A First War Trio to the 3rd Canadian Infantry; Kinmel Park

A First War Trio to the 3rd Canadian Infantry; Kinmel Park - 1914-15 Star (404117 PTE. J. HOPCRAFT. 3/CAN:INF:); British War Medal (404117 A. CPL. J. HOPCRAFT. 3-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (404117 A. CPL. J. HOPCRAFT. 3-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, gilt wear evident on the VM, light contact, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records, Medical Records, Dental Records, Last Pay Certificate and Discharge Certificates. Footnote: Joseph Hopcraft was born on August 27, 1893 in London, England. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private with the 35th Infantry Battalion on April 12, 1915, in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 21, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Alice Hopcraft of Toronto, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Decorator. Hopcraft sailed from Montreal, Quebec aboard the S.S. Metagama on June 4, 1915, arriving in England shortly thereafter and was taken on strength at Shorncliffe on June 14th. One month later, he embarked for France on July 16th and was taken on strength by the 3rd Infantry Battalion at Boulogne the following day. In the Spring of 1916, Hopcraft was in action when he suffered gun shot wounds to his left shoulder, just below the scapula, along with his back and legs on May 31, 1916. He was admitted to No. 3 Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne on June 1, 1916 and after two and a half weeks, he was invalided to Reading War Hospital on the 19th. After one day at Reading, he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital Bear Wood on July 20th for eight days, before being transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Park at Epsom on July 28th, where he convalesced for three weeks, then discharged on August 17th. Hopcraft was posted to the 12th Reserve Battalion at Shorncliffe on January 24, 1917, then once again struck off strength to the 3rd Infantry Battalion for overseas service in the French theatre on February 14th. He was hospitalized again, just shy of one year of his previous hospitalization, as he was admitted to No. 24 General Hospital at Etaples on May 12, 1917, suffering from a bout of Influenza. He was again invalided to England, where he was posted to the Central Ontario Regimental Depot and admitted to the Military Hospital at Hampstead N.W. on June 14th. His case was a severe one, as he was transferred on July 11th to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley, with the official diagnosis of "Trench Fever and Influenza". Two days later, he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park at Epsom on July 13th for further treatment, before being discharged on the 24th, then taken on strength of the 12th Reserve Battalion on the 27th. Hopcraft was appointed Acting Corporal with pay on January 22, 1918. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, he was transferred to the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park on December 5, 1918 for return to Canada. After five days at Kinmel Park, he embarked England aboard H.M.T. Melita on December 10, 1918. Hopcraft was discharged upon demobilization on January 17, 1919, at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, credited with having served in Canada, England and France.