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Edgar Edward Irwin was born in Port Hope 13 August 1896 and educated at the Port Hope
Public School. He was a bright and promising young man, much respected by all who knew
him.
He enlisted with
the 136th Battalion and went to England and later to France with the 21st Battalion where,
three weeks later, he made the supreme sacrifice for his King, his Country and for
Freedom. His death occurred while on duty with a clearing-up party, removing the dead and
wounded from the field. He and some comrades had taken shelter in a captured "pill
box" of the enemy while under fire. A direct hit caused the death of several men,
including Edgar. He was buried near Ypres, Belgium.
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Aug 12, 1897
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Born in Port Hope, Ontario to James Herbert and
Catherine (nee Wilson) Irwin
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Nov 10, 1915
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Attested into the 136th Battalion CEF
in Port Hope, Ontario
Ø Number 805085
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs. James Irwin, mother, Welcome, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Farmer
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Methodist
He lied about his age, stating that he was born
in 1896, not the actual year of 1897
His brother, Delbert James Irwin, attested into the same battalion 1
month later. He also lied about his age
The battalion carried out training in the Port
Hope area of Ontario
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Sep 25, 1916
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Embarked the SS Corsican in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Oct 6, 1916
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Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded
to the West Sandling Camp near Hythe, Kent where the battalion was absorbed into the 39th
Reserve Battalion to continue training.
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Oct 14, 1916
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During a training exercise, Private Irwin
suffered pain in his right foot and was placed on light duties. The pain stemmed from an injury that occurred when
he was a child.
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Oct 30, 1916
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Attached to CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) at
St. Leonard’s Hospital to continue his recovery and 4 weeks of PT (Physical
Training)
Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly
Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital
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Jan 27, 1917
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Discharged from St. Leonard’s Hospital and
posted to the 6th Reserve Battalion to continue training
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May 19, 1917
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Admitted to the Canadian Raven’s Croft
Military Hospital in Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads Appendicitis
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Jun 15, 1917
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The diagnosis was changed to read Myalgia
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Jun 30, 1917
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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Aug 22, 1917
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Transferred to the 21st
Battalion
Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry
Base Depot) in Etaples, France as part of a draft of 6 reinforcements from England and TOS
(Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
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Sep 6, 1917
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After leaving the base depot, he joined the 21st
Battalion in billets in Villers au Bois
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Nov 6, 1917
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While the battalion was resting in the Erie Camp
near Brandhoek, Belgium, Private Irwin was assigned to a work party assigned to removing
bodies from the battlefield. The party came
under a German artillery barrage and he was killed. Private
Irwin was buried in the nearby Potijze Chateau Cemetery.
Following the war the British War Medal, Victory
Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother,
Mrs. Catherine Irwin, 46 Russell St., Lindsay, Ontario
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2010
For the 7
nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers were projected
onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres. At
the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across
Belgium and Canada. The image above shows
the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010.
Below is the
name of Edgar Irwin being broadcast to the schools. Each
name appeared for 25 seconds and each night 9,700 names were shown.
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