- Reaction score
- 5
- Points
- 430
As I have been continuing my research on The Royal Canadian Regiment in the First World War, I have been compiling a nominal roll of the Regiment for the Great War. At this time, I am working with a nominal roll of over 4800 entries, though some soldiers have double entries to cover name changes (e.g., "has declared his true name to be ...").
When the first volume of the regimental history (Fetherstonaugh) was published in 1936, it included a regimental Roll of Honour for the First World War. This roll listed 774 Royal Canadians who were killed in action, died of wounds, sickness or disease, or otherwise paid the ultimate sacrifice and were recognized as the Regiment's war dead.
During my time as Regimental Adjutant, as I researched individual soldiers of the Regiment, I realized that the list in the regimental history was not complete. Using newly available online sources such as the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, the Canadian Books of Remembrance, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register and other sources, I reviewed and added names to the Regiment's Roll of Honour for the First World War.
The result of this research, which has been the roll used on the regimental website since I created the Roll of Honour pages, and has been placed in the Quiet Room in the regimental museum, included 818 names.
Following a review of the CEF Part II Daily Orders for the Regiment, I compared my nominal roll of Royal Canadians who served in the Regiment (1914-19) to the premiere reference on Canada's fallen for the Great War: The CEF Roll of Honour (Compiled and edited by Edward H. Wigney, pub. 1996). This volume lists over 67,000 Canadians who died in the Great War.
From this review of Wigney's work, I now have a CEF Roll of Honour for the Regiment that stands at 827 names. This roll can be seen here on my own website.
From this latest research, I have submitted nine names to the Canadian Virtual War memorial for review to determine if they are missing from the national Roll of Honour, or incorrectly commemorated by unit. One of these is:
261612 Private Gavin Alston Carmichael
Additionally, thanks to Zoomie's diligence in visiting the Portage la Prairie (Hillside) Cemetery and tracking down Carmichael's grave, I was also able to provide these photos to the CVWM.
Today, I received confirmation from the CVWM that Private Carmichael will be added to the Books of Remembrance.
When the first volume of the regimental history (Fetherstonaugh) was published in 1936, it included a regimental Roll of Honour for the First World War. This roll listed 774 Royal Canadians who were killed in action, died of wounds, sickness or disease, or otherwise paid the ultimate sacrifice and were recognized as the Regiment's war dead.
During my time as Regimental Adjutant, as I researched individual soldiers of the Regiment, I realized that the list in the regimental history was not complete. Using newly available online sources such as the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, the Canadian Books of Remembrance, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register and other sources, I reviewed and added names to the Regiment's Roll of Honour for the First World War.
The result of this research, which has been the roll used on the regimental website since I created the Roll of Honour pages, and has been placed in the Quiet Room in the regimental museum, included 818 names.
Following a review of the CEF Part II Daily Orders for the Regiment, I compared my nominal roll of Royal Canadians who served in the Regiment (1914-19) to the premiere reference on Canada's fallen for the Great War: The CEF Roll of Honour (Compiled and edited by Edward H. Wigney, pub. 1996). This volume lists over 67,000 Canadians who died in the Great War.
From this review of Wigney's work, I now have a CEF Roll of Honour for the Regiment that stands at 827 names. This roll can be seen here on my own website.
From this latest research, I have submitted nine names to the Canadian Virtual War memorial for review to determine if they are missing from the national Roll of Honour, or incorrectly commemorated by unit. One of these is:
261612 Private Gavin Alston Carmichael
CARMICHAEL is not listed in either the CVWM or the CWGC database. He is identified in Wigney's Roll of Honour. He served overseas with The Royal Canadian Regiment from Oct 1916 to Aug 1918 and was again on the strength of The RCR from Sep 1918 until he was evacuated (sick) on 14 Jan 1919.
Additionally, thanks to Zoomie's diligence in visiting the Portage la Prairie (Hillside) Cemetery and tracking down Carmichael's grave, I was also able to provide these photos to the CVWM.
Today, I received confirmation from the CVWM that Private Carmichael will be added to the Books of Remembrance.
Good morning Michael!
Private Carmichael's death was ruled attributable to his service. He died of TB.
He will be entered into the addendum of the First World War Book of Remembrance this year.
Thank you for finding him and obtaining a photo of his marker in Portage la Prairie (Hillside) Cemetery.
Catherine