Private James Robert Bonin
PERSONAL INFORMATION
MILITARY INFORMATION
- Private, 49th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1917-06-20 to 1919-05-26
- Private (Army). 1917-01-25 to 1917-06-20
- Private (Army). 1916-10-25 to 1917-01-25
- Private (Army). 1916-05-17 to 1916-10-25
- Private (Army). 1916-01-01 to 1916-05-17
- Private (Army). 1915-12-31 to 1916-01-01
- Private (Army). 1915-09-09 to 1915-12-30
RESEARCH INFORMATION
Library and Archives Canada managed to merge 2 files and after doing so edited them as if they were one. Seems to be a random use of the names John Bonin and James Bonin, his brother at the archives. Must be a screw up? (No, see below)
James' actual year of birth was 1898, so enlisted underage. Brother of John (Jean-Edouard) Bonin, 291647 and Joseph Stanley (Stanilas) Bonin, 460253. According to family, John had a withered arm. Although he attempted to enlist, he did not actually serve. From January 1916 until discharge, James served as John Bonin, 291647. He demobilized as John Bonin on April 03, 1919 at Winnipeg. At some point after this, most of John's CEF documents were amended to indicate James' regimental number. His Discharge certificate was reissued as James Robert Bonin, 460234 on May 26, 1919 at Ottawa, Ontario.
[Private Army Canadian Infantry 61st Battalion Private Army Canadian Infantry 90th Battalion Private Army Canadian Infantry 233rd Battalion Private Army Canadian Infantry 194th Battalion Sailed with the 194th Battalion aboard SS Olympic from Halifax to Liverpool, November 14-21, 1916. The battalion was posted to Bramshott Camp on arrival.
Private Army Canadian Infantry 9th Reserve Battalion From May 10 to June 08 he was hospitalized with Mumps in the Bramshott Isolation Hospital.
Private Army Canadian Infantry 222nd Battalion Transferred to Recruiting Area A on January 05. Circa this date it appears that he assumed his brother's identity. After this date, all CEF service file documents for John Bonin, 291647 actually refer to the service of James Bonin, 460234. This might have been so James could avoid discharge as underage. Private Army Canadian Infantry 49th Battalion
Proceeded to France on being posted. Attached to the Canadian Base Depot, Havre on arrival in France.
He joined the 49th Battalion in divisional reserve billets at Allouange on July 28, 1917. He was wounded in the head and face by shrapnel and suffered concussive deafness at Passchendaele on October 31. He was evacuated by the 8th Field Ambulance and by November 01 he was admitted to the 1st South African General Hospital. Four days later he was reported as "Dangerously Ill". He was reported as no longer dangerously ill on December 03. Evacuated to England aboard the HS St David and admitted to the 1st Birmingham War Hospital at Rednal. He was attached to the Alberta Regimental Depot for administration.
January 29, 1918, transferred to Woodcote Park Convalescent Hospital. February 18, attached to 2nd Canadian Casualty Depot, Bramshott; and then to the 21st Reserve Battalion on April 05.
Posted back to the 49th Battalion in France on August 28. Shortly after arrival in France he was attached to the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp, rejoining the 49th Battalion at Vis-en-Artois on September 12. Two weeks later, on September 29, he was slightly wounded in the right hip at Cambrai. He was quickly evacuated to the 4th General Hospital at Dannes-Camiers. On October 01 he was transferred to the 6th Convalescent Depot, Etaples. He rejoined the 49th at Queant on October 13.
The 49th Battalion returned to England on February 08/09, 1919, posted to the 3rd Divisional Wing at Bramshott, pending return to Canada. The battalion returned to Canada aboard the SS Regina from Liverpool to Halifax.
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