RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: Pyewacket on Sunday 19 October 08 16:03 BST (UK)
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Osmond Kidwell died 5th May 1916 at Ypres ... he was in the CEF 7th Battalion.
I am trying to find out what he was doing when he died, and where ... it was a stray shell which killed him and three other Canadians.
Is there still in existance a day to day war diary, say for that first week in May, leading up to his death ?
If so, can anyone tell me how I can see a copy of it please ?
Osmond was my uncle .. mothers brother.
If this should be on the WW1 board, please tell me !
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KIDWELL, OSMOND
Initials - O
Nationality - Canadian
Rank - Private
Regiment/Service - Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
Unit Text - 7th Bn.
Age - 21
Date of Death - 05/05/1916
Service No - 429060
Additional information - Native of Colwich, Stafford. Went to Canada, 1910. Enlisted, Feb., 1915. Son of Mary Jane Kidwell, of 5, Victoria Rd., Stafford, England, and the late William Henry Kidwell.
Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference - II. D. 2.
Cemetery - CHESTER FARM CEMETERY
7th Battalion (First British Columbia Regiment) was made up of these regiments
6th Regiment (The Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles)
11th Regiment (Irish Fusiliers of Canada)
88th Regiment (Victoria Fusiliers)
102nd Regiment (Rocky Mountain Rangers)
104th Regiment (Westminster Fusiliers of Canada)
And looking at his attestation papers ... it looks like he was with the 104th Regiment ( I believe it was militia before the war ! ) .... so you need to look for the war diaries of that regiment !
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04k1/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04k2/
I'll keep looking !
Annie :)
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Found this ... but it doesn't say too much I'm afraid !
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04k3/
http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001080339.jpg
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Id sent a PM in reply to your other thread,then found this :P
Great catch on the war diaries liverpool annie :)
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial site doesn't seem to be working right now ... probably because it's the weekend and everybody is using it ::) .... but there is a post for your Osmond here !
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04k4/
Are you a relation too Tabbitha ?
Heres a picture of Chester Farm and Osmond is also mentioned here !
http://www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/chesterfarm.htm
Annie :)
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Thank you so much for your very helpful reply to my latest request. The info I had that there was'nt a battle going on, & that it was a stray shell which caught four men. The theory being that the other men had time to bury all 4 men & put up their details on individual crosses. My friend Lydart will post the photo that was sent to my grandmother at the time. This is the second time that a family rumour has been shot down by actual records.
It was Lydart who put up the information for me about Osmond on the Virtual War Memorial Site.
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Nope,no relation, just like to help if/when I can :)
I know what its like trying to track facts down about family ancestors hehe.
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Here's the picture Pyewacket wanted me to post for her ... its of Osmonds grave plus three others ...
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Those old photos always seem so much more poignant somehow don't they ?? :-\ :-\
Thanks Lydart ! ... maybe we should look up the other soldiers too .... they've been pals together there for so long !
Annie :)
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Remembered with honour
Name - Phillips Percy James
Initials - P J
Nationality - Canadian
Rank - Private
Regiment/Service - Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
Unit Text - 7th Bn.
Age - 26
Date of Death - 05/05/1916
Service No - A/28693
Additional information - Son of Henry Richard and Mary Hannah Phillips, of 37, Rodney Rd., Great Yarmouth, England.
Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference - II. D. 4.
Cemetery: - CHESTER FARM CEMETERY
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04k7/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04k8/
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Remembered with honour
Name - Whitaker
Initials - W E
Nationality - Canadian
Rank - Private
Regiment/Service - Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
Unit Text - 7th Bn.
Date of Death - 05/05/1916
Service No - 16947
Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference - II. D. 1.
Cemetery - CHESTER FARM CEMETERY
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04k9/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04ka/
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Remembered with honour
Name - Hughes William Bearney
Initials - W B
Nationality - Canadian
Rank - Private
Regiment/Service - Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
Unit Text - 7th Bn.
Age - 38
Date of Death - 05/05/1916
Service No - 428179
Additional information - (served as BEARNEY). Son of Philip and Catherine Hughes, of Bedford Station, Prince Edward Island.
Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference - II. D. 3.
Cemetery - CHESTER FARM CEMETERY
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04k5/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04k6/
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Thanks Annie ... I'm sure my friend 'Pyewacket' will be pleased that she has had such a response already ! She lives about 2 miles from me, and I got her RootsChatting !
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Hi Pyewacket,
Have you ordered Osmond's full military file? They have quite a bit of information and contain the soldiers movements during the war.
Karen
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Hi Karen ...
(I don't want to speak for my friend, but I'm not sure if she knows how to get such a thing ... nor do I ::) )
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Hi Lydart
Here is the link on how to order a complete military file. They can have alot of information in them. It usually takes about a month to receive them, once you have sent your information to Library and Archives Canada.
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-130-e.html?PHPSESSID=108avv5l1454c1e5u31kkm2vv1#g
Karen
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Thanks Karen ...
I'll phone her ... you'll see if she re=appears, I'm sure !
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Really glad you have managed to get so much ionfo for your friend.Its certainly poignant as annie said looking at old photos.I was looking at some today of where my aunt used to work in one of the Manchester textile mills.it was a really strange feeling in my stomach looking at the buildings I had forgotten I once knew so well.
I hope your friend decides to carry on searching and posting here :)
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PYEWACKET ... I've put your query about the minesweeper (!) on here ...
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,335766.msg2153076.html#msg2153076
... click the blue link to see whats said ...
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Thankyou Annie & Karen for your help. It was interesting to see that tow of his companions were English too. About 20 or so years ago I managed to get the war records of 4 of my mothers brothers who had all gone to Canada in about 1910, only Ozzy died & of course there was no record of how he died. Your help has closed the book so to speak.
Pyewacket.