261796 Pte. Edward Franklin Davidson Canadian Expeditionary Force 19th Canadian Infantry Battlaiion from:R.R.1 Simcoe, Ontario, Canada Frank Davidson enlisted in the Canadian 123rd Grenadiers on 1st of December 1915, at Toronto, Ontario.
His troop ship, S.S. Cameronia, was in an Aug 1-18, 1916-18 convoy to England (Liverpool, probably).
He arrived at the CEF base in the Sanderling area. On the 23rd of December 1916 he shipped to France and was taken on strength of 19th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Division, CEF, on the 13th of January 1917.
He fought in major actions at Vimy Ridge, Fresnoy, Hill 70, and Passchendaele.
Frank was wounded in both legs at Passchendaele on the 10th of November 1917.
He was evacuated and treated at the First Canadian Field Ambulance, the next day he was transferred to No. 10 Casualty Aid Station.
Then the following day to No. 2 Canadian General Hospital, his left leg was amputated in this period.
On the 26th of November 1917 he was admitted to 2 St. Smith General Hospital in Birmingham, part of No. 2 Southern General Hospital.
On 27th of February 1917 he was transferred to Epsom Convalescent Hospital. Medical Board stamped April 20.
On 12th of April 1918, he was at the 5th Canadian Stationary Hospital in Buxton. On the 17th he went to Granville Special Hospital for an X-ray due to healing problems and on the 4th of May 1917 and had an operation on his left leg. The Medical Board ordered his return to Canada and H.M.H.S. Landovery Castle transported Pte. Davidson to Halifax June 5-17th, 1918.
Another narrow escape as the Landovery Castle attacked ten days later, sunk, survivors in lifeboats were rammed and machine-gunned. Fourteen CMAC nurses among hundreds killed. War crimes trial convicted the U-boat crew.
Davidson's daughter, Joan, married Ted Toogood, second son of Lt. W. Alex Toogood, 2nd E. Ontario Battalion. Both men had fought at Fresnoy; Alex was wounded on the first day. Both men received shrapnel/fractures leg wounds requiring follow-up x-rays at Granville Special Hospital. Both soldiers had grown up in rural Ontario, a few miles apart. Both settled nearby in York Twp/Etobicoke, Toronto.
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