I have not been able to trace Michael Patrick Mc Caskill on any census forms for Canada or UK. I have made considerable effort to trace Michael Patrick Mc Caskill and his next of kin Henry Charlebois to no avail.
Michael Patrick Mc Caskill’s army records tell us that he enlisted into the Canadian Expeditionery Force in Montreal on 6th November 1914 in Bristol,U.K. He gave his date of birth as 18th March 1892 and his trade was Stableman. His next of kin was named Henry Charlebois of 597 Notre Dame, West (friend).
Michael’s Service Record shows that he completed his basic training in Canada and embarked for England on 11th May 1915 aboard the SS Cameronia and arrived on 20th May 1915 when he was posted to complete his training. On 15th September 1915 Michael embarked from Folkstone for Boulogne, France where he served in the field until 16th September 1916 after receiving a gun shot wound to his left shoulder. He was transferred to Folkstone and then to the London General Hospital for treatment until 17th October 1916, followed by a week of recuperation at the General Hospital in Bromley. After discharge from hospital, Micheal was transferred to Shoreham Army Camp for 6 weeks physical training and transferred to Purfleet on completion. He was posted back to France on 29th March 1917 and suffered from a variety of skin ailments for which he received medical treatment in various hospitals in the field between 13th April 1917 and 12th June 1917.
Michael was given permission to marry on 9th March 1918 (and I found evidence on Ancestry that Michael Patrick Mc Caskill married Mabel B Chappell in Williesden, Middlesex in the first quarter of 1918).
On 1st January 1919, Michael was sent to Kinmel Park Camp in Rhyl to await repatriation to Canada. Tragically, Michael contracted Bronchial Pneumonia, and was admitted to the Canadian General Hospital where he died at 7.22pm on 23rd February 1919, age 27 years.
(From Library of Canada)
Kinmel Park Camp was a segregation camp used to house Canadian Soldiers awaiting repatriation to Canada after the end of WW1. Unfortunately the conditions at that time were extremely harsh with a lack of every kind of commodity, the camp was overcrowded and the services were poor, there were shortages of clothing, food and blankets. As a result of this situation, a vast number of servicemen and women became ill and many succumbed to the Influenza Epidemic or complications associated with this infection.
He is buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Bodelwyddan.
Michael is commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
The Long Long Trail Website includes information about the battles in which the 24th Battalion were involved. Follow the link if you want to learn more.
