Gunner # 334589 OR 437065 AR.
Frederick George deGex was born November 4th, 1895 at Kerwood, Ontario. His father’s name was Edward Hugh deGex. They were farmers at R.R. No. 2, Kerwood. They attended Church of England. Fred was single when he was “called up”. He was 5′ 7 1/2″ tall, had gray eyes and dark brown hair. His vision was 20/20 in both eyes.
Fred was drafted, under the Military Service Act of 1917. He had a medical on October 17, 1917, and was attested at London on November 28, 1917.
On December 22nd, 1917 he was admitted to hospital in London, Ontario. The medical report said that when admitted he was, “delirious & showed marked throat and external symptoms. Recognized as in a serious condition. Heart began to fail and he was given staph & digitalin & camphorated oil hypo with no benefit”. [You can read the medical report in the last document below.] He was diagnosed as having Scarlet Fever and had been placed in an isolation ward. He died of his illness on December 27th, 1917.
Fred was attested as a Gunner in the 63rd Depot Battery and would have gone overseas to provide heavy artillery support to his battalion. Like many other recruits in WWI, Fred contracted a fatal illness and never left the country. He died while in service and his commitment is duly respected!
There is a family marker at his gravesite in the Strathroy Municipal Cemetery.
