Sapper Arthur Nelson Middlemiss

Arthur Nelson Middlemiss was born at Sawyerville, Quebec, on 7 October 1902. A carpenter, he enlisted at Montreal on 2 August 1940 as Sapper D-15215 in the Royal Canadian Engineers. He served in Canada with No. 4 District Depot and 16th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, including service at Debert, Nova Scotia, and was trade-tested as a Carpenter 1.B. Middlemiss was married to Pearl Winifred Gilmore and they had a son, Roy Nelson. During his service, longstanding defective eyesight became a significant problem; he had weak eyesight for years and only began wearing or changing glasses while in the Army. A Medical Board placed him in Category E because of his eyesight and he was medically discharged at Montreal South on 2 May 1941 as unable to meet the required military physical standards. His Canadian wartime service totalled 274 days. After the war he applied for and received a War Service Badge; the War Medal 1939-45 was later dispatched to him in October 1962.

1902-10-07 — Born.
1929-06-25 — Married Pearl Winifred Gilmore.
1934-05-02 — Son Roy Nelson Middlemiss born.
1940-07-31 — Medical examination: Category B; defective vision; flat feet without disability; height 5 ft 9¾ in, weight 155 lb, chest 38 in with 4 in expansion.
1940-08-02 — Enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force as Sapper D-15215, Royal Canadian Engineers; joined No. 4 District Depot.
1940-08-05 — Transferred to his unit from No. 4 District Depot.
1940-08-06 — Administrative taken-on-strength entry at No. 4 District Depot.
1940-08-21 — Transferred to his unit at Debert, Nova Scotia.
1940-08-22 — Taken on strength of 16th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers.
1940-10-24 — Trade-tested as Carpenter 1.B.
1941-02-03 — Proceeded on furlough.
1941-02-16 — Returned from furlough.
1941-03-25 — Eye-specialist consultation found marked refractive error; no change in current glasses was recommended.
1941-03-28 — Medical History of an Invalid documented longstanding weak eyesight and refractive error.
1941-03-28 — Medical Board placed him in Category E, no duty, to be retained by his unit until Board approval.
1941-04-22 — Struck off strength of 16th Field Company on transfer to No. 4 District Depot, Montreal.
1941-04-23 — Taken on strength of No. 4 District Depot on reposting from his unit for discharge processing.
1941-05-02 — Medically discharged as unable to meet the required military physical standards; conduct Good; 274 days total service.
1943-01-18 — Wrote to the Department of National Defence stating he had never received his service badge and applying for it.
1943-01-29 — War Service Badge, Service Class no. 031501, forwarded following his application.
1943-02-05 — Signed receipt acknowledging War Service Badge, Service Class no. 031501.
1962-10-10 — Department of Veterans Affairs statement of service recorded honourable medical retirement and War Medal 1939-45.
1962-10-11 — War Medal 1939-45 dispatched, as recorded on the Army awards card.