839124 John "Harry" Featherstone was born on June 12th, 1895, in Kempel Township, Ontario. Alex was living in Shallow Lake, working as a farmer, when he attested to the 147th (Grey) Battalion as a Private on May 13th, 1916, just days before the unit left for Camp Niagara.
As the conditions in the Camp were wanting the unit moved to the new training facility of Camp Borden in late June. In September the unit received their orders to proceed overseas, but due to an outbreak of diphtheria they were detained in Amherst, Nova Scotia, for over a month. The unit finally sailed for Great Britain, on November 14th 1916.
On January 1st, 1917, the 147th Battalion ceased to exist when it became the nucleus for the 8th Reserve Battalion, whose task it was to supply reinforcements to the 58th Battalion and the 4th C.M.R. Harry was taken on strength of the 4th C.M.R. on April 22nd, 1917.
Harry served with the 4th C.M.R. through the action at Hill 70. It was on September 6th, 1917, when the Germans shelled the area the unit was in that Harry was wounded. Amongst the High Explosive rounds that fell amongst them that day was a new form of shell containing mustard gas. Harry suffered the effects of this gas, and being evacuated back to England for medical treatment, he was on the critically ill list for some time. He returned to the 4th C.M.R. on April 8th, 1918.
Upon Harry's return he went through a series of quick promotions, obtaining the rank of Lance-Sergeant on August 28th 1918.
Having been appointed Temporary Lieutenant, Harry Featherston was taken on strength of the 1st Central Ontario Regiment in Witley in early October of 1918, to undergo Officer Training. Upon being granted his commission Harry served the remainder of war with the 3rd Reserve Battalion and was struck off strength of the 4th C.M.R. on February 24th, 1919.
Credit and thanks for this biography go to George Auer.