Robert
Joseph "Buts" Deegan
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May 8, 1891
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Born in Brockville, Ontario to Richard and Jane
(nee Hamilton) Deegan
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Nov 4, 1914
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Shown on the payroll for the 41st
Regiment, Canadian Militia
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Nov 9, 1914
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Attested into the 21st 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
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Nov 10, 1914
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Removed from the 41st Regiment
payroll
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded
to West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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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
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Oct 30, 1915
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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