MIKAN No. 3379694

Lance Corporal Charles Edgar Dalziel MM in the Great War

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Charles Edgar Dalziel born 17 November 1894 in Beebe Plain, Stanstead Co, Quebec. Parents Mr. Alexander and Mrs. Sadie Almeda (Monroe) Dalziel of Beebe, P.Q.

MIKAN No. 3522205 Charles Edgar Dalziel
The C.O. and some of the original men and N.C.O.s of the 87th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Valhoon. MIKAN No. 3522205

Private Charles Edgar Dalziel 1054661 attested 21 November 1916 with the 244th Battalion. Charles had previous service with the 53rd Regiment, and at this time, Charles stood 6 feet tall, 170 pounds, with fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair, small scar on right elbow. He was 22 years old.

244th Battalion Kitchener’s Own Overseas Battalion, CEF

Organized in June 1916 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel F. M. McRobie. Mobilized at Montreal, and recruited in Montreal, Quebec City, Three Rivers, Grand’Mère and Sherbrooke. Embarked from Halifax 28 March 1917 aboard SS LAPLAND, and later disembarked in England on 10 April 1917 with a strength of 27 officers, and 604 other ranks. Absorbed by the 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion on 24 April 1917, and finally perpetuated by The Victoria Rifles of Canada.

MIKAN No. 3387603 Charles Edgar Dalziel
Officers of 87th Canadian Infantry Battalion playing volleyball. MIKAN No. 3387603

Private Charles Edgar Dalziel embarked Canada on 25 March 1917, disembarking in England on 7 April 1917. On the same day, appointed Acting Lance-Corporal. Then, Acting Lance-Corporal Charles Edgar Dalziel transferred to 22nd Reserve Battalion, Shoreham, 7 April 1917.

22nd Reserve Battalion

Organized at Shoreham on 4 January 1917 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Burland. Was to reinforce 87th and 199th Battalions and 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. First troops received were a draft of 49 other ranks for the Irish Rangers on 8 February1917. Later, absorbed 244th Battalion on 7 April 1917 but 244th transferred to 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion on 24 April 1917. Absorbed by 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion on 9 May 1917.

MIKAN No. 3194337
87th Bn. listening to comrade playing mouth organ. Amiens. August, 1918. MIKAN No. 3194337

Transferred to 23rd Reserve Battalion, 24 April 1917, Shoreham.

23rd Reserve Battalion

Organized at Shorncliffe on 4 January 1917 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel F.W. Fisher. Formed by absorbing 23rd and 117th Battalions. Absorbed 244th Battalion on 24 April 1917, 245th Battalion on 14 May 1917, and on 11 May 1917, the 199th Battalion and the 22nd Canadian Reserve Battalion were absorbed and the 23rd was designated 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion (199th Duchess of Connaught’s Own Irish Canadian Rangers) Reinforced 14th and 24th Battalions. Secondly, reinforced 87th Battalion and 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles as well, after 11 May 1917, and moved to Shoreham on 5 January 1917, Bramshott on 11 October 1917 and Ripon on 2 February 1919.

Acting Lance-Corporal Charles Edgar Dalziel On Command Signal Base, Shoreham, 15 August 1917.

Lance-Corporal Charles Edgar Dalziel posted to 87th Battalion, Grenadier Guards, Bramshott, 22 February 1918, joined unit 27 February 1918.

MIKAN No.3395495
87th Bn. enjoying mid-day meal amid mud caused by storms, Douai plain. MIKAN No.3395495

87th Battalion

Organized in September 1915 initally under the command of Colonel F. S. Meighen. Mobilized at Montreal and recruited in Gaspé, Eastern Townships, Pembroke, Dundas County and the mining districts of Ontario and Quebec. Secondly, embarked from Halifax 25 April 1916 aboard EMPRESS OF BRITAIN and disembarked in England on 5 May 1916 with a strength of 36 officers, 1026 other ranks. Later, arrived in France 11 August 1916, with 4th Canadian Division, 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and reinforced by the 22nd Canadian Reserve Battalion and, after 8 May 1917, by 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion. Finally, returned to England 3 May 1919, and disembarked in Canada 6 June 1919. Furthermore, demobilized 8 June 1919, and disbanded by General Order 149 of 15 September 1920. In addition, Colours deposited in Canterbury Cathedral, and perpetuated by The Canadian Grenadier Guards.

