Robert Joseph Deegan

Robert Joseph "Buts" Deegan

May 8, 1891	Born in Brockville, Ontario to Richard and Jane (nee Hamilton) Deegan
Nov 4, 1914	Shown on the payroll for the 41^st Regiment, Canadian Militia
Nov 9, 1914	Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston Ontario Ø Number 59250 (temporary number 59) Ø Next of kin given as Mrs Rachel Deegan (mother) of 77 Pearl St West, Brockville Ontario Ø Previous occupation given as Brakeman Ø No previous military experience given Ø Religion given as Roman Catholic Ø Assigned to “A” Company
Nov 10, 1914	Removed from the 41^st Regiment payroll
May 6, 1915	Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec
May 15, 1915	Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent
Sep 14, 1915	Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone
Sep 15, 1915	Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer and was eventually assigned to the Machine Gun Section with HW McBride and is listed in the dedication to his book A Rifleman Went to War
Oct 30, 1915	While he was in his dugout cleaning his rifle, he was instantly killed by an artillery shell that made a direct hit. Ridge Wood Cemetery Voormezeele Belgium His friend, Private Cyrus Carr, acted as a Pall Bearer when he was buried.

Although the letter above states that he was killed on October 29th, and the War Diary excerpt below indicates the same, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists his date of death as October 30th.

The 1914-15 Star and British War Medal are shown below. The Victory Medal is missing, if you know of it's location, please contact the webmaster.

Robert Deegan grew up in Brockville, Ontario, as did his friend Private Cyrus Carr, and as noted in the newspaper articles, Pte Carr was with the burial party. Through the efforts of the webmaster, they have been reunited through their medals as seen below

The Victory Medal is missing from Robert's set and the 1914-15 Star is missing from Cyrus Stewart Carr's set. If you know of their location, please contact the webmaster