Gunner James Dent

James Dent was born in Ludlow, Shropshire, England, on 9 March 1900. After leaving school at about 13, he worked as a textile weaver and later for the LMS Railway before emigrating to Canada. By 1926 he was working for Montreal Cottons Ltd. in Valleyfield as a rayon and cotton inspector. He enlisted at Montreal on 9 November 1940, served with the Veterans Guard of Canada and then the Royal Canadian Artillery, and served overseas in the United Kingdom and France. Married to Catherine Gaffney-Dent and the father of four children, he returned to civilian life in October 1945 intending to resume his work in Valleyfield.

1918-03 to 1919-12 — Served with the Cheshire Regiment in France and England during the First World War (No. 83943) (France and England / Cheshire Regiment).
1921-04-01 — Service and Casualty Form records marriage on 1 April 1921 (Not stated).
1940-11-09 — Attested at Montreal for the Canadian Active Service Force. Attestation records birth at Ludlow, Shropshire, England on 9 March 1900; Roman Catholic religion; married to Catherine Gaffney Dent; occupation rayon inspector; and prior Cheshire Regiment service in France and England from 1918 to December 1919 (Montreal, Quebec / Canadian Active Service Force).
1941-07-13 — Signed an individual voluntary-transfer form at St. Helen's Island requesting transfer from No. 4 Active Company, Veterans Guard of Canada, to No. 1 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery. The form records occupation as inspector, married status, and date of enlistment 9 November 1940 (St. Helen's Island, Quebec / Veterans Guard of Canada).
1941-07-15 — Voluntarily transferred from No. 4 Active Company, Veterans Guard of Canada, to the Royal Canadian Artillery for service with No. 1 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery; transfer form records age 41 and married status (St. Helen's Island, Quebec / Veterans Guard of Canada to RCA).
1941-07-16 — Taken on strength as Gunner with the 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (Petawawa, Ontario / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1941-08-07 — Posted to 1st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery (Petawawa, Ontario / 1st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA).
1941-08-13 to 1941-08-19 — Granted embarkation leave (Canada / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1941-09-19 — Embarked from Canada for overseas service (Canada / Canadian Army).
1941-09-29 — Disembarked in the United Kingdom for overseas service (United Kingdom / Canadian Army).
1941-10-06 — Granted landing leave with permission to travel (United Kingdom / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1942-03-15 — Canadian Dental Corps memorandum records an amalgam restoration (United Kingdom / No. 5 Canadian Dental Unit, No. 4 Canadian General Hospital).
1942-03-16 — Granted 7 days privilege leave with allowance (United Kingdom / Canadian Army).
1942-03-29 — Proceeded on First Aid Course (United Kingdom / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1942-04-05 — Returned from the First Aid Course, having passed (United Kingdom / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1942-05-29 to 1942-06-04 — Granted leave (United Kingdom / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1942-08-01 — Granted 9 days privilege leave with allowance (United Kingdom / Canadian Army).
1942-08-05 — After finishing duty and while returning to barracks during blackout conditions, fell into an unmarked dugout. Dent's statement describes injury to the face/left-eye area and wrist. The commanding officer recorded that he was on duty, that the injury was attributable to military service, and that no blame attached to him (England / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1942-08-05 — Admitted to Tilbury Hospital after the accident. Ministry of Health notification describes lacerated face and injury to the wrist; Tilbury treatment note records suturing of the face and strapping of the wrist (Tilbury, Essex, England / Tilbury Hospital).
1942-08-07 — Discharged from Tilbury Hospital to his unit. Tilbury Hospital's 26 August letter states that he was admitted on 5 August and discharged to his unit on 7 August to attend No. 1 Canadian Dental Detachment at Bexhill (Tilbury, Essex, England / Tilbury Hospital).
1942-08-08 — Admitted to No. 5 Canadian General Hospital on transfer from Tilbury Hospital. Medical case sheet records lacerations of the face and a swollen, painful left wrist; X-ray of the wrist showed no evidence of fracture (United Kingdom / No. 5 Canadian General Hospital).
1942-08-09 — Taken on strength of 3 Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit from 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment while hospitalized (United Kingdom / 3 Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit).