MIKAN No. 3395496 Charles Edgar Dalziel
87th Battalion receiving mid-day ration within shelled area. MIKAN No. 3395496
A comprehensive photo montage of the MIKAN collection at Library and Archives Canada from the Battle of Vimy Ridge, 9 – 11 April 1917. All photos were captured by the Official Canadian War Photographer at this time, Ivor Castle, a photographer from the Daily Mirror, who was given the rank of lieutenant and subsequently snapped 800 photographs.

Lance Corporal Charles Edgar Dalziel

Appointed Acting Lance-Corporal with pay, 2 October 1918.

MIKAN No. 3395020 Charles Edgar Dalziel
Memorial Service to men of 87th Bn. who fell at Vimy Ridge. September, 1917. This appears to be a service at a soldier’s plot for the 87th Canadian Infantry Battalion, showing an early memorial.

Then, Acting Lance-Corporal Charles Edgar Dalziel admitted to No.4 Casualty Clearing Station, Typhoid, 5 November 1918, posted to duty 10 November 1918.

MIKAN No. 3395020 Charles Edgar Dalziel
Memorial Service to men of 87th Bn. who fell at Vimy Ridge. September, 1917. MIKAN No. 3395020
MIKAN No. 3395022
Gen. D. Watson who unveiled this Memorial reading the names of the fallen. September, 1917. Firstly, note the listing of soldier’s names on the near side of the memorial, who died of wounds during the Vimy Ridge operations of April, 1917. Secondly, Major General David Watson was the officer commanding the 4th Canadian Division, which the 87th Battalion was a unit of. MIKAN No. 3395022

Demobilization

Granted 14 days leave, 10 December 1918, rejoining from leave 2 January 1919. Later, Lance-Corporal Charles Edgar Dalziel awarded the Military Medal, London Gazette No.31338, 14 May 1919.

MIKAN No. 3403367
The grave of Lieut. D.J. Barker, 87th Battalion. May, 1918. Firstly, Lt. Barker was killed instantly by a trench mortar bomb while serving with the 87th Infantry Battalion, on Sep. 27th, 1917. Secondly, he is now buried at Villers Station Cemetery. MIKAN No. 3403367
MIKAN No. 3403366
The grave of Lieut.-Col. J.V. O’Donahue [i.e. O’Donahoe] D.S.O., 87th Battalion. May, 1918. J.V.P O’Donahoe had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery at the Somme while with the 60th Battalion. As commanding officer of the 87th Battalion, he was wounded by a shell fragment in April, 1918, and died in early May. MIKAN No. 3403366

Then, Lance-Corporal Charles Edgar Dalziel MM discharged 8 June 1919 at Military District No. 4. He later married Grace Magdelene McCray in 1924. Finally, Charles Edgar Dalziel died in 1980 at Victoria, British Columbia.

MIKAN No. 3396936
87th Battalion Band playing outside Hotel de Ville. November, 1918. [Valenciennes, France]. MIKAN No. 3396936

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2 Responses to “Lance Corporal Charles Edgar Dalziel MM in the Great War”

  1. Norman Coffin Avatar
    Norman Coffin

    My Grandfather Maynard Ross Coffin (177268) & his brother Leslie Kenneth Coffin (178243) both fought at Vimy Ridge & The Battle of Passchendaele. Leslie died of his wounds on November 18th, 1917 & is buried in the Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium. Maynard went on to be awarded the Military Medal for bravery. He survived WW 1, and went on to re-enlist in WW 2 in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, promoted to Sergeant. His surviving both Great Wars is the reason I exist today. My dad Russell Wesley Coffin enlisted in WW 2 with the Pictou Highlanders, but did not see overseas service.

  2. Bill Griffin Avatar
    Bill Griffin

    Thank you so much for putting this together. He was my grandfather…..
    The 87th Battalion were the first to liberate Belgium on 5 November 1918. Patrols from the 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards), of the 4th Division, crossed the River Aunelle, thereby marking the liberation, by the Canadians, of the first part of occupied Belgium.
    As well, 2 of the German field guns that were captured in the Battle of the Canal du Nord by the 87th now sit in Quebec City, Canada at the Plains of Abraham