Doughty William P. 195058

William Percival Doughty  195058

William Doughty was born in the village of Warsaw, Ontario on March 24 1880 to parents Margaret and William John Doughty, who was a salesman.  The family moved to the city of Peterborough sometime before the year 1900.

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William P. married Jennie Doughty nee. Drumm on September 06 1913 and together had one son named Lionel.  Nearly two years after marriage, on October 05 1915, William  was living at No. 6 Benson Avenue in Peterborough when heard the call to arms and enlisted with the 93^rd Peterboro Overseas Battalion.  At the time he was working as a tinsmith.  He had had 14 years of previous military service in the 57^th Peterboro militia Regiment.  He was 35 years old, 5 feet 51.2 inches tall and weighed 140 pounds. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. He was a Presbyterian. He was examined by the medical officer of the 93^rd on August 15 and considered fit for overseas service

Doughty sailed overseas with the 93^rd Battalion aboard the S.S. Empress of Britain and arrived in England on July 25 1916.  The battalion immediately was sent to Otterpool camp in west Sandling England.  There the 93^rd was broken up and its ranks transferred to various other battalions.  Doughty went to the 39^th reserve Battalion on October 6th, to receive further training and await orders as to his next posting.

Medical records show that Doughty reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre, or C.C.A.C.,  in West Sandling a month after arriving in England.  There he went before a board, and was listed as medically unfit for military service overseas.  The board concurred that Doughty had “enlisted as a Bandsman only and came to England with the 93^rd Batt., in July 1916. The left foot has always bothered him when he walked much but did not bother him at his work. It now pains him on route marched or when trying to stand on toes. Enlisted as a Bandsman only and never did any drill.” 

The board also stated that Doughty had a weakened abdominal wall, as a result of an abdominal scar left after an earlier appendectomy operation.  Doughty was not dismissed wholly, his skills as a Bandsman were still considered of some use back in Canada with militia authorities, and he was posted to return home on December 12 1916. 

Notes of the Quebec Medial Board

William Doughty reported to the Discharge Depot in Quebec upon returning for Canada on January 08 1917.  The Quebec Medical Board published the same findings as those in West Sandling and found his infirmities warranted service limited to using his musical talents for recruiting purposes.  Doughty was formally discharged on January 27 1917.  It is not known whether he continued service as a bandsman in his local militia.

William Percival Doughty died on April 10, 1960 and is buried in Lakefield, Ontario.

Sources:

Library and Archives Canada online.  The Complete Military Service File of William Percival Doughty.  Accessed November 27 2015.  RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2618-40. <www.bac-lac.gc.ca>

Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths – 1869-1932. Toronto Canada: Archives of Ontario. MS935, 455 reels.

Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1922. Toronto, Canada. Archives of Ontario. MS932, 632 reels.