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Mar 6, 1898
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Born in Fenelon Falls, Ontario Mary Taggart. No father is listed on the birth
registration
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Dec 11, 1915
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Attested into the 109th Battalion CEF
in Fenelon Falls, Ontario
Ø Number 725559
Ø Next of kin given as Mary
Cooper, mother, Cameron, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as
Farmer
Ø No previous military
experience given
Ø Religion given as Methodist
Ø Assigned to “C” Company
Gordon Taggart lied about his age, having been born March 6, 1898, but
stated he was born March 1, 1897
In the spring of 1916, the 109th went to Camp Borden near
Barrie for advanced training
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Jul 23, 1916
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Embarked the SS Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Jul 31, 1916
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Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded
to the Bordon Camp, near Longmoor, Hampshire
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Aug 16, 1916
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The battalion moved to Bramshott to continue
training
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Oct 5, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st Battalion
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Oct 6, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 917 reinforcements from
England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
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Oct 22, 1916
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After leaving the base depot, Private Taggart
joined the 21st Battalion in billets in Bully Grenay, France and
was assigned to No. 14 Platoon, “D” Company
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Apr 6, 1917
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No. 14 Platoon was ordered to proceed to Zivy
Cave to join a work party near Vimy Ridge on the night of April 6-7. While moving forward to Zivy Cave, the
platoon was held up by an artillery barrage and Private Taggart was buried by
the explosion of a shell. He was
uncovered by his comrades, but was dizzy and confused. He remembered that he was to go to Zivy
Cave which he did but could not locate his comrades, so he remained there to
wait.
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Apr 9, 1917
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After the attack on Vimy Ridge by the Canadian
Corps, Private Taggart was recorded as missing in action.
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May 24, 1917
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Gordon Taggart stayed in Zivy Cave and went
unnoticed for some time until a member of the 19th Battalion
questioned him. Private Taggart had no
identification on him and was so confused that he said he was a member of “D”
Company, 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. He was sent to their headquarters under
guard, but once it was discovered that he did not belong there, he was
returned to Zivy Cave. It was then
discovered that he belonged to the 21st Battalion.
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May 25, 1917
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Private Taggart was escorted to the 21st
Battalion under arrest and subsequently charged with desertion and loss of
kit. It seems that his entire kit went
missing while he was absent.
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Jun 12, 1917
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A Field General Court Martial was convened in the
town of Hersin-Coupigny with Private Gordon Taggart was charged with
Desertion and Loss of Kit. Testimony
indicated that while at Zivy Cave, the accused seemed confused and not
thinking clearly. It was determined
that while he was sleeping in the cave, his platoon had moved on to join the
work party and since his only orders were to go to Zivy Cave, he thought it
best to remain there to wait for further orders.
The court found him not guilty of Desertion, but
Guilty of being Absent Without Leave and sentenced him to 6 months
Imprisonment in Hard Labor. Under
review, this sentence was quashed and his record cleared of all charges,
although he was required to pay for his lost kit.
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Private Taggart’s
testimony at his Court Martial
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Nov 9, 1917
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While the 21st Battalion was employed
in the support trenches on the Passchendaele, front in Belgium, Private Taggart
was sent out on a large work party.
This party came under an artillery attack and suffered heavy
casualties and several of the men were reported missing, among those was
Gordon Taggart.
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Nov 28, 1917
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Private Taggart was finally located in the 1st
New Zealand Field ambulance, having been taken there when he was
wounded. Once he was located, he was
transferred to the No. 3 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) where it was
discovered that he was suffering from Lymphadenoma, a serious disease of the
lymph nodes.
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Nov 30, 1917
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Transferred via the No. 5 AT (Ambulance Train)
and admitted to the No. 57 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne, France
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Dec 16, 1917
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Transferred to the No. 7 Stationary Hospital in
Boulogne and Pulmonary Tuberculosis was added to the diagnosis and he was
placed on the dangerously ill list
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Dec 27, 1917
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Private Gordon Taggart died while a patient at
the No. 7 Stationary Hospital and was buried in the Boulogne Eastern 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. M. Cooper, RR #2, Cameron, Ontario
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Gordon Taggart is
honoured on the Fenelon Falls War Memorial
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