Canada, CEF. Two Dog Tags & the Diary of Driver James Hutchens, 69th Battalion.

Two leather dog tags, each impressed 340308 HUTCHENS D.R.C.J P. R.C.N.A., reverse plain, measures 34.95mm (w) x 35.32mm (h) and 38.51mm (w) x 32.62mm (h), attached by a dried leather strip, fine condition; A leather notebook, obverse impressed “Diary”, containing addresses and handwritten entries from Hutchens from 1918, measures 75.90mm (w) x 122.50mm (h), legible, pages intact, very fine condition.

Footnote: James Charles Hutchens, born March 7, 1896 in Toronto, Ontario to James Williams and Jennie Hutchens. Prior to enlisting for the First World War, Hutchens was employed as an electrician. He enlisted on May 25, 1917 as a driver with the 69th Battalion.

On November 24, 1917, Hutchens embarked on the HMT Megantic from Halifax Ontario, arriving at Liverpool on December 7, 1917. He joined his unit on May 4, 1918. On August 8, 1918 he was admitted to the hospital for influenza, eventually he was transferred to C.A.R.D, Wetley at Grantully Castle. After 67 days of hospitalization with Trench Fever, Hutchens was discharged on October 31, 1918.

December 3, 1918, he was on commission to Kinmel Park, Camp Rhyl, pending his embarkation to Canada. He was discharged on January 18, 1919 due to demobilization. Hutchens died in 1960.

Detailed notes of Hutchen’s hospital stays and medical case are captured on his personnel files.