Canada. A British War Medal to Quartermaster Sergeant Flood, "Toronto Beavers"
Item #C4990
Price:
$135
Canada; (237367 A.C.Q.M. SJT. J.D. FLOOD. 204-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Replacement ribbon, dark patina, edge nicks, light contact, better than very fine.
Footnote: John Dobson Flood was born on June 20, 1874 in Lindsay, Ontario, the son of Edward Flood (1843-1911) and Anna Mary Dobson Flood (1853-1919). He had one brother, Edward Lindsay Flood (1876-1907) and one sister, Anna Muriel Flood Sylvester (1885-1953). He was married to Lydia Grace Flood, the couple having three children together: a daughter, Marjory and two sons, Cecil and John, ages 18, 14 and 12 respectively at the time of his enlistment. He was a resident of Toronto, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper (237367) with the 204th Infantry Battalion "Toronto Beavers", at the Toronto Recruiting Depot, on April 1, 1916, at the age of 41, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Lydia Grace Flood of Toronto, stating that he had three years' service as a Colour Sergeant with the 45th Victoria Regiment in Lindsay, that he was Married and that his trade was that of Salesman. His religion was Church of England. The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Toronto, Ontario under that authority of G.O. 69, July 15, 1916. Flood was appointed Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant, the same day that the Battalion sailed, on March 28, 1917 from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Saxonia, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.H. Price with a strength of 27 officers and 789 other ranks, arriving in England on April 7th. Upon arrival in England, the Battalion was absorbed into the 2nd Reserve Battalion at East Sandling on April 8th. That same month of April 1917, while on duty in England, he reported to the Medical Officer in pain. Flood had been exposed to a great deal of wet while at Otterpool and developed a case of Myalgia (muscle pain, a symptom of many diseases and disorders). He also had a lump appear over the precordial area (chest), with dull aching pains which prevented him from lying on that side or raising his left arm. The pains extended into his arms and legs, the pains becoming worse in wet weather. He was treated for the next two weeks, sequestered to bed in his own tent. By May 1917, the previously mentioned pains were bothering him again. In addition, while drilling, he suffered an injury to his right leg, especially his knee, while jumping during bayonet practice. It was at this time that the muscle hernia was discovered. He had no history of Rheumatism. Nine months later, he was posted to the 8th Reserve Battalion on February 14, 1918. In a Medical Proceedings of a Medical Board Report conducted at Witley, on August 2, 1918, Flood's Myalgia was revisited. He was struck off strength on posting to the 2nd Central Ontario Regimental Depot and remained on command at Bourley Segregation Camp, attached to the Depot Company on October 21, 1918. Eleven days later, Flood reverted to the permanent grade of Private on ceasing to be employed, on November 1, 1918.
He was attached to the 8th Reserve Battalion on November 4, 1918 and was attached to the 2nd Central Ontario Regimental Depot. He ceased to be attached to the 2nd Central Ontario Regimental Depot on November 15th and posted to the Depot Company. In a medical examination performed at Canadian Troops Headquarters, Assistant Director Medical Services at Witley Camp, Surrey, on November 17, 1918, the doctor noted that "pains continued to bother him and (that Flood) had occasional attacks of pain", that he had a "painful shoulder (left) and muscle hernia (right leg)". He had developed a "small slit in the fascia of the right leg, with a bulging of the muscle through it. It developed while in training" (May 1917), the doctor emphasizing that "much movement of the arm makes the shoulder painful and it has become worse since enlistment". Twenty years previous, Flood had his left shoulder dislocated, but this was written off as a possible cause of his current malady. Flood was subsequently placed on command at the Canadian Discharge Depot at Buxton for return to Canada, embarking for Canada from Liverpool, England aboard the S.S. Northland on December 15, 1918. After arriving at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, his medical condition was re-evaluated at Exhibition Camp. In his Medical History of an Invalid Report, dated January 20, 1919 at Exhibition Camp, his "service conditions" regarding his Myalgia of April 1917 and the injury to his right leg of May 1917 were discussed, the doctor stating that the "Pain in (his) left shoulder and muscles of (his) left side were aggravated by wet weather and posture, such as holding (a) rifle for any time." The doctor could not find the "lump" that had been documented in England, although Flood continued to complain of it and stated that Flood "used to have pains in the muscles of (his) back, but they have almost disappeared now.....precordial and shoulder pain". Flood was designated Category "B" (Fit for Service Aboard but not General Service), the doctor confirming that he did not require treatment and should pass under his own control and that he be placed in Category "B2". Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant John Dobson Flood, 204th Infantry Battalion was taken on strength at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto and posted to the Casualty Company at Exhibition Camp on December 26th, discharged as being "Medically Unfit" on January 25, 1919, at the age of 44, credited with having served in Canada and England. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and was approved for the War Service Badge. He was paid a War Service Gratuity of $140 and his wife Lydia, was also paid a sum of $60. After his discharge, he was admitted to Spadina Military Hospital in Toronto on March 26, 1919, to be treated for Lobar Pneumonia (an acute exudative inflammation of an entire pulmonary lobe, produced in ninety-five percent of cases by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci)). By April 5th, his condition had worsened, forcing a transfer to the Invalided Soldiers' Commission (ISC) Sanatorium for further treatment, possibly for tuberculosis. He eventually recovered. Flood died on June 12, 1959, at the age of 84 and is buried in York Cemetery, Toronto, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada, Plot: Section 05-1138.