedosa, Manitoba, farmer, born in Weston, England on 13 June 1896, next-of-kin Alfred Babb, Minnedosa, Manitoba (uncle). He was 5 ft. 5½ inches tall with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes, and light brown hair. He was a member of the Church of England.
24 Nov 1916: Particulars of Family of an Officer or Man enlisted in C.E.F. Frederick Babb, Reg. No. 922501, of 20th Battalion C.E.F., Winnipeg, Manitoba, was single, born at Weston-Super-Mare, Somersetshire, England. Both parents were dead, and he listed Albert Babb (Uncle), North Hadley, Massachusetts, U.S.A., as his next of kin. He had no insurance.
30 April 1917: Fred embarked from Halifax for England on H.M.T. Megantic.
14 May 1917: Fred disembarked at Liverpool from H.M.T. Megantic.
15 May 1917: Fred was transferred to and taken on strength by the 11th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Shorncliffe.
24 May 1917: Fred received a gunshot wound to “mid level of his left leg during an air raid over London. It was only a flesh wound, but he was in hospital for two weeks.
3 September 1917: Crossed over to France.
7 September 1917: Fred proceeded overseas to the 27th Battalion and arrived in France at the Canadian Base Depot the same day.
7 September 1917?: Pte. Fred Babb, 922501, 27th Bn. C. Inf.; Theatre of War: France; Date of Service: 7.9.17; Latest address: 120 Eugene St. Norwood, Manitoba crossed out and replaced with 2418 Wellington Ave., Collingwood West, Vancouver, B.C.
27 September 1917: Fred arrived at the Corps Rein[forcement] Camp.
1 October 1917: Separation and Assigned Pay Branch. Pte. Frederick Babb, 200 Battn., assigned $15 a month to Miss Alice Beaumont, Minnedosa, Manitoba. This address was crossed out on October 12, 1917 and replaced with 87 Oak Avenue, Norwood Grove, Man. $15 was assigned Alice Beaumont from Oct 31, 1917 until June 1918, for a total of $135.00. The account was closed 30 June 1918. Another pay records provides additional details. Fred Babb assigned $15.00 a month to Miss Alice Beaumont, Minnedosa, Manitoba, friend, effective 1 October 1917. This assignment continued until it was stopped, effective 1 May 1918. The reason given was that Pte. Babb had been invalided to Canada 30 April 1918.
19 October 1917: Unclear, but this may be the day he arrived in the field and was assigned to the 5th Canadian? Machine Gun Company.
23 November 1917: Fred entered the 58 Casualty Clearing Station with a fractured left tibia accident.
23 November 1917: Report on Accidental or Self-Inflicted Injuries stamped No. 58 Casualty Clearing Station. Fred wrote, “I came out of my Billett about 9 pm. on the night of the 23. 11.17 & accidently fell into a ditch which was a few yards from the door & broke my left leg.”
24 November 1917: Fred was sent “sick to” Field Ambulance.
27 November 1917: Fred was transferred to 56 Gen. Etaples.
8 December 1917: Because of a “Fract. Lt Shldr” the 56th Gr. H. recorded that Fred was “Invd or Plshed[?] Man Regtl Depot.” In another record, the 27th Bn. in the field reported that Fred had been “Inv. (Fac. Left Shld.) posted M. R. D. [Manitoba Regimental Depot].
9 December 1917: Fred was taken on strength at Shorncliffe[?].
9 December 1917: Fred was transferred to 1st Southern. Gen. Birmingham. This was at Edgbaston, and he was there from 9 December until 28 December 1917. He was from the Machine Gun Company of the 27th Canadian Battalion. Actually, he was there from 9 December 1917 until 18 February 1918 or a total of 72 days.
19 January 1918: Medical Case Sheet stamped Harborne Hall Aux. Hospital, states “Simple Fract of tibia, 23-11-17. Olst? Camp, Lame[?] Ypres. Fell into a drain at rear of building caus[in]g a epial? Oblique fract of tibia”
18 February 1918: Fred was discharged from the 1st Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, and transferred to Canadian Military Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom. He was there until 8 May 1918.
27 March 1918: Medical Report at Epsom states that Fred Babb received an injury to his left leg with a fracture of the tibia while in active service at Ypres on 23 November 1917. The doctor estimated that his capacity to earn a living in the general market for untrained labour had been lessened by 70%. The doctor estimated that he would be fully healthy in six months. He stated that the alignment of the leg was poor. There was an outward as well as a backward bowing of the tibia, to such an extent as to cause all the weight to come on the outside of heel. The leg was weak and foot cyanotic, meaning of a bluish colour due to lack of oxygen. In fact, the accident occurred at Hill’s Camp, Neuville-Saint-Vaast after the 27th had left the Ypres salient.
He was fit for neither duty nor base duty; therefore, it was recommended he be invalidated to Canada.
The history is interesting. “While on duty at Ypres 23/11/17, fell into a trench and fractured tibia. Passed through usual medical channels. In Birmingham 72 days. Transferred to Epsom 18 February 1918. M.H.S. ‘Simple fracture of tibia.” Under massage for over two months, condition has only slightly improved. Was in splints 8 weeks.”
The doctor also wrote of Fred’s condition in March 1918. “About middle third of left tibia, there is some considerable outward curvature of the bone, and considerable callous about site of fracture. Left knee is swollen and has always been since injured. Mov’s of joint are stiff but complete. Whole leg is swollen from knee to base of toes, this swelling is greatly increased at night after being around all day. Patient can bear very little weight on leg. Walks with crutches, if attempts without, walks on outer side of foot and can only go a very short distance. Ankle is quite swollen, although movements are normal but stiff. Unable to stand on toes 1. Foot. [?] Other systems normal.”
17 April 1918: Last Pay Certificate. Pte Babb was issued his last pay on 17 April 1918 at Epsom and was discharged to Canada 30 April 1918.
23 April 1918: On a memo, it states “Also notify Alfred Babb, Uncle, Minnedosa, Man, and Miss Alice Beaumont, 87 Oak Ave. Norwood Grove, Man, dated 23 April 1918.
8 May 1918: Fred was transferred to No. 5 Can Gen. Liverpool. He was there until 6 June 1918.
3 June 1918: T.O.S. Hosp. Sect from O’Seas.
5 June 1918: Proceedings on Discharge. Fred Babb was described as having a “good” character” and was “Honest, Sober, & Conscientious.”
6 June 1918: Fred Babb was invalidated to Canada aboard the H. S. Llandovery Castle “sailing 60 from L’pool [Liverpool].” He disembarked from that ship on 16 June 1918.
22 June 1918: “Granted landing leave from 22-6-18 to 6-7-18 with subs.” On the same day, it was recorded that he was admitted to the Manitoba Military Hospital in Winnipeg with a Simple Frac Lt Tibia. He was discharged 9 January 1919.
19 July 1918: Doctors operated on Fred’s leg to reduce bowing and resulting shortening. It was an inch shorter prior to the operation, but they were able to reduce that by half an inch. The operation was described as an Osteotomy of tibia (left) at Winnipeg General Hospital. His leg was straightened and cast applied.
5 August 1918: Patient was now around in a wheeled chair.
12 August 1918: Patient doing well.
15 August 1918: Cast changed and stitches removed. To go to Tuxedo for further treatment.
1 September 1918: Wearing cast. Patient going to Keewatin Beach.
5 October 1918: To wear cast for full 12 weeks.
22 October 1918: Cast to be removed for X-Ray.
29 October 1918: Alignment very satisfactory. X-Ray shows callous developing in bridge, well calcified. Continue treatment.
4 November 1918: “A.W.L. [Away Without Leave] 10 p.m. 4-11-18 to 6:30 am 5-11-18. Forfeits 1 days pay. P & A. R. Fined 3 days pay.”
4 November 1918: Patient beginning to walk well. Massage treatment has been commenced.
25 November 1918: Continue treatment.
16 December 1918: Absent from bed. For consultation Saturday, Dec. 21st.
21 December 1918: Some further improvement will occur by ordinary functional use. Special treatment not required. For final board.
6 January 1919: Medical History of an Invalid, Winnipeg, Tuxedo Park. Fred was living at 120 Euegene [sic] Street in Norwood and gave his next of kin as Mrs. Louis Alexander of that same address. He had a scar “5 ½ inches long middle 3rd left leg on inner surface.” His original disease was a “fracture tibia left leg” which occurred 23 November 1917 at Ypres and was caused by a “fall into trench.” It further states that he was in France from 3 September 1917 to 9 Dec 1917.
In January 1919, his injury was described as follows. “Left leg shorter than the right by about ½ inch. Slight outward bowing. Slight pain elicited by firm pressure over wound and when walking long distances. Can walk about 1 mile using cane and taking own time, but then leg gets quite tired and aches and becomes slightly swollen. Cold weather aggravated the condition slightly.”
Another interesting tidbit. “Had G.S.W. left leg, only a flesh wound, at mid-level of leg, on May 24th, 1917, during air raid over London, was in Hospital about 2 weeks. Went to France Sept. 1917, and on Nov. 23rd, 1917, he fell into a trench and broke the left tibia at seat of injury received May 24th 1917. Was in Hospital in France 2 weeks. Seven months in England. There was considerable bowing. Had the bowing and resulting shortening reduced here by operation July 19th, 1918. The leg was one inch shorter before this.”
It was recommended that he be discharged as medically unfit and vocational training was also recommended.
9 January 1919: Transferred to Cas. Coy. 10.
21 January 1919: Discharged at Winnipeg. His discharge certificate stated that he enlisted in the 200th Battalion at Winnipeg on 3 June 1916 and served in the 27th Battalion in Belgium and France for three months. He was medically unfit for further war service. He was 22 years, 7 months of age, 5 feet seven inches in height, fair complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair with a scar on his left leg. He was discharged on 21 January 1919 in Winnipeg at No. 10 District Depot.
21 January 1919: Last Pay Certificate. Fred was credited 21 days at $1.00 a day, and 21 days field allowance of 10¢ or $23.10 and $35.00 for civilian clothing = $58.00. He was debited $3.36 for a “kit shortage D013” and ended up with $54.74. It added that he was “entitled to 3 months P.D.P. [Post Discharge Pay] No payments made.”
1 February 1919: War Service Gratuity. Pte. Fred Babb was living at 120 Eugenie Street, Norwood, Manitoba, when he applied for his war service gratuity. He served with the 200th Bn. from 3 June 1916 to 7 April 1917, with the 11th Reserve Bn. from 7 April 1917 to 7 September 1917. 27th Batt. From 7 September to 23 November 1917. Hosp from 23rd Nov. 1917 to 22 June 1918. He noted that he had received one payment of Post Discharge Pay of $33.00. He also stated that he had been discharged 21 January 1919, being medically unfit for further war service, and that he had served at the front in an actual theatre of war from 7 September to 23 November 1917. He was given a war service gratuity of $350.00.
19 May 1919: Promotions, Reductions and Reversions affection Daily Rate of Pay and Allowances. This is the date of the audit of the account, which is somewhat difficult to interpret. The account belonged to Pte. Fred Babb, 922501, 200th Bn., 120 Eugene St. Norwood, Man. Discharged 21 January 1919. He had received the first payment of $33.00 previously, which was described as Post Discharge Pay. He now received four more payments in the first months of 1919: 2. Feb 18 ($70.00); 3. March 13 ($70.00); 3. April 13 ($70.00); 4. May 13 ($107.00). The total was $350.00, the amount of his War Service Gratuity.
24 April 1975: A work sheet states that 922501 Fred Babb had no will. Evidently he died at about this time somewhere in Canada.