1942-08-10 — Facial sutures removed; condition improving (United Kingdom / No. 5 Canadian General Hospital).
1942-08-14 — Facial wound cleaner; a small deeper area remained unhealed, with no evidence of infection (United Kingdom / No. 5 Canadian General Hospital).
1942-08-25 — Urinalysis essentially negative; general condition improved (United Kingdom / No. 5 Canadian General Hospital).
1942-09-01 — Discharged from No. 5 Canadian General Hospital to duty after 24 days under treatment; instructed to report to unit sick parade (United Kingdom / No. 5 Canadian General Hospital).
1942-09-09 to 1942-09-11 — Granted two days leave with meal allowance in lieu of rations (United Kingdom / 3 Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit).
1942-10-01 — Struck off strength of 3 Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit to rejoin 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (United Kingdom / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1943-09-14 — Appointed Acting Lance Bombardier, unpaid (United Kingdom / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1943-11-09 — Acting Lance Bombardier appointment became paid (United Kingdom / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1944-08-02 — Embarked from the United Kingdom for service in Northwest Europe (United Kingdom / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1944-08-06 — Disembarked in France (France / 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1944-10-18 — While returning to barracks off duty at about 9 p.m., fell into a dugout and injured the right foot. The formal wound report records that the injury did not occur in the performance of military duty; the commanding officer recorded no blame and no disciplinary action (Northwest Europe / 2nd Canadian Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1944-10-20 — Admitted to No. 16 Canadian General Hospital with injury to the right fifth metatarsal. X-ray requisition requested examination of the fifth metatarsal; the radiological report described a fracture of the head of the fifth metatarsal with a small fragment (Northwest Europe / No. 16 Canadian General Hospital).
1944-10-21 — Evacuated from No. 16 Canadian General Hospital for further treatment of the right fifth-metatarsal fracture. Evacuation card records him as able to walk (Northwest Europe / medical evacuation chain).
1944-10-22 — Admitted to No. 4 Canadian General Hospital from Farnborough Airport with a fracture of the right fifth metatarsal. Hospital notes record the right foot in plaster and his condition as good (United Kingdom / No. 4 Canadian General Hospital).
1944-10-23 — Discharged from No. 4 Canadian General Hospital and transferred to No. 9 Canadian General Hospital for continued treatment of the right fifth-metatarsal fracture (United Kingdom / No. 4 to No. 9 Canadian General Hospital).
1944-10-24 — Admitted to No. 9 Canadian General Hospital for continued treatment of the right fifth-metatarsal fracture. Case history records the 18 October fall into a dugout, that he was able to walk but had considerable pain on the outside of the right foot, and evacuation through No. 16 and No. 4 Canadian General Hospitals (United Kingdom / No. 9 Canadian General Hospital).
1944-10-25 — Plaster cast removed and reapplied during treatment of the right fifth-metatarsal fracture (United Kingdom / No. 9 Canadian General Hospital).
1944-11-07 — Medical case sheet recorded three large callosities on the left foot and one on the right; callosities were pared and the foot condition continued under review (United Kingdom / No. 9 Canadian General Hospital).
1944-11-21 — Plaster removed. Medical case sheet recorded fracture united clinically, movements excellent, and walking satisfactory (United Kingdom / No. 9 Canadian General Hospital).
1944-11-27 — X-ray requisition requested AP and lateral views of the right forefoot to assess the position of the fragments and callus formation in the fifth-metatarsal fracture (United Kingdom / No. 9 Canadian General Hospital).
1944-11-29 — Radiological examination showed an oblique comminuted fracture through the neck of the right fifth metatarsal, with slight shortening but no gross displacement. The fracture line had been almost obliterated by new bone formation, but union was not yet quite complete (United Kingdom / No. 9 Canadian General Hospital).
1944-12-01 — Walking without pain; movements and function good. X-ray review satisfactory and discharge to a convalescent depot planned (United Kingdom / No. 9 Canadian General Hospital).
1944-12-04 — Admitted to No. 4 Canadian Convalescent Depot from No. 9 Canadian General Hospital for convalescence following the right fifth-metatarsal fracture (United Kingdom / No. 4 Canadian Convalescent Depot).
1945-01-09 — Returned to Gunner on posting/transfer after convalescence (United Kingdom / Royal Canadian Artillery).
1945-01-13 — Discharged from No. 4 Canadian Convalescent Depot to unit and duty, consistent with medical category L-3. The discharge notification summarizes the right fifth-metatarsal fracture as clinically satisfactory and notes plantar callosities under observation (United Kingdom / No. 4 Canadian Convalescent Depot).
1945-04-02 — Medical History of an Invalid recorded hard painful calluses beneath the toes of both feet and beneath the hands. Dent reported about a ten-year history, with occasional pain on marching or standing. Examination recorded age 45, height 5 ft 5 in, weight 146 lb, vision 20/20 in each eye and normal hearing. Final diagnosis was calluses; no treatment was recommended, and he was considered fit for line-of-communication duty (Peterborough, England / No. 2 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA).
1945-04-04 — Medical Board proceedings concerning painful calluses recorded that they interfered with marching and standing; the board recommended continued limited employment rather than discharge (United Kingdom / Canadian Army medical board).
1945-08-08 — Rehabilitation interview recorded Dent's plan to return to his former job as a rayon inspector. He stated that his employer had retained him on leave during his absence and had promised him a job after discharge; he was described as well versed in rehabilitation benefits and requiring no assistance (No. 5 District Depot / Canada).
1945-09-01 — War Service Gratuity overseas-service certificate records overseas service from 19 September 1941 to 1 September 1945 (Canadian Army (Active)).
1945-09-11 to 1945-10-11 — Granted leave and rations allowance pending discharge (Canada / No. 4 District Depot).
1945-09-19 — Medical Board proceedings opened at No. 4 District Depot. The board recorded his right fifth-metatarsal fracture history, longstanding painful foot callosities and age-related lack of stamina; his home address was 427 Boulevard du Havre, Valleyfield (Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot).
1945-10-12 — Medical Board proceedings were certified; the approved PULHEMS profile was recorded and no treatment was indicated at present (Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot).
1945-10-13 — Personnel Selection Record summarized his civilian background: completed Grade VII in England at age 13 in 1913; textile weaver in England, 1913-20; cleaner, greaser and observer with L.M.S. Railroad in England, 1920-25; and rayon/cotton inspector with Montreal Cottons Ltd., Valleyfield, 1926-40. It recommended return to textile inspection, with weaving as an alternative (Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot).
1945-10-15 — Discharged at Montreal South on demobilization to return to civil life. Proceedings on Discharge record intended residence 427 Boulevard du Havre, Valleyfield, Quebec. Discharge documents record Gunner, Royal Canadian Artillery, and awards of the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp (Montreal South, Quebec / Canadian Army).
1945-10-15 — Applied for payment of War Service Gratuity. Application records service from 9 November 1940 to 15 October 1945 and address after termination of service as 427 Boulevard du Havre, Valleyfield, Quebec (Montreal South, Quebec / Canadian Army).
1945-11-16 — Director of Records returned Dent's will, dated 9 November 1940, to him by registered mail. The letter states that, unless revoked, the will remained valid in civil life (Valleyfield, Quebec / Director of Records).
1948-05-11 — War Service Records issued a replacement War Service Badge, General Service Class, no. 1016026, with corresponding certificate. The certificate records 486 Boulevard du Havre, Valleyfield, Quebec (Ottawa, Ontario / War Service Records).
1948-10-15 — War Service Badge, Service Class, no. 339104 certificate records Dent's address as 427 Boulevard du Havre, Valleyfield (Montreal / War Service Records).
1961-03-19 — War Service Records forwarded a new Silver War Service Badge, General Service Class, no. 1113018, with certificate to replace the old-type badge returned to the Department. Correspondence was addressed to 486 Boulevard du Havre, Valleyfield, Quebec (Valleyfield, Quebec / War Service Records).
1984-05-21 — Veterans Affairs Canada asked the Canadian Forces Record Centre whether a service will was held for James Dent; the returned form indicates no service will was held there (Canada / Veterans Affairs Canada and Canadian Forces Record Centre